Social engineering school warning

From 2008, university applicants will have to disclose their parents' education

Teachers have heard accusations of "social engineering" in the university application process.

The Professional Association of Teachers is concerned about pupils having to disclose their parents' education when applying to university.

Peter Morris from PAT accused the government of discriminating against the middle classes.

The government says it "makes no apologies" for giving poorer children more chances to succeed.

Mr Morris told delegates at the PAT annual conference in Harrogate that the government must stop "interfering" in education with attempts at social engineering.

The middle classes are becoming the new whipping boys for 'New Labour' Peter Morris, PAT

He said the target for getting 50% of young people to go to university by 2010 had "caused the dumbing down of degrees".

"Children of graduates who apply for a university course will be placed at a disadvantage in comparison to applicants with similar qualifications whose parents did not attend university," he said.

"Ucas application forms will, from 2008, include questions asking whether applicants' parents have a university degree. What possible relevance is this to an application?

"Also, details of parental occupation, ethnic background and whether or not applicants have been in care will be shown to admission tutors ahead of the selection process, not after it is completed.

"The middle classes are becoming the new whipping boys for 'New Labour'."

Middle England

The conference passed a motion demanding that ministers "stop interfering in educational life chances for our young people with attempts at social engineering".

Backing the motion, Nardia Foster, a secondary school teacher from Enfield, north London, said: "Evidence states the increasing gap between rich and poor.

"The rich can afford to study and the poor are supported - sort of - while Middle England pays - but who are these Middle Englanders?

"Education must provide equality of opportunity, regardless of gender, colour, race and social class - then every child will truly matter."

'Little academic rigour'

Mr Morris also criticised what he described as the "dumbing down" of academic standards.

"Take History, for example. A GCE question may have been 'Describe Henry VIII's foreign policy towards France' whereas these days a question is more likely to be 'You are a peasant living in the time of Henry VIII: Describe how you would feel about...'

"The former question had academic rigour whereas the later is a woolly, touchy-feely question with very little academic rigour."

A spokesman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families said: "We are ensuring every child has the best possible start in life and the opportunity to succeed - nobody can argue with that.

"As Ed Balls has already made perfectly clear in his statement to parliament on July 10, we want every child to benefit from improving standards, especially the most disadvantaged.

"New ways of raising standards in schools, such as progression and personalisation, will ensure that all pupils get the education they deserve to reach their full potential.

"And it is only right that we are also ensuring the opportunity of higher education is accessible to everyone who desires it."