Professor Alison Richard wants more working-class students

Professor Alison Richard's pledge comes after both Oxford and Cambridge were criticised for taking only 9% of their undergraduates from this group.

They were among 28 universities listed by higher education funding councils for failing by a distance to reach their "benchmark" - a stipulated number of working-class entrants.

Prof Richard said: "Over the last few years we have been engaging in a large number of initiatives for potential students in order to dispel some of the myths and misconceptions that surround applying to Cambridge, and to encourage more students to apply from groups who are currently under-represented at Cambridge.

'More impact'

"These statistics are very complex, but what is clear is that we are moving in the right direction."

The figures, for freshmen in 2000-1, were just a "snapshot", she added.

Prof Richard added: "The projects are organised on a national scale, as well as in local schools, and work with students from primary schools, secondary schools and in further education colleges.

"The results of these efforts are mainly long-term. For example, the university started year 10 visits in 2000, so these students are aged 14 and 15 .

"It would be students applying to higher education for 2004 at the earliest where we would hope to see more of an impact."

For the UK overall, 25.8% of new students were working-class.

In the admissions tables, 29 universities, most of them modern ones, were highlighted as improving significantly on their benchmark.

Michael Driscoll, chairman of the Coalition of Modern Universities, which represents former polytechnics, said: "Modern universities attract the lion's share of students from non-traditional backgrounds as well as mature and part-time students.

"As the performance indicators clearly show, modern universities continue to lead the way in widening access to higher education, one of the major challenges facing universities today."

Wolverhampton University easily exceeded its benchmark. It took 45% of its students from working-class backgrounds, having been set 33%.

Academic registrar Jane Nelson said: "We are pleased that we are continuing to recruit above national benchmarks for under-represented groups and will strive to keep on improving.