Cambridge college to target elite private schools for student recruitment

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 3 min read 100% complete by Wilf Vall and Richard AdamsJanuary 7, 2026 at 07:58 PM

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Trinity Hall, a Cambridge college, has approved a policy to actively recruit students from elite private schools like Eton and St Paul's Girls, reversing decades of efforts to increase access for state-educated and disadvantaged students. The college aims to improve the "quality" of applicants, with the Director of Admissions arguing that these students often possess expertise and critical thinking skills that align well with Cambridge's academic demands. This decision follows concerns about "reverse discrimination" in admissions. The policy involves targeted recruitment of students from approximately 50 independent schools, primarily in southern England, for subjects like languages, music, and classics. The move has faced internal opposition from some Trinity Hall academics and criticism from social mobility experts, who worry about the implication that widening participation students are academically inferior.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

British 30% University of Exeter 40% England 40% Guardian ×250% Lee Elliot Major 50% Eton 60% St Paul’s Girls 60% Winchester 60% Marcus Tomalin ×270% Cambridge ×370% Trinity Hall ×790%

Keywords

elite private schools 90% student recruitment 90% cambridge college 80% trinity hall 70% social mobility 70% state-educated students 70% reverse discrimination 60% admissions policy 60% widening participation 50%