Cameron brands Oxford university 'disgraceful'

Monday, 11 April 2011 12:00 AM

By Hannah Brenton

David Cameron today branded Oxford University 'disgraceful' for admitting one black student last year.

Speaking at a PM direct event in Yorkshire, the prime minister said the figure showed "we have got to do better than that".

His comments faced an almost immediate backlash when Oxford University branded the figure "highly misleading".

The university said the number only referred to undergraduates of black Caribbean origin starting courses in 2009/10.

In that year, 26 undergraduate students were admitted to the University who said they were of black origin, and another 14 of mixed black descent.

Mr Cameron made the comment when arguing that tuition fees could widen access to higher education.

"I saw figures the other day that showed that only one black person went to Oxford last year," he said.

"I think that is disgraceful, we have got to do better than that. And I think the new tuition 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."

A spokesperson for the University said the prime minister's figures were "inaccurate".

"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," they said.

"In that year a full 22% of Oxford's total student population came from ethnic minority backgrounds."

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