David Lammy, MP for Tottenham, this week challenged Oxford University to work closely with local headteachers to make sure talented young students in Tottenham are supported to apply successfully to the prestigious university and so put an end to the scandal of high achieving students missing out on the education they deserve. Mr Lammy is deeply concerned that not a single student from Tottenham schools gained entry to Oxford University as an undergraduate in 2007/8. This is despite an increase of 104.3% in the last ten years in the number of young people from Tottenham going into higher education. Mr Lammy chaired a summit on Friday 24th April at Park View Academy attended by headteachers and representatives from the Academy, Gladesmore Community School, Northumberland Park School and the College of North East London (CONEL). Mr Lammy and headteachers told admissions staff from the University of Oxford that it is time to get serious about increasing access to the University for the most able young people from Tottenham and asked them to work with local schools to encourage applications from Tottenham students. Mr Lammy wants to see a long-term partnership between Oxford University and local schools so that promising young talent can be spotted early and young people encouraged to see Oxford as an option for them. The Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Oxford University agreed to work with local headteachers to create a new ‘pathfinder’ programme designed to nurture the most able Tottenham pupils so that they are better placed to understand and meet the rigorous standards of excellence required by all undergraduates at Oxford University. David Lammy said: “There are many young people in Tottenham who have the academic ability to win places at Oxford University and other top institutions but have simply not been exposed to these universities and therefore do not aspire to attend them. "I am determined to do what I can to ensure our talented young people gain access to the education they deserve. So I am delighted that Oxford University has agreed to work in partnership with local headteachers to spot young talent and develop and nurture it from an early age so that aspirations are raised and more young people from Tottenham apply to Oxford University and other leading universities.”
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