University

12 Mar 09

The proportion of undergraduates at Oxford from state schools has risen thisyear Credit: PA Photocall

The proportion of Oxford University’s UK undergraduates who come from state schools has risen to 55.4 per cent this year.

The annual admissions statistics, published in the Gazette today, show this is an increase of 2 per cent on the same figure last year.

The University is committed to selecting the best students, with the greatest academic ability and potential, and works to attract applications from talented students from any background.

Last year the University, colleges and departments took part in over 1,000 outreach activities, with nearly 2,000 UK schools and colleges taking part in an Oxford-specific event.

Mike Nicholson, Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Oxford University, said: ‘We’re working hard to make sure all talented students can get hold of the information they need to consider applying to Oxford, but, despite offering podcasts and e-mentoring, the University can’t be with every student all of the time.

‘That’s why we’re developing ways of working with teachers – who help many students apply to university each year. Teachers have busy schedules and can’t easily spare the time to visit Oxford, so we’ve developed a teachers’ e-newsletter, which now has over 2,000 subscribers, and visited all four countries of the UK in our first series of regional teachers’ conferences, which we’re continuing this summer.’