Oxford denies press slip

Oxford University denied this week that it leaked details about the failed application of the son of a prominent banker and university donor to the press.

The donor, Philip Keevil, has since resigned from his fundraising post.

Mr Keevil has made donations to Oxford of more than £100,000 over the past 15 years. He felt his son's application to Trinity College was "mishandled" and that the case highlighted Oxford's fundraising problems. He said that in the United States, places are set aside for the children of donors whose money helps poorer students study.

Mr Keevil has now declined to speak on the subject.

An Oxford spokesman said the university had been approached by newspapers on the subject of Mr Keevil's son and had simply responded.

He said: "Oxford's selection procedure is one of the most comprehensive in the country and great care is taken to evaluate each candidate as an individual in light of a range of evidence to assess their potential."