Oxbridge has been branded ‘ institutionally racist ’ and a ‘ finishing school for the private school system ’ by one of its own academics . The devastating criticism was delivered by Professor Diane Reay , who accused the universities of ‘ accentuating elitism ’ among the privileged . She added that black and white working class students were still small in number and marginalized , despite drives to attract more youngsters from poorer backgrounds . Oxbridge has been branded ‘ institutionally racist ’ and a ‘ finishing school for the private school system ’ by a Cambridge University ( pictured ) academic . The professor of education at Cambridge University called for further measures to ensure more students from disadvantaged backgrounds were admitted . In a report by the race relations think tank the Runnymede Trust , Professor Reay said working class students at Cambridge saw the university as a ‘ a white , middle class bubble ’ . She said her research suggested that ‘ positive discrimination ’ was at work in Oxbridge , bestowing advantage on the already advantaged . Figures released last year showed Oxford has the lowest proportion of state school pupil entrants – 57.4 per cent – of any university in England , once small and specialist higher education institutions are excluded . At Cambridge , 63 per cent of undergraduates admitted were from state schools . In the Runnymede report , Aiming Higher : Race , Inequality and Diversity in the Academy , Professor Reay suggested varying success rates of different applicant groups demonstrated ‘ institutional racism ’ . Policies such as rarely accepting candidates with less traditional qualifications , not catering for part-time students and not allowing undergraduates to work during term time effectively rule out the majority of working class and particularly black and ethnic minority candidates , she said . In 2013 , 25.4 per cent of white students applying to Oxford won a place . The success rate of Bangladeshi and Pakistani students was under seven per cent , while black Caribbean students had a 14.3 per cent conversion rate and Black African students a 13 per cent success rate . The devastating criticism was delivered by Professor Diane Reay , who accused the universities of ‘ accentuating elitism ’ among the privileged ( file picture of Oxford University ) At Cambridge , black Caribbean applicants had a 24.3 per cent chance of success compared to 29 per cent for White applicants . The figure for black African students was 9.2 per cent , and Bangladeshi and Pakistani students 13.8 and 13.6 per cent respectively . She said : ‘ Oxbridge remains the equivalent of a finishing school for the private school system , polishing , refining and accentuating the elitism and sense of superiority acquired in earlier schooling. ’ The academic suggested that affirmative action , such as quotas for certain groups , were needed to counteract ‘ the growing class and race inequalities that are pervasive across the higher education sector ’ . Both universities said they ‘ strongly rejected ’ the professor ’ s allegations and outlined the millions of pounds they spend on encouraging students from poor and ethnic backgrounds to apply and on supporting them once they were there . A Cambridge University spokesman said extensive efforts were made to encourage more applications from black and minority ethnic backgrounds and that such students represented 16 per cent of the intake , which is in line with national population trends . ‘ Success rates are influenced by prior school attainment , our entry requirements and the combinations of subjects studied by applicants , ’ he said . ‘ Data shows that ethnic minority admissions to Cambridge reflect national trends once prior school attainment has been factored in . Choices relating to subject of study and location of university also have a substantial bearing on entry rates by ethnic group . Our commitment to improving access to the University is longstanding and unwavering. ’ A spokesman for Oxford University said : ‘ We reject in the strongest terms any allegations of institutional bias or discrimination . Such claims are unsubstantiated , and we are concerned that unfounded allegations could undermine our efforts to attract and admit black and minority ethnic students . Just under a quarter of all Oxford students of known ethnicity are from black and minority ethnic backgrounds . ’
Oxbridge branded 'institutionally racist ' by one of its own academics . Score: 6