The University of Bristol has been criticised by students as it emerges that a scheme created specifically to recruit pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds gave a third of places to private school applicants.

Announced in December last year, the scheme promised to drop grade requirements in order to attract poorer pupils, including those who receive free school meals, live in care or have suffered family problems.

But it was revealed yesterday that 33 percent of offers awarded under the Scholars scheme were to students taught at independent school, which the university insists meet the criteria of the “widening participation strategy”.

Nationally, just 14 percent of sixth form students are educated at independent schools - meaning those with lowered offer grades from Bristol are significantly overrepresented on the scheme.