Civil Service Fast Stream

[Jakolantern]

Has anyone got any experience or advice about applying for this? My son has just graduated from a prestigious university and is going back to do a masters next year. He is planning to apply to the civil service fast stream in October and is very motivated and excited by this prospect. He is highly intelligent, with excellent grades and good work experience and is a hardworking, very likeable young man who is committed to the idea of using his life to provide public service. He is not motivated by money, he just wants to be of benefit of others, but he does need to earn enough money to live obviously. I know he would be an asset to the civil service but as a white, middle class man with a humanities degree I feel as though the odds are stacked against him before he even applies. I haven’t mentioned this to him, of course, and I am just a passive spectator to his life now really, but if there was any help or advice I could give him it would be much appreciated.

@Jakolantern If you look at the very comprehensive data on recruitment to the fast track last year, you will see that 50% are already stem. It’s worth looking at these stats because it helps you get a handle on who gets recruited. It’s still 2.2% of applicants though! However loads of applicants have not just graduated and the scientists can get into very good jobs via other work. DDs friend went to Japan to work to learn Japanese and got into CS fast stream. It’s not just for 21/22 year olds.

OP also worth adding that the assessments for each stage of the FS application process are the same regardless of schme applied for (and you apply for up to 4).

Not private school, but RG uni.

Yes, that’s the plan!

Don’t worry I’m not a journalist.

He does volunteer at a food bank actually.

Yes, our placements begin in October and there is a fairly long process in advance, including security vetting. So he'll be applying this year to join next year after the summer period.

Nothing.

@Jakolantern what streams is he interested in?

@BoredZelda They want to recruit dc of people who frequent food banks? I think they really want to get up to the national figure of 25% of dc on fsm. They have 18% of applicants on fsm at the moment. Personally I don’t see why enacting government policy has much to do with fsm or food bank familiarity. It’s just virtue signalling.

I finished the fast stream a year or so ago - it was mainly white middle class people, more than 50% men, so I dont think that'll hold him back!

I do hope that’s the case and if you are an anxious parent then I do have empathy for you, although my sentiment is the same.

I am middle class (in adulthood) and my children go to private school. I have no worries for their future - they will find their place on their own merits and I do not pretend that there lives are disadvantaged. I despise the culture wars nonsense which is perpetuating damaging and divisive lies.

For what it’s worth I used to be a member of the senior civil servant and joined as a fast streamer and believe it be a very worthwhile career. Good luck to your son.