Universities at odds over top A-level grade

Thousands of teenagers are facing a new university admissions crisis as schools warn that "political correctness" has left the Government's reformed A-levels in disarray.

Ministers have introduced a new A* grade in an attempt to help leading universities select the most talented sixth-formers from the growing number who achieve straight As.

But confusion surrounds the fate of the A* as Oxford, Cambridge and other elite colleges cannot agree on whether to require the new top grade. Some experts argue it would disadvantage state school pupils as privately educated candidates are more likely to score the best marks.

With eight days left before the deadline to apply to Oxbridge, private school heads are furious that "political correctness" threatens to deny bright pupils entry to the best universities.

Cambridge and Imperial College London will require at least one A* but Oxford and other leading colleges will not use the new grade this year, in accordance with government advice.

Members of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference of 250 fee-paying schools accused Oxford of giving in to demands from ministers to admit more working class students.

Tim Hands, chairman of the universities committee, said: "It's craven and pusillanimous."

Mike Nicholson, director of admissions at Oxford, said: "There seems to be a belief that this is politically motivated but it is purely pragmatic."