Mr Clarke addressed delegates at Newcastle Racecourse

Charles Clarke answered critics on a visit to Newcastle-upon-Tyne on Tuesday, after claims that Bristol University discriminated against privately-educated pupils.

Speaking in Newcastle, Mr Clarke said the vice-chancellor at Bristol had not imposed quotas on pupils from independent schools.

And he said those who criticised the university were "mistaken and foolish".

Mr Clarke was in the North East promoting the government's white paper on the future of higher education, the first of a series of events where he will meet students and academics.

After addressing more than 100 delegates at Newcastle Racecourse, he responded to critics of Bristol University.

Costs contribution

Mr Clarke said independent school headteachers who advised pupils not to apply there were "foolish".

He said: "Those independent school organisations trying to blackguard Bristol are mistaken and foolish in my view.

"Our admission's policy is not to discriminate for or against students from independent schools, but to discriminate in favour of pupils who have the merit, attainment, and potential to go to university."

During the discussion, Sunderland University Student Union president Karen Wilson said proposals to increase the number of people enrolling at colleges, while charging them to study, was a "paradox".

Mr Clarke said it was the government's policy to ask students to make a contribution towards the cost of studying.

Dropping the policy of demanding an �1,100 upfront fee for some students would remove a "significant inhibition" for many potential graduates, Mr Clarke said.

Newcastle University vice-chancellor Chris Edwards said the white paper had room for dialogue between academic institutions and the government.