It is now a week since Oxford University published its first annual admissions statistics report.
While the report shows there has been some progress, I am frustrated by the pace of change.
We want to attract the best, from whatever background, and we are keen to increase the number of applicants from state schools.
The figures published by the university show that the proportion of state-educated UK students accepted to study at Somerville was 56.8% from 2015-2017. For me, this is totally unacceptable when out of UK students who achieve three A grades – our minimum offer – 73% are from state schools.
At the moment we are developing a new strategic plan, for which the framework will be agreed by our Governing Body in 8th week, and widening participation will be one of the core priorities.
In the meantime I will be outlining some of the plans that we are proposing to implement to bring about the change that is desperately needed so that young people of all backgrounds think about Somerville as a place where they would fit in, have the confidence to apply and then have the necessary support when they get here so that they reach their full potential.
29 girls from state schools visited Oxford for the 2018 Girls into Science programme