MartaTam I don't believe that it's true that RG universities take a greater proportion of state school pupils.
www.theguardian.com/education/2018/feb/01/attempts-to-widen-uk-university-student-participation-have-stalled
Among the universities with the lowest state school participation were Oxford, Cambridge, Durham, Imperial College and St Andrews.
Also the more prestigious universities have been found to be prejudicial toward non-White pupils.
PLUS not all state schools are equal there are some that are doing very well due to location which mean their intake is largely from mc or higher families. Plus in some parts of uk there's still the grammar school system, but unlike in the past currently it's generally better off families that can afford the tuition that frankly seems to be required to have a hope of passing the test.
In addition it's not JUST what school they go to, it's the support/lack of hardship at home.
digitalsynopsis.com/inspiration/privileged-kids-on-a-plate-pencilsword-toby-morris/
To then publicly display such privilege is beyond crass! It's arrogantly offensive!
Op I couldn't stay friends with either mother or daughter to be honest with that attitude. I have friends from all backgrounds - inc one descended from landed gentry who's family is STILL very wealthy BUT they recognise and acknowledge their privilege and would never act like this - if they did among my friends they'd soon be put straight!
"I’m sure the former poly gives as good as they get" I wonder if the posters saying this would say the same if the slogan were sexist, or racist or homophobic? Why is it ok to have a pop at the poor? Why is it ok in THIS case to defend those in the position of privileged/oppressors? At those who HAVEN'T had the advantages of those at the "better" uni. (I put "better" in quotes cos frankly any institute that claims to be better educated, should know BETTER than to behave or allow their students to behave like this!). The people going to RG uni's are very much the people that THEN go on to become MP's, high up in nhs, civil service (inc dwp and tax credits) and making the ULTIMATE decisions on how the poor are treated! Do we REALLY want them learning right from the beginning at uni that the poor are deserving of their derision? REALLY? I think it's absolutely shocking and the uni AND the pupils should be sanctioned in some way. CERTAINLY such attitudes and behaviour should be STRONGLY discouraged.
BOTH op's friend AND her daughter (min age 18) are old enough to know better!
Not that it would happen (not least because dd is far from privileged) but if my dd ever did anything so naff I'd not be laughing I'd be giving her a bollocking! And reminding her of how lucky she is!
Rebecca not all unis are available to all applicants and that will affect choice for poorer students. It's not as simple as just looking at fees, living costs in the location of the uni, which again is partly affected by the reputation/perceived standard of the uni, the books and equipment that different unis used to different income of students expect students to access also varies greatly. It's like saying "anyone can have afternoon tea at the ritz" they might be able to (just) afford the actual afternoon tea but are they going to be able to also afford a reasonable tip, feel comfortable going there in primark jeans?
"either-ive missed this..or in scotland....its not a thing?" I'm a Scot, I love Scotland but I'm afraid yes some students who attend eg St. Andrews or Glasgow can have a less than acceptable attitude to people who've attended unis perceived to be less prestigious.
"but your attitude that RG universities are full of privileged students who have slid in to their places without making an effort is pretty vile too, OP." That's not what op has said at all!
Havaina - that's a powerful and moving video. Even before the guy said anything I noticed those taking the most steps forward were mostly white males! I'm gonna copy and save link to that for similar discussions hope that's ok.