You think the British class system is a bit of a thing from the past, then you start looking into university’s and realise oh here it is, it’s still alive and kicking

[Ohhereiswhereitis]

like it’s just become a bit more hidden

Some of the colleges are very wealthy with substantial investments and property portfolios. Hence they can afford to offer bursaries to some poorer students and subsidise accommodation.

Absolutely agree, Russell group unis very middle class/private/grammar school pupils.
The old polytechnics or newer unis are a lot more diverse.
I've looked round a range of unis with 3 DC and definitely a snobby element to top unis.
However top uni doesnt necessarily mean good student support.
And, depending on career, employer often don't care which uni you went too.

Yes, white men are tragically disadvantaged.

The bright white men will do just fine. even though 60% of new lawyers are women lots of them by choice or because they marry a man who earns more will not carrying on working 70 hour weeks so the good men who remain tend to do fine later on. I will start to weep for white boys when 80% of top earners in the UK are white females with men hardly getting a look in. The white working class boys from my native North East England have fewer chances than black boys in London in part because of the fact they are not near London. Yet in the 1800s some of my family deliberately moved to the Durham area because it was absolutely booming so I suppose areas come and go and people move.

As I am an optimist, I think once graduates get into the work place they tend to do fine if they work hard, don't slack and get on with people and are bright however they are and whatever their class (getting that first job was the biggest break of my career even now 40 years on. I had 25 interviews to get it). If they can't get on they can do what I did - I voted with my feet and set up on my own.

(I don't agree that for mjost trades you need some innate ability and deterity most people do not have however as suggested above. You just have to learn the job)

And, as you very well know, law is dominated by white men, particularly the further up you go. I'm sure your son will be fine.

To be fair to universities none of this is their fault. It’s a result of the introduction of fees and the abolition of the maintenance grant. For years entry to uni was based on ability. If you were good enough and smart enough you could go to university fully funded. Didn’t matter if you were the daughter of a duke or the son of a road sweeper. The country invested. Individual interviews meant an admissions tutor could take a’punt’ on a promising individual who might not get the grades required due to personal circumstances. To this day universities offer contextual offers based on a student background, school and other factors. There are programmes and summer schools that guarantee lower offers on successful completion. These are free.
i agree though that uni is harder for those from poorer backgrounds. They’re more likely to have to work alongside their study unlike wealthier counterparts. They’ll have fewer connections for work experience or internships.
so yes the british class system is alive and kicking but that’s not the fault of universities. It’s because successive governments no longer invest in the education of our young people.