11 Apr 2011

Cameron’s diversity Oxford claims ‘misleading’

Oxford University hits back at David Cameron’s claims that only one black student was accepted into the prestigious university in the 2010 intake.

Figures quoted by Prime Minister David Cameron claiming only one black student was accepted into Oxford University during the 2009/10 intake were “highly misleading”, according to a university spokeswoman.

The figures only referred to UK undergraduates of black Carribean origin starting in 2009/10. In additon to this single student, 26 others of black origin and 14 of mixed black descent were all part of the yearly intake.

The spokesperson said: “The figure quoted by the Prime Minister is incorrect and highly misleading – it 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 per cent of Oxford’s total student population came from ethnic minority backgrounds.”

The statement was made by the PM during a 40 minute question and answer session at a factory in Harrogate. He had told the audience: “I saw figures the other day that showed that only one black person went to Oxford last year. I think that is disgraceful, we have got to do better than that.”

He also attacked the top universities for not admitting enough students from state schools and that the amount of students accepted who had not attended fee paying schools had significantly gone down over the last 20 years.

The Prime Minister also insisted that universities would have to adhere to strict rules if they were to legitimately charge full price tuition fees.

Mr Cameron defended the reforms to student fees and the issues of increased debts and repayment plans: “I think [with] this system – because you don’t start paying back until you start earning £21,000 – we can help people get to the best universities in the country.”

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