They’re fabulous!

Sad news after the cautious optimism alongside Sarah Mullally’s appointment.

And here's the link to the OA version (not that I'd want to dissuade anyone from purchasing a physical copy): www.uwp.co.uk/app/uploads/...

Thanks, Ian. Much obliged.

I’d be really interested too in seeing comparable stats for other Russell Group unis… It’s a bigger problem in society (and I agree it *is* a problem) than just Ox and Cam.

But my key point remains. Ox and Cam attendance not the same measure of ‘elitism’ (whatever that really means) as parents being able to afford to send kids to private schools.

It’s slow progress as so much else involved. Raising aspiration of students to apply (harder in some regions than others - I worked with schools in the NE) and with teachers to support them to do A levels (and well enough in them)…

Mansfield Coll over that already - and I agree. But it’s more complex. Grammars are state schools but often centres of privilege. Sixth Form Colleges can be too. Your original point about deprivation measures is a good one and actually what Oxford outreach are using. Much harder nut to crack.

I worked in Oxford outreach for a year after 30 yrs in state teaching. Lots of time, effort and money goes into working with schools with least-advantaged students and it *is* improving. I think state schools is an unnuanced measure but Oxford over 70% now (and my college over 80).

Can I tentatively say that the two are very different? As Oxbridge widens its outreach and students there are from a wider range of backgrounds, this is different to your family being able to afford private schools?

My guess is that there won’t be violence and arrests…

Andreea and Christian will be presenting at EMC CPD Face-to Face: Language Change, Digital Communication & Social Media – an EMC Teacher Conference-with-CPD (30.9.25)

Get signed up here and come and join us!

Book by 8am on 26th Sept
buff.ly/xQmMHMg

Surely a sweeping statement? Sane could be said of many areas of employment, I fear. They also make a big contribution to the economy - which was the point I was making.

Not everyone does a degree/higher degree for economic benefits. The love of learning is still out there but people can’t afford to study further. Anyway, even economically the Arts contribute. Have a look at the creative industries!

There are lots of older ‘mature’ students out there who are put off by higher fees. When I did my PhD in my 40s it was quite accessible if you were working (I went to Birkbeck in the 2010s and, with evening teaching, I could manage to do both). But I was lucky. I couldn’t afford it now.