The Education Secretary, Charles Clarke, has praised the London School of Economics for the way it has increased the proportion of students it takes from state schools.

In the latest table of state school participation in the UK's universities - showing figures for the 2000-2001 academic year - the LSE has 66%.

This was well below its target "benchmark" of 77%, and the institution is towards the bottom of the UK-wide table, with only 10 other places below it.

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But Mr Clarke's point was that the LSE's figure had jumped from 58% the previous year - whereas overall there was no change, at 86%, and in England the change was just one percentage point, from 84% to 85%.

Reaching out

In common with many institutions, the LSE has been actively recruiting from a wider range of schools.

It says it is in contact with some 200 state schools and colleges, many locally in around 13 London boroughs.

Since 1988 it has been running a student tutoring scheme funded by the oil company BP.

This involves more than 200 LSE students each year volunteering to help in the classrooms of about 30 primary and secondary schools.

'Taster' schools

It also runs summer, winter and Saturday schools for sixth formers from London state schools and colleges to encourage people to think of applying to university.

Just this week it has 60 students from five secondary schools and colleges in Waltham Forest, who are getting extra tuition.

They are taking one of three courses in "finance and our future", mathematics and "law and society".

Next month, for instance, it is also running a new winter school to widen access to law for 40 students from inner London, in partnership with the Sutton Trust and the College of Law.

Academic standards

The LSE's student recruitment officer, Tim Rogers, said this kind of outreach work was nothing new - some of its programmes had been running for seven years.

Its attitude is a mixture of altruism and self-interest.

"We are looking to broaden people's horizons, among those who might not have thought they were university material or just didn't fancy it."

They might not necessarily end up going to the LSE.

"But there is also talent spotting, because we live and die by our undergraduate intake every year and we are not going to compromise our academic standards."

Its usual offer to prospective students remains at least an A and two B grades at A-level, and often three As.

But it also looks closely at students' personal statements, for a demonstrable interest in their chosen subject and what they can contribute to the life of the school.

One of the most popular talks its staff and students give to schools is simply about how to fill in the Ucas university application form to best effect.