Oxbridge takes recruitment campaign to primary schools to ditch 'snooty' image

State-school children as young as 10 are being courted by Oxford and Cambridge in an attempt to increase the numbers of working-class students studying there.

The youngsters are being shown round the universities in an attempt to rid them of pre-conceptions that the country's best-known higher institutions are snooty and not for them.

Fran Kerridge, one of three Cambridge university graduates working full-time as a schools liaison officer for a year after graduating, said trips round the university have been arranged for youngsters from the ages of 10 to 18.

"Those in their last year at primary school can just take a look around the university, so that when the time comes for them to make their minds up they don't see it as a place that's not for them," said Ms Kerridge, who hails from a council estate in east London and works with a project aimed at increasing applications from ethnic minority groups.

However, the catch-them-while-they're-young approach is by no means the only plank of Oxford and Cambridge's attempts to increase applications from state schools.

This year, they are mounting the largest series of education fairs ever in an attempt to spread the gospel that the two universities are for the gifted and talented – whatever their backgrounds.

The latest venue – where 1,300 sixth-formers assembled on Friday – was Cheltenham racecourse. Other venues, likely to attract more youngsters from non-traditional university backgrounds, include Manchester United's Old Trafford ground and St James's Park, the home of Newcastle United. Trips round the two football grounds and a sight of the hallowed turf at both venues are included in the package.

In all, 10,500 sixth-formers will attend five fairs organised bythe two universities. So that the hackles of the independent sector don't rise too much (private school heads are boycotting Bristol University, alleging discrimination against their pupils), private schools are also invited. Admissions staff just make a point of contacting state schools with no history of sending pupils to Oxbridge, encouraging them to attend.

Among those at Cheltenham were a group of youngsters from Cardinal Griffin Roman Catholic comprehensive in Cannock, Staffordshire, who said their school had never sent a pupil to Oxford or Cambridge. Ashley Cook, 17, said: "If I do apply to Oxford or Cambridge, this will have helped me."

Admissions staff said they had 1,000 more applications from the state sector last year, and the number from ethnic minorities rose from 8 per cent to 13 per cent.