Cambridge admission tests could deter disadvantaged pupils

Cambridge’s plans to reinstate admission examinations has been criticised by MPs who claim the move could raise barriers to equal access.

Alan Milburn MP, chair of the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission (SMCPC), said the installation of written exams could mean excluding disadvantaged pupils and only allowing access to pupils from richer backgrounds who could use private tutoring to get through the tests.

The news comes after Prime Minister David Cameron raised concerns about the underrepresentation of students from black, minority ethnic origins and disadvantaged backgrounds at Oxbridge, calling on the institutions to do more to combat the issue.

The SMCPC also raised the issue in its recent annual report, which named and shamed individual Oxbridge colleges for their failure to increase the number of state school pupils studying at their establishments.

Commenting on the plans, Milburn said: “Looked at through the social mobility lens, it clearly has the potential to raise a further barrier to equal access. Bright students from less advantaged backgrounds tend to miss out on the intensive tutoring their better-off peers receive.”

“The prime minister has made clear that equality of opportunity is at the top of his priorities, and that universities are in his sights. Clearly, the government needs to redouble efforts to work with schools and universities to ensure that no bright youngsters fail for lack of coaching.

“There is now also a strong case for looking again at the arguments for delaying the university application process until after exam results. This would mean university applicants could be compared on actual results, and do away with the need for additional tests set by universities.”

Sir Peter Lampl, chairman of the Sutton Trust, contended: “We welcome any measure to simplify the admissions procedures at Oxbridge. However, Cambridge should be aware that tests could present a disadvantage for low and middle income students as there is a thriving market in private tuition for the extra admissions tests used at Oxford and Cambridge.

“We will of course ensure that any changes that are made are fully reflected in our summer school programme, which now has 600 places at Cambridge.”