Cambridge college to target elite private schools for student recruitment

Cambridge College's Elitist Recruitment Policy Sparks Outrage

A contentious new recruitment policy at Trinity Hall college has sent shockwaves through academic circles, with experts condemning the move as "reverse discrimination" against state-educated students. The strategy aims to target elite private schools in a bid to attract high-achieving applicants for targeted subjects like languages, music, and classics.

Under the plan, around 50 independent schools will be individually approached, including St Paul's Girls, Eton, and Winchester, which charge fees upwards of £25,000 per year. The idea is that these students possess expertise and interests aligned with Cambridge's intellectual demands, and by ignoring them, the university risks missing out on exceptionally qualified applicants.

However, critics argue that this policy undermines efforts to widen participation among state-educated students and disadvantaged pupils. "It is a deeply alarming policy," said one Trinity Hall staff member. "Claiming that the best students come from elite schools will make many of our diverse community feel unwelcome."

Lee Elliot Major, professor of social mobility at the University of Exeter, echoed this sentiment. "What is truly shocking is the implication that widening participation students are academically inferior," he said. "The evidence is clear: when talented students who have faced greater barriers gain access to elite universities, they flourish precisely because opportunity, not ability, was the binding constraint."

Trinity Hall's director of admissions, Marcus Tomalin, maintains that the policy is aimed at securing "greater fairness" in admissions and preventing "reverse discrimination." However, critics argue that this justification rings hollow, given the college's track record on access initiatives for disadvantaged backgrounds.

The controversy highlights a broader issue within the university sector: the increasing dominance of elite private schools in Cambridge and Oxford. Despite efforts to promote diversity and inclusion, the proportion of privately educated students at these institutions remains high. In 2022, nearly 29% of UK students admitted to Cambridge came from private schools, while state-educated students made up around 71%.

As the debate continues, Trinity Hall's future recruitment policy hangs in the balance, with some fearing that this move may signal a return to an exclusive, elitist culture within the university.

Cambridge needs to rethink its priorities, focusing on talent over privilege. Exclusive policies only drive away those who need it most

ugh this is so wrong like what's next is they gonna start charging people to get into the library? shouldn't it be about who deserves access to education and not how much cash their parents have it's like they're saying "oh you're from a rich school, you must know stuff already" which is just perpetuating this whole class thing

I'm not surprised at all that another elite uni is trying to play catch-up by targeting high-achievers from private schools . It's like they're saying, "Hey, we can't compete with these fancy feeder schools, so let's just cherry-pick the best students instead of trying to make our own talent pool more inclusive." Meanwhile, state-educated students are still left fighting for a spot in the coveted classes . It's like they want to create their own little exclusive club, and who can blame them for wanting to feel superior? But seriously, isn't it time these universities started putting in some real effort to address their diversity issues instead of just tweaking their recruitment policies?

This new recruitment policy is crazy ! Like, I get that they wanna attract top students but targeting just private schools? It feels like they're excluding all these talented state-educated kids who might actually fit in there too . And the thing about "reverse discrimination" is so annoying... like, can't they just say they want to attract diverse students and be done with it?

And what's up with this "greater fairness" nonsense? It sounds like a cop-out to me. If they really cared about diversity, they'd do more than just approach 50 elite schools. They should be working on programs to support state-educated kids in applying, not writing them off as "inferior".

I'm also worried that this policy is gonna make Cambridge feel like an even more exclusive club... which is bad for everyone else who wants to get in . We need universities that value talent over privilege and socioeconomic background. Fingers crossed Trinity Hall reverses this policy soon .

I'm so frustrated with this new recruitment policy at Trinity Hall college . They're basically trying to favor students from super expensive private schools just because they supposedly have the "right" interests and expertise. It's like, hello? What about all those talented state-educated students who are struggling to get in? This policy is literally sending a message that says "we only care about you if you're from a rich family" . And don't even get me started on how unfair it is to claim that these private schools produce better students when the evidence just doesn't back it up. It's all about perpetuating this elitist culture and making state-educated students feel like they don't belong . I hope the university rethinks this policy ASAP .

i'm kinda confused about why they're targeting these super expensive private schools... don't get me wrong, it makes sense that they'd want people who are already into languages and music and stuff, but shouldn't they be looking for those qualities in anyone who's interested, regardless of how much their parents pay?

omg, i cant even imagine how painful it must be for those state educated students who dont get picked by trinity hall just because of their school... its like they're saying "oh your school is not good enough for us" and that "reverse discrimination" claim just sounds so fake to me, doesnt the whole point of going to uni is to learn and grow, not to judge people based on where they come from?

I'm low-key freaked out about this whole thing. I mean, I get it, you wanna attract top talent and all, but can't they just open up their doors instead of trying to handpick who's worthy? It feels like Trinity Hall is trying to recreate the exact same system that's been screwing over people from less privileged backgrounds for centuries.

And let's be real, £25k a year is wild! Like, what's the criteria here? Do they just pick kids who can afford it? It sounds like a total reverse snob fest. I get why they wanna promote diversity and inclusion, but if their policy ends up pushing talented state-educated students out, that's just not right.

We need to be careful not to create more exclusivity. I mean, we're already living in an era where top universities are basically the only way to get a decent job. We don't need more gatekeeping like this. Can't they just let people in based on their skills and passion?

This whole thing is just so unfair ! Targeting elite private schools? That's like saying only rich kids can be smart . I mean, what about all the talented state-educated students who deserve a shot at those prestigious courses? It's not fair to say they're less qualified just because of where they went to school .

I'm so glad some people are speaking out against this policy . We need more opportunities for all types of students, not just the ones who come from wealthy families . And what's with the "greater fairness" excuse? That sounds like just a fancy way of saying "we don't want to upset our status quo" .

It's time for universities to get their priorities straight and make diversity and inclusion a top priority . We need to celebrate all types of students, not just the ones who fit a certain mold .

I gotta say, I think its actually a pretty genius move ! They're trying to target the best of the best and weed out the mediocre applicants, you know? It's not like they're ignoring state-ed kids or anything . If anything, it's about making sure that only the most qualified people get in, regardless of their background.

And let's be real, if a kid from St Paul's Girls is going to ace Latin and play the violin, why shouldn't they get into Cambridge? It's not like its reverse discrimination or anything... its just merit-based selection, you know? And honestly, I think its about time some of these private schools got a little respect for being actually good at what they do .

Ugh this whole thing reeks of elitism to me... like, what's wrong with including state-educated students who actually need the help? They're not going to magically appear in some obscure corner of England just because it's good for their college rep. And let's be real, £25k a year is bloody ridiculous I mean, what if one of those super-privileged kids needs a wheelchair or something? Do they get left behind too? This whole policy feels like another example of the upper class thinking they're above everyone else just because they've got some fancy degree. Give me a break

I'm low-key surprised they're doing this . I mean, I get why they want to try and attract top talent for specific subjects, but it feels like they're actively pushing away the people who need a leg up the most . It's like they think state-educated students are just going to magically be able to keep up with the private school crowd without any help . And the whole "reverse discrimination" thing is just laughable - it sounds like they're trying to convince everyone that being smart and determined doesn't equal being from a poorer background .

I'm so disappointed in this new recruitment policy at Cambridge College! It's like they're saying that only rich kids are smart enough for their school . I don't think that's true and it's not fair to state-educated students who have just as much potential . I mean, what about all the brilliant kids from state schools who aren't from private schools? Don't they deserve a chance to attend Cambridge too? It's like the university is saying "we only want people who look and sound like us" . That's not how it should be . They need to rethink this policy and make sure everyone has an equal chance, no matter what their background .

I'm literally fuming about this news ! As a student who's had my fair share of struggles at school, I just don't get why Trinity Hall is trying to discriminate against state-educated students . I mean, I know some private schools have more resources and all that, but it's not like they're the only ones with talented kids .

I feel like this policy is just going to push out even more deserving students from disadvantaged backgrounds . And what really gets my goat is when people say that state-educated students are academically inferior . That's just not true! I know plenty of students who have worked hard and excelled in school, regardless of where they came from .

It's time for universities like Trinity Hall to stop playing it safe and try something new . Instead of targeting private schools, why not try to reach out to more underprivileged areas? That way, you can get a more diverse range of talented students who might actually need the support . This policy just feels so elitist and exclusionary .

I gotta say, this whole thing is super concerning - it feels like they're trying to recreate a privileged bubble at Cambridge college and I think it's a major red flag . It's all about catering to those with connections and cash , instead of genuinely trying to shake things up and include more state-educated students who might actually bring some fresh perspectives . The fact that 71% of UK students from state schools are being left out in the cold is just devastating . And what's with this "reverse discrimination" nonsense? Can't they see that it's just a convenient excuse to maintain the status quo and keep those same old elites at the top ? This whole thing needs a serious dose of scrutiny - I'm watching how this plays out closely!

I gotta say, this recruitment policy is super concerning. I mean, who gets to decide what makes someone "exceptionally qualified" anyway? Is it just a bunch of rich kids with connections?

I'm also not buying that this policy is about "greater fairness" in admissions. If it's so fair, why are they excluding state-educated students in the first place? It sounds like they're trying to maintain some sort of privileged status quo.

And what about the idea that talented students from disadvantaged backgrounds need extra help to succeed? That just doesn't add up. I've seen plenty of people from different backgrounds get into top universities with hard work and dedication, so it's not like there's a inherent advantage to being privately educated.

I wish they'd release some actual data on how this policy is going to improve things for state-educated students. Until then, I'm gonna remain skeptical about all the claims made by Trinity Hall's admissions team

I'm so worried about this new policy at Cambridge College . It seems like they're making things worse by only targeting students from super expensive private schools. Like, isn't the point of going to uni supposed to be about learning and growing as a person, not just who your parents can afford? It's also really unfair to state-educated students who have already faced so many barriers in life. I hope they reconsider this policy and make sure everyone has an equal chance to get into their dream college .

I'm literally shook by this news Cambridge is supposed to be about fostering intelligent minds from all backgrounds, not just the wealthy elite . This policy feels like a major step back in the right direction . It's already hard enough for state-educated kids to get into these top colleges without them feeling like they're being snubbed or that their worth is tied to their bank account . What's next, are they gonna start charging tuition to those from lower-income backgrounds? I don't think so . The fact that they're still trying to justify this policy as some kinda "greater fairness" just doesn't fly with me. We need more inclusivity, not less .

I'm super annoyed about this . It seems like Trinity Hall is trying to justify their old system by saying it's all about fairness, but honestly, it feels like they're just trying to hold on to their elite status. The fact that they're targeting specific private schools and claiming that the best students come from those places is just ridiculous. I mean, don't get me wrong, those schools do have some amazing students, but it's not like they're the only ones with talented people.

I think what's really upsetting is that this policy could be seen as excluding state-educated students who might actually be just as qualified as their private school counterparts. It's all about opportunity and access, right? So, if a student from a private school gets in but someone from a state school doesn't, does that mean the university isn't doing its job?

We need to make sure that universities like Trinity Hall are working hard to promote diversity and inclusion, not just for the sake of it, but because it's what's right. We should be celebrating all types of students, regardless of where they come from or how much their parents might have spent on private school fees .