A new report has uncovered evidence of bias against state school pupils in Oxford University's selection process.

The study reveals that the pupils from state schools were less likely to gain a place at the ancient seat of learning than independent school pupils with identical A-level scores.

Dr Gerry McCrum, Emeritus Fellow of Hertford College and Prof Albert Halsey, a Fellow of Nuffield College, examined the results of applications from 6,000 candidates who gained an A-level score of 30 points - a grade A counts as ten points.

It concluded that applicants from private schools were 20 per cent more likely to be accepted than those from state schools.

The authors said: "The simplest way to eliminate bias at admissions is to place these facts before tutors. If there is to be bias it should arguably be against independent school candidates and in favour of equally qualified candidates from state schools."

A University spokesman said: "The authors did not claim to have proven that the University was deliberately biased or discriminatory.

"All candidates applying to Oxford University are extremely well qualified and one of our dilemmas is to find suitable ways to differentiate between them. Great care is taken in the selection process and, along with Cambridge, we are the only University to interview all candidates."

Prof John Barron, Master of St Peter's College and chairman of the undergraduate admissions committee, said: "We utterly reject any suggestion of deliberate bias, either for or against candidates."

He added that the University's working party on access had taken the study's findings on board.

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