Oxford accused of ‘social apartheid’ over black students

OXFORD University has been accused of “social apartheid” after figures showed that nearly one in three colleges failed to admit a single black British A-level student in 2015.

Data requested by David Lammy, the former Labour minister for higher education, and published by a newspaper, showed that 10 out of 32 Oxford colleges did not admit a black British pupil with A-levels in 2015.

Oriel College offered one place in six years to a black British student. At Cambridge University, six out of 31 colleges did not admit any black British students in 2015. In 2009, 21 out of the 63 Oxbridge colleges failed to admit a single black British student.

“This is social apartheid,” Mr Lammy told The Guardian.

A spokesman for Oxford said findng a solution would be “a long journey that requires huge, joined-up effort”.