Letter: In brief

Sir: You report ("Minister condemns A-levels, 18 September) that Baroness Blackstone wishes to open entrance to higher education to "mature students and people from poor backgrounds" by broadening the range of subjects undertaken before university study. What possible reason is there for believing that disadvantaged students will do better under such a regime? It is a canard to suggest that most universities do not take considerable trouble with what are currently non-standard applications.

J M OLIVER

London EC2