Top universities still favour elite

 By Graeme Paton, Education Editor

More than three-quarters of applications made by pupils from Britain’s best independent schools last year resulted in the offer a place, it emerged. 

The success rate was up from just over seven-in-10 in each of the previous two years. 

Some 95 per cent of applications to one Russell Group university – Exeter – led to the award of a place, while numbers were well over 80 per cent at other leading institutions. 

The disclosure – in data published by two of the leading private school organisations – comes despite the introduction of tough new targets designed to force top universities to take in more pupils from “under-represented” groups. 

Controversially, around half of Russell Group universities have set themselves a benchmark to increase the proportion of places awarded to state school students under deals signed with the Government’s Office for Fair Access. 

Last week, Anthony Seldon, the Master of Wellington College, Berkshire, warned that privately-educated pupils were being "discriminated against at the final hurdle" when they make university applications. 

But the latest figures suggest that more pupils from Britain’s leading independent schools are actually winning higher education places. 

Chris Ramsey, universities spokesman for the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference, said: “No-one should face discrimination on account of school type and this evidence suggests that highly-selective universities are still giving a very high number of offers to our candidates.” 

HMC and the Girls’ Schools Association surveyed members across Britain as part of an annual report on university applications. 

Some 75.8 per cent of applications made to universities in 2012 resulted in an offer of a place, it emerged. This compared with 72 per cent in 2011 and 71.7 per cent a year earlier. 

Figures show that 95 per cent of applications to Exeter resulted in an offer, while numbers were between 80 and 90 per cent at other Russell Group universities such as Leeds, Nottingham, Manchester, Newcastle Birmingham and Southampton. 

Almost four-in-10 applications to Cambridge and three-in-10 to Oxford resulted in an offer, figures show. 

Students can traditionally apply to up to five courses through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). 

In all, 97.3 per cent of pupils gained at least one offer – up from 96.9 per cent a year earlier. 

Separate figures suggest the upward trend may continue into 2013. Some 55 teenagers from King’s College School, Wimbledon, have Oxbridge offers for courses starting this autumn, while numbers are as high as 40 at North London Collegiate School and 29 at Cheltenham Ladies’ College. 

Keith Budge, headmaster of Bedales School, Hampshire, which sent 26 students to Oxbridge in recent years, said: “Universities are interested in attracting pupils with the greatest potential to succeed and most independent schools are taking advantage of the freedoms they have to help their pupils achieve this.”