Lead: Trinity Hall, a college at the University of Cambridge, approved a targeted recruitment policy to approach a small set of elite private schools—prompting alumni, social‑mobility charities and public figures to condemn the move this week. Critics told the Guardian that the initiative, framed internally as ensuring the college “does not ignore or marginalise” privately educated applicants, is a backward step for widening access. Campaigners called it offensive and warned it could damage state‑school outreach. Trinity Hall’s leaders defended the activity, saying there has been “no change” to widening‑participation policy and the outreach is a modest effort to secure qualified applicants across disciplines including classics, music and languages. Why it matters: The dispute spotlights tensions in elite admissions as colleges balance historic subject demands, perceived applicant fit, and widening‑access commitments. For outreach officers and admissions deans, the episode signals heightened scrutiny of recruitment choices and the political sensitivity of targeting strategies.