Katherine Sellgren for BBC News quotes Sir Peter Lampl on our Oxbridge Admissions report

The way students are admitted to Oxford and Cambridge universities is complex and intimidating, says a charity that champions social mobility in education.

The Sutton Trust says Oxbridge should simplify the process to help those from schools and homes not familiar with it. The universities accused the trust of making “unjustified criticisms” and perpetuating “common myths”.

The report comes after David Cameron warned top institutions they needed to do more to tackle social inequality. The Sutton Trust says would-be undergraduates at Oxford and Cambridge have to undergo different interviews, tests and written assessments depending on the course and college to which they are applying.

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Sir Peter Lampl, who chairs the Sutton Trust, said: “Our surveys and experience suggest that many bright state school students are put off by the application process, which is both intimidating and complex.

“Specifically, we believe that the universities rather than the colleges should control the admissions policies and interviews.

“The numbers of additional exams and tests should be reviewed, again to avoid advantaging those who gain from extra tuition and support.

“More should be done to consider contextual admissions, recognising how much harder it can be for a bright student in a tough inner city school than in a successful private or state school.”

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