Now Oxford will let pupils in with three B grades

PUPILS with three B grades at A-level will be able to study at Oxford if they suffered ‘grave disadvantage’, the university announced yesterday.

From next year, 50 students will take a foundation year to help them catch up before progressing to a traditional three-year degree.

Oxford usually asks for grades of between A*A*A and AAA – but entry to the foundation year, for those eligible, will require a minimum of BBB or AAB, depending on the course.

It comes after Cambridge University announced a similar plan last week. The Oxford scheme, called Astrophoria, is to help those who have academic potential but ‘experienced grave disadvantage’, such as growing up in care.

Meanwhile, the head of Cambridge has said that Oxbridge will admit fewer private school pupils to help increase diversity and inclusion.

Professor Stephen Toope yesterday said the universities ‘intend to reduce’ their privately-educated intake to ‘welcome others’. As a result, the ‘premium’ for attending a top independent school will shrink, he told The Times.