Bristol University is yet again in the eye of a storm over its admission policy and discrimination against students from independent schools. This time it has refused admission to 18-year-old Sushila, daughter of Asha Bhownagary — a psychotherapist of Indian descent and Trevor Phillips, a native of Guyana who studied at the Imperial College, London. Sushila became one of 100 girls studying for their A levels (equivalent to SSC in India) and was rejected by Bristol despite scoring 296 out of 300 in A/S level english. The only explanation for her rejection appears to be that she attends Westminster school, one of Britain’s most prestigious independent schools, which charges day pupils fees of 12,000 pounds per annum. Sushila’s father, Phillips — the newly appointed chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality — said his daughter’s rejection had shocked family and friends. ‘‘We are extremely surprised that she did not receive an offer. Though I have no disagreement with greater access, I would have hoped that universities and the government would have a slightly more sophisticated policy than simply ‘blacklisting’ independent schools,’’ he said.
