Cambridge school to ‘goal’ non-public colleges to enhance the ‘high quality’ of its college students amid ‘reverse discrimination’ issues

A college at the University of Cambridge plans to target students from elite private schools in a bid to improve the ‘quality’ of those applying.

Fellows at Trinity Hall approved the measure last month after Director of Admissions Dr Marcus Tomalin raised concerns over ‘reverse discrimination’ against students from the independent sector.

The admissions team will now use a ‘targeted recruitment strategy’ to approach 50 private schools, which are based mainly in the south of England and largely charge fees of more than £25,000 per year.

Educational institutes including St Paul’s Girls, Eton and Winchester will all reportedly be on the list and students will be encouraged to apply for subjects with low applicant numbers, including languages, music and classics.

But college staff and social mobility experts have reacted in horror at the move, describing it as a ‘slap in the face’ that suggests students from state schools are seen as academically inferior by the college.

In a memo seen by the Guardian, Dr Tomalin outlined proposals to target privately-educated teenagers and claimed that ‘the best students from such schools arrive at Cambridge with expertise and interests that align well with the intellectual demands’ of the subjects.

He went on to say: ‘To ignore or marginalise this pool of applicants would risk overlooking potential offer holders who are not only exceptionally well qualified but who have been encouraged to engage critically and independently with their subjects in a way that Cambridge has historically prized.

‘It is important that the crucial task of securing greater fairness in admissions does not unintentionally result in reverse discrimination.’ 

Fellows at Trinity Hall approved the measure last month after Director of Admissions Dr Marcus Tomalin raised concerns over ‘reverse discrimination’ against students from the independent sector

Dr Tomalin suggested private schools should be targeted to improve the ‘quality’ of admissions and raised concerns about ‘reverse discrimination’

Staff reacted angrily to the new policy, with one academic telling the paper it is ‘deeply alarming’, while a second added it risks returning Trinity Hall ‘to the boys’ club of the past’. 

Social mobility expert Lee Elliot Major, from the University of Exeter, was similarly concerned.

He said the policy implies that students from state-educated backgrounds are ‘academically inferior’ and that the college risks ‘mistaking polished performance, so often shaped by privilege, for greater raw talent’.

The University of Cambridge has taken steps in recent years to diversify its intake of students and increase the number of state-educated pupils admitted.

Figures from 2025 showed that just 6.4 percent of all children in the UK are privately-educated, but these account for 29 percent of Cambridge students. 

The university removed its specific targets for state school admissions in 2024 under a policy from the Office for Students, which is the regulator for England’s further education sector. 

Trinity Hall had more private school students than Cambridge’s average in 2022 at 32 percent, although this fell to 26 percent in the most recent figures available.

According to the college, a fifth of students admitted last year came from ‘the most disadvantaged backgrounds’. 

A Trinity Hall spokesperson said: ‘There has been no change to Trinity Hall’s widening participation policy. 

‘This modest additional activity is aimed at ensuring they get the best applications from talented students from all backgrounds.’

They added that the college ‘has a strong record of access initiatives aimed at students from disadvantaged backgrounds.’ 

They highlighted several aimed at improving access for underprivileged students including a residential programme for students from underrepresented ethnic minority backgrounds and a STEM programme for science students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Dr Tomalin himself has also participated in a series of podcasts titled Cambridge from the Inside, which is aimed at breaking down barriers to admission – he has given guidance including personal statement advice and interview guidance.

The spokesperson added: ‘This latest initiative is aimed at targeted subjects to encourage students with high academic potential to apply to Cambridge. 

‘Those students come from all school types, including the independent sector, in line with the University’s Access and Participation Plan. 

‘We wish to make all students aware of the webinars, podcasts and social media materials we produce, with the aim of supporting them in making the best decisions for their academic future.’

Dr Tomalin has been contacted for comment.