Only two black students awarded firsts at Oxford

OXFORD University only awarded two black students first-class degrees last year, figures show.

Last night students described the figures as “shocking”, and called on the university to investigate the reasons behind the disparity between white and black students.

The figures show that just eight per cent of black students who graduated last year were awarded the top classification, while 36 per cent of white students were awarded a first.

A spokesman for the university said it would take time to “fully understand” the underlying differences in performance, adding that while detailed analysis was being conducted “no single causal factor” had been identified.

“We have a University group looking at the factors that affect performance in examinations.

“There are also some local pilots and initiatives under way, including changing examination formats to offer more time for all candidates, the introduction of some more thesis projects, and more centralised revision classes.

“However, it will take time to fully understand the reasons that underlie differences in performance between individuals.”

Three months ago, the university faced criticism from MPS and educationists after statistics, obtained through a series of freedom of information requests, showed that 10 out of 32 colleges failed to award a place to a black British pupil in 2015.

The data, published by Labour MP David Lammy, a former universities minister, found that Oriel College had admitted just one black British student in six years.