State schools students labelled “commoners” at Corpus

Elitist jibes made to a Year 10 group visiting Corpus Christi.


Accusations that Oxford lacks dedication to improving its access schemes have increased after the comment “oh, they’ve let the commoners in” was overheard by a group of year 10 students on an open day at Corpus Christi.

Surprisingly, it wasn’t reported on “Overheard at Oxford Uni.”

Whilst some regard it as an example of over-sensitivity regarding the tension between state and private schools, others suggest it “belies a deeper truth about the university’s commitment to access”, according to Tom Beardsworth of Brasenose.

The Admissions Tutor at Corpus said “the school students were naturally upset and we are saddened that this incident was their first impression of a college which prides itself on being friendly and welcoming.”

The statistics are troubling; 42.5% of Oxford’s undergraduate body is made up of privately educated students, despite the fact that they only represent 7% of all children in secondary school.

Whether a misguided attempt at comedy or a deeper revelation about snobbery in Oxford, it certainly brings attention back to the perpetual issue of equality and access in Oxford University.