Oxbridge actively targeting private school pupils

[mumsqna]

Read in the telegraph this week that oxbridge and some other top unis are actively trying to reduce the number of private school students they give offers to.

Right now it’s 72% to state and 28% private schools in Cambridge. I personally think it’s should be about 65% to 35%. After decades of free education there can’t be that many children in this country that are very bright that can realistically be classed as ‘disadvantaged’ imo. Most should be in homes that are the top 20% of household incomes for their region. Most of bright but disadvantage should be ethnic minorities coming from immigrant households.

I’m quite annoyed by this, it feels like some academics trying to force you into the state system. So put off I’ve just decided that they can fuck off as there are universities around the world.

like my drive to work comes from wanting to give my children the best education available in the world. Just feeling deflated.

So you think 7% of students should get 35% of Oxbridge offers because...?

I don’t think it’s 7% at sixth form level - it’s much higher. 7% is an overall figure.

I don’t understand the comment about most state school entrants being in the top 20% of household income in the area. Surely it’s about ability of the individual.

OP your title doesn’t make any sense. Do you mean Oxbridge NOT actively targeting private schools?
also you can increase your children’s chance of getting in by looking at the stats from each individual college. Some take more private than others.
i think it’s a good idea - 2 of my children are at private school too (although one isn’t very academic). There are fewer ways of improving social and economic outcomes now than 50 years ago.

OP is saying that, their opinions is that bright children will come from affluent backgrounds. (so the top 20% of households)

Because "there can’t be that many children in this country that are very bright that can realistically be classed as ‘disadvantaged’ imo"

OP seems to have missed the entire conversation about social mobility (or lack of it).

Why do you think a private education is better? Oxbridge clearly don't and have changed their requirements. Employers are looking more broadly too.

Why? Because you paid for private education you have more right to a place at a state funded university.
Children who go to private school aren’t smarter, they benefit from more opportunities and smaller classes.

Are you seriously suggesting that private school pupils should be given better advantages? Aren't they already advantages enough, you openly admit private is better than state.

Have a think about what you are suggesting and reflect on what that says about you as a person.

@sunshineandstrawberryjam @jtaeapa is correct. 20% students who go to uni are privately educated and they predominantly coming from homes where their parents who work in jobs that need you to be smart

After decades of free education there can’t be that many children in this country that are very bright that can realistically be classed as ‘disadvantaged’ imo. Most should be in homes that are the top 20% of household incomes for their region. Most of bright but disadvantage should be ethnic minorities coming from immigrant households.

This is grim. Really grim. And completely incorrect. I have worked with 3 looked after children who have gone to Oxford in the last 5 years. You need to look at your bigotry.

I thought it was that but was a bit surprised to see somebody admit to holding that view in polite discourse.
OP, it’s a bit worrying you can’t see all the holes in your argument and be completely blind to whet sounds like a pretty privileged life, while at the same time believing you and yours should get first dibs at Oxbridge.

What kind of "smart"?
You have narrow and bizarre ideas that are very out of touch.

Oh that’s amazing. I hope they are getting on ok and enjoying it. I love to hear stories like that.

Sorry that was a reply to @badbaduncle

As you say, oxbridge isn’t the be all and end all. If you want, send your kids private. Or if you don’t want, send them to state and use the money for other stuff - like house deposit or tuition or whatever.

Everything about your post makes me angry.

Firstly it doesn't make grammatical sense so if you are classing yourself in that very bright category you need to work on your communication skills.

Secondly if you think private education doesn't make you advantaged what are you paying for it for? Therefore all state school students are comparatively disadvantaged unless you are stupid enough to be paying for something worth nothing.

Thirdly unless you yourself are an admissions tutor for one of these Universities what makes you arbiter of what is 'bright'?

Fourthly - fine, fuck off abroad then. Your over privileged children's resources can go to someone whose leg up in the world has not come from mummy/daddy and instead with actual potential to change this country for the better.

You don't sound that bright yourself so I can see why you might need to pay to give your kids a leg up.

But being thick is not an excuse for bigotry.

I bet they are loving it and doing fantastically and will get great jobs.

However, ironically, they will likely do well and become the hated elite who people think should pay for everything. It's a bizarre cycle.

Is Oxbridge even considered to be that good of a university? Did you mean Oxford because that would make more sense but still not right. Get some perspective OP.

There is so much wrong with the OP that it is hard not to laugh!

If you feel Oxbridge attracting the best and most talented young people is 'unfair' then you deserve a big

In words of one syllable, what Oxbridge know is that thicker kids from private school were getting in ahead of cleverer kids from state school, meaning that the cohort in Oxbridge was thicker than it could be. They want to redress this balance because who wants thicker tutored kids to get places ahead of cleverer untutored kids?

Sorry to all the parents of slightly less than top-grade privately educated kids as obviously that's a shame for them personally now to have to compete in a bogger pond and be found wanting, but hopefully you can buy them an internship or something to help them that way.

Are there universities abroad that do give preference to privately educated kids from the UK?
I am asking this genuinely.
I think that the privilege of children who are privately educated should stop as soon as they leave that school. If the education gets them the grades to get into Oxbridge, then great. But there's no way an extra percentage of places should be held just because people are privately educated.

Being clever doesn’t equate to being a high earner btw. And lots of people in private schools are paid for by family money.
For instance being a university lecturer isn’t brilliant pay and means you can’t afford to send your children to private school, would their children be clever enough for you?

Universities look beyond high grades now for good reason.

@underneaththeash typing in between meetings and mumsnet doesn’t let you edit titles

Also - the Op's mind is going to <explode> when they learn that some companies are desperately trying to NOT recruit people via the old boys' network because theya re sick of the same mindset being in teh room - they actively want diverse opinions

Oh my god, wth is wrong with you?

Hooray for the state school kids (I'm mean proper state school not selective grammars) that are getting in over your snotty, entitled over privileged little darlings.

Hoo fucking ray! 🎉