Top universities patronising poorer teenagers, headteacher says

Sir Michael Wilshaw, head of Mossbourne community academy in Hackney, says pupils 'did not want to be patronised'.

This article titled “Top universities patronising poorer teenagers, headteacher says” was written by Jessica Shepherd, for The Guardian on Tuesday 10th May 2011 13.47 UTC

Top universities are patronising teenagers from comprehensives by admitting them with lower A-level grades than richer peers from private schools, one of the country’s most respected headteachers has said.

Sir Michael Wilshaw, the head of the Mossbourne academy in Hackney, east London, said bright pupils from poorer backgrounds wanted to get into Oxford and Cambridge “on a level playing field” with those from fee-paying schools.

The government is encouraging prestigious universities to lower their offers for clever pupils from schools in deprived areas. Some universities, such as Leeds and Bristol, already make a dispensation for low-income students who show potential.

Wilshaw – who is credited with turning around a formerly underperforming school – said his pupils “did not want to be patronised”. Ten were awarded Oxbridge places this year.

“They are determined to get their two A grades and one A* for their offers,” he said. “If they don’t, I would expect the university to explore why this was with me and see whether we thought it was to do with their personal family circumstances.”

Wilshaw said it was up to state schools to improve, rather than for their pupils to be given special dispensation. “Schools like mine have to demonstrate that we are as good – if not better – than independent schools,” he added.

Speaking at a conference for headteachers held at Brighton College independent school, he warned that awarding lower offers to poorer pupils could make state schools complacent.

“The youngsters don’t want to get there on special privileges,” he said. “If state schools have an Oxbridge candidate, they have to work hard with them.”

The Guardian has revealed that the government is considering allowing rich teenagers buy extra places at the most competitive universities by paying the same fees as overseas students.

Wilshaw said his students had not been deterred by £9,000 fees and that, if rich students paid more, there would be more money for bursaries for his pupils.

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