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The 30 per cent advantage in terms of chances of entry to Oxbridge that an October birthdate confers over and above a July one is more to do with the timing of the school year than whether you are a Libra rather than a Leo (The week in higher education, 7 March).

For example, those born in October 2005 enter school in September 2010, aged 4 years 11 months, whereas those born in July 2005 do so in September 2009, aged 4 years 3 months. At that age, eight months¡¯ extra development makes a considerable difference to one¡¯s school performance, an advantage that persists in later years.

Yes, being a Libra does tip the scales, but Leos just have to learn to growl harder.

Hillary J. Shaw
Senior lecturer in food economics and health
Department of food and supply chain management
Harper Adams University