Laura Spence is the girl at the centre of controversy surrounding Magdalen College, Oxford, which has provoked what has been described as 'A class war' after John Prescott¹ denounced Oxford (and later including Cambridge in his attacks) as 'elitist'.

Laura applied to Magdalen College, Oxford, to read medicine, probably the single most competitive subject, presumably choosing Oxford above the many other British universities known to be better for this particular subject on the basis of its reputation. Unfortunately, as with any student applying to Oxbridge, Laura was up against stiff opposition, and was rejected.

Laura, however, unlike the other twenty-odd applicants in exactly the same position (rejected by Magdalen for Medicine) cried 'foul', claiming that she was rejected because she attended a comprehensive, citing her straight As and A*s at GCSE, and her predictions of three As at A-level as proof, despite the fact that the vast majority of applicants are backed-up by very good GCSEs, and usually at least three predicted As at A-level, and often four or five, and that to get an interview generally indicates that an applicants academic ability on paper is adequate.

Magdalen responded by denying these allegations, and, somewhat irresponsibly, releasing the confidential notes on her interview. Laura's supporters picked up on the 'lack of confidence' cited as one of the reasons for her rejection as an obvious sign of elitism, pointing out that obviously comprehensive students are going to be less confident than those trained up for interviews in public schools.

Poor Laura

Poor Laura has been forced to cross the Atlantic to continue her education, taking up a £65,000 scholarship from Harvard University, at least this is the view of her headmaster, who has been vehemently backing her. This view does, of course, ignore the very large number of very good courses in Medicine offered at other British universities, many of which are widely accepted to be better than that offered at Oxford, and seems to be reinforcing the very stereotype that is being attacked, of Oxford as the only university worth aspiring to this side of the Atlantic.

It is interesting to note also the large drop in applicants (and thus those accepted) from public schools since the introduction of tuition fees, and the removal of the maintenance grant, by the very government that is now attacking these institutions for failing to take enough students from state schools.