Letter: Oxford for all
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.From Ms Katherine Duncan-Jones
Sir: Does Esther Oxford ("University challenged", 9 February) really think that Oxford should seek to be a "neighbourhood university", rather than encouraging the widest possible access to its resources? And are children at state schools necessarily ill-equipped to take examinations in their A-level subjects? If they are, their prospects for top A-level grades, the admissions criterion for the future, must also be poor.
During 30 years as an Oxford tutor, I have been involved in the selection of hundreds of candidates - all, until last year, female. I have found, if anything, the exam has tended to favour shy but studious state school candidates., whereas more confident but sometimes less committed candidates from independent schools do better at interview. I am therefore unhappy at the prospect of the abolition of the exam.
Yours sincerely,
KATHERINE DUNCAN-JONES
Somerville College
Oxford
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments