OXFORD: Oxford University has been warned its status as a world-class institution may be under threat if it fails to widen access to state-school pupils.

Les Ebdon, the director of the Office for Fair Access, said he may seek tougher targets if he sees no sign of improvement from universities such as Oxford.

He said: “If the top universities are to retain their positions, they need to access the full range of our society. Otherwise, they are losing a major source of potential.”

She said: “It is absolutely in Oxford’s own interests to attract and select the brightest students, wherever they come from.”