Oxford rejects deaf student with six grade As at A-level

Oxford University became embroiled in a new dispute over elitism yesterday after rejecting a deaf student from a comprehensive school who went on to gain six grade A passes at A–level.

Disability campaigners and MPs rounded on the university because Russian-born Anastasia Fedotova, from Manchester, failed to win a place to study material sciences at Brasenose College after an interview with tutors.

Anastasia is profoundly deaf and was unable to talk until she was seven. She studied at Parrs Wood comprehensive school in Manchester, and found last week that she had grade A passesin maths, further maths, physics, chemistry, biology and general studies.

Her mother, Selena, speaking on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, said the rejection did "bring into question" the university's admissions procedures, adding that her daughter might have lacked the confidence and present-ational skills needed for her interview. Mrs Fedotova added that she was not accusing the university of discriminating against her daughter on the ground of her disability.

In May 2000 Gordon Brown, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, condemned Magdalen College, Oxford, for rejecting Laura Spence, from a Tyneside comprehensive, who later won a place at Harvard to study a different subject. Mr Brown said the college's entry policies were the "elitist" product of an old boys' network.

Yesterday disability groups were quick to remind the university that new laws outlawing discrimination in the admissions process would come into force on 1 September.

Agnes Fletcher, director of public affairs at the Disability Rights Commission, said: "Oxford University should examine whether its admissions or interview processes have hindered this deaf student's application. It certainly raises alarm bells with us that Anastasia, who is bright and obviously talented, has been rejected.

"By a mere three weeks, Brasenose College, Oxford, has escaped detailed scrutiny of its decision to reject Anastasia."

Lord Ashley of Stoke, a former Labour MP and disability rights campaigner who is deaf, said Brasenose should explain how it had reached its decision. "Brasenose College has a case to answer when we have a bright young lady of this kind rejected," he said.

Tony Lloyd, MP for Manchester Central and a former Foreign Office minister, is writing to Oxford asking it to justify its selection methods "both in the hope that Anastasia can still be offered a place but also so that in future young people of talent get through a selection process which, at the moment, is clearly failing".

Anastasia has been offered a place at Imperial College, London. A Downing Street spokesman said: "We would expect universities to seek out the best talent regardless of background."

Dr Evan Harris, the Liberal Democrat MP whose Oxford West and Abingdon constitu-ency includes the university, said: "Although Ms Fedotova is clearly a talented student with excellent results, that alone does not provide even prima facie evidence of unfair discrimination.

"I am satisfied that the university's entrance procedures do not discriminate against disabled students or against those from state schools and that in fact the interview process allows additional factors to be taken into account."