Contacts give private pupils edge applying for university

By Graeme Paton. Students from poorer backgrounds are being disadvantaged by personal statements when applying to university because they do not have the same contacts to get high-profile work experience placements.
Fresh curbs should be placed on personal statements in university applications to stop the system being used to exploit the “privileged” position of private school pupils, researchers warned today.
New rules are needed amid fears that statements – submitted as part of applications to degree courses – are descending into little more than an “excuse to highlight past advantages”, it was claimed. Read more...