PRIVATE-SCHOOL PUPILS ‘FORCED OUT BY FOREIGN STUDENTS’

A GLUT of overseas students is the main reason why privately educated pupils are struggling to find university places, according to the head of a leading independent school.

Cash-strapped institutions are admitting increasing numbers from abroad – who pay almost double the fees of a British student – to plug a multi-million-pound budget deficit.

Dr Anthony Seldon, master of Wellington College in Berkshire, blames a combination of record overseas numbers, a huge drop in university places and the fact that state schools are scoring more straight As at A level.

“It’s hard for independent school pupils because there is so much more competition from overseas students, and universities have a vested interest in having them. When you add to this that the numbers of places available are drastically down, they are therefore harder to get.”

“Then there is the consideration that more people than ever want to go to university, or prolong their stay there, because they don’t have the prospect of a job to go to.”

“It’s not really anything to do with some sort of Left-wing sociology but state schools are also getting better at producing pupils with straight A grades.” Last month universities were accused of raising A-level entry requirements at the last minute because of a surge in applicants and swingeing Government cuts.”

Cambridge, Newcastle, Nottingham and York are among those demanding higher grades for popular courses, with many more expected to follow.

Lord Mandelson last week defended a £950million university cuts package and accused academics of being “set in aspic” in their resistance. Some head teachers of independent schools blame Labour’s “social-engineering drive” for their pupils being turned down. This policy seeks to give priority to bright children from under- performing state schools.