One of the nation’s brightest pupils has failed to get into university despite scoring three A* and three A grades at A-level and branded a “genius” by teachers.

Geoffrey Hill was yesterday elected Oxford University’s new Professor of Poetry, after a year of campaigning marred by allegations of dirty tricks and sexism.

A row has broken out over the election of the Oxford professor of poetry for the second year running after the only female candidate pulled out of race claiming she was disadvantaged by sexism.

The Oxford University Conservative Association female speaker was told to “go back to washing the dishes”, witnesses claim.

Oxford students who go into “socially useful” jobs like teaching could be exempt from tuition fees under a new scheme being considered by the university.