Opinion: Why More State School Sixth-formers Should Apply to Oxbridge

Published on: 4 Sep, 2018
Updated on: 5 Sep, 2018

Laura Neuhaus is a student reporter attached to The Guildford Dragon NEWS. As part of her experience, working with us, it was suggested she write some opinion pieces on subjects she felt strongly about.

In her second piece, she writes about the part schools have to play in getting students to Oxbridge…

There have long been complaints about the Oxbridge selection processes. But how much of that is caused by potential applicants being put off even if they are up to the mark and because they are from a state school? Does that happen here in, what is deemed to be, largely middle-class Guildford?

I am a student at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford studying BA English Language and Literature and I went to Godalming College. For me, applying to Oxford felt like I was making a bold statement about my capabilities rather than just “having a go” to see whether their learning style is right for me.

I suspect that I am not the only one who nearly didn’t apply because I lacked the confidence to put myself out there – but I don’t think this is necessarily the fault of the universities.

It was refreshing talking to Peter Dunscombe, director of higher education and director of studies at the Royal Grammar School in Guildford. He repeatedly emphasized that he wanted any student that felt they might enjoy the Oxbridge learning style to “have a go” and give it a try, without thinking of it as a matter of success or failure.

We agreed – Oxbridge is by no means for everyone, and there are many exceptional alternative universities to go to. However, for those it might suit, it is important that they have sufficient encouragement to make the application in the first place.

There are several things, as I see it, that could obstruct this encouragement.

For one, the media image projected about Oxbridge at the moment is negative. There is free UNIQ Summer School, the Sutton Trust Summer School for state school children, the outreach talks and programmes and the new Foundation Year at my college in Oxford – all of which are means of encouraging applications from people of all backgrounds. But the media focus on the admissions statistics.

It is definitely important to point out the insufficient diversity at Oxbridge that comes to light in the admissions report. However, the sole emphasis in the media on lack of diversity means potential applicants only feel more intimidated.

Instead, the media could be creating an awareness of the schemes available that do try and reach out to people from diverse backgrounds. It is a choice between intimidating or encouraging those who might lack the confidence to apply.

Secondly, I think the schools play a huge part in giving a pupil the self-belief that is required to make an application. The Royal Grammar School, an independent, made 36 out of the 166 total applications to Oxford in the GU postcode area in the 2017 cycle. This contrasts with a sixth form of similar size, Guildford County School, a state comprehensive, rated “outstanding” by Ofsted, that made only six.

But RGS had ten of their 36 applicants admitted and “County” had three, which gives County a higher success rate at 50% compared to RGS’ 28% (see source data here). Perhaps more County students should try.

I do not intend to criticise any school directly – most of the schools in the Guildford area have recently received fantastic A-level results, above the national average. But why did 124 of the 166 applications in the GU postcode area to Oxford University come from independent schools?

Clearly, there is something that keeps the number of applications for our area’s state schools down, and I suspect the key lies in encouragement, expectation, and self-belief.

I think schools are in a much better position to provide this lacking encouragement than the universities themselves. It is the job of the university to set its entry requirements high and keep its tuition and academic standards high. It is the job of the school to give its pupils the belief that, with sufficient hard work, they can and will meet those requirements, regardless of their background.

Statistics might show that state school, ethnic minority and North of England applicants are still under-represented among those trying for Oxbridge but, as far as I can tell, the disappointing admissions is all to do with the lack of support for potential students from those sectors. So it is about getting people to apply who might not have the confidence to do so. And schools, of course, should be the first to fill this role.

Next week, in her final article, Laura will write about the NHS and alternative methods of funding healthcare.