MILLIONAIRE philanthropist Sir Peter Lampl is inviting bright sixth formers from poorer backgrounds to spend an all-expenses paid week at a top university.

The chairman of the Sutton Trust is organising summer schools to encourage talented state school pupils from under-privileged backgrounds to aspire to places at four of the countrys best, including Oxford and Cambridge.

It follows research by the educational charity which found that students from less well-off homes are significantly under-represented at the best state schools, as well as at the top universities.

An analysis of the highest-ranked comprehensives showed that only 5.6 per cent of their pupils were entitled to free school meals, compared to a national average of 14.4 per cent.

Sir Peter said: "The social exclusivity of our high-performing schools has a negative impact on the make-up of our universities.

"There are at least 3,000 able students from state schools who obtain the A-level grades necessary to go to a top university, but many of them do not apply because they think they either wont fit in or stand a chance of getting in. Our summer schools are designed to dispel these myths."

The trust will pay for about 650 students from across the country to spend a week in July at Bristol, Cambridge, Nottingham or Oxford universities. They will attend lectures, meet tutors and take part in social activities with current students acting as mentors.

Priority for places will be given to teenagers aged 16 and 17 whose parents are in non-professional occupations and did not go to university

Anyone interested should call 0208 788 3223 for more details or download an application form from www.suttontrust.com