Elite given the edge 1

You failed to mention the extra £6 million a year given to elite universities to increase the proportion of state-schooled pupils ("Intake up for state pupils at top 13", THES , August 2).

A 4 per cent increase represents about 2,000 extra students, costing the taxpayer an additional £3,000 per student.

This is more than six times the extra funding per student my own university received through the so-called "postcode premium" for recruiting working-class and disadvantaged students from low-participation neighbourhoods - a much more difficult task. No wonder August is described as the "silly season".

Mike Milne-Picken
Head of planning and performance review
University of Central Lancashire