Oxford University denies David Cameron accusation over admissions |

Monday 11th April 2011 | 15:44

Oxford University denies David Cameron accusation over admissions

Oxford University has hit back at claims by David Cameron that it was "disgraceful" that only one black student was admitted to Oxford last year.

A spokesperson from the university said: "The figure quoted by the Prime Minister is incorrect and highly misleading – and we have been in touch with Downing Street to correct the figures the Prime Minister cites.

"The figure quoted only refers to UK undergraduates of black Caribbean origin for a single year of entry, when in fact that year Oxford admitted 41 UK undergraduates with black backgrounds. In that year a full 22% of Oxford’s total student population came from ethnic minority backgrounds

"In fact, the ‘only one black student at Oxford’ story is a misleading one from last year, and refers specifically to ONLY UK undergraduates of black Caribbean descent who gave us information about their ethnicity – NOT all black students, or even all black undergraduates. This was for a single year only – entry 2009.

"In fact the full picture tells a different story: in that year 27 black British undergraduate students got a place at Oxford in 2009, as did 14 of mixed backgrounds including black heritage. And that’s just picking from one year without even mentioning postgraduate students and those from overseas. 19% of all our students currently (undergraduate and postgraduate) are from ethnic minorities."

Leave a comment...

Lucio Buffone

16:59 |
11 Apr 2011
Recommended
1

So there were actually 41 Black students admitted in 2009. That's OK then!

Lord of the Vortex

16:56 |
12 Apr 2011
0

Yes, it's OK - assuming they fulfilled the entrance criteria that apply to everyone else.

mittfh

17:30 |
11 Apr 2011
0

It's hard to say exactly how many undergraduates they admitted with black backgrounds. The 41 figure excludes international students, or those that didn't fill in the ethnicity section of the equality monitoring questionnaire with their application. It would be interesting to compare that figure with those of other backgrounds, and (crucially) the number of (rejected) applications from BME backgrounds. Is the low number because they don't get many applications from BME students, or due to discrimination?

David, Thailand

05:44 |
20 Apr 2011
0

Since when should we expect accuracy, or honesty, from Cameron?

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