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.

Oh my god, wth is wrong with you? Yes, this was my first thought

😂

"snotty, entitled over privileged little darlings"

This is kind of nasty!

You are deluded. Hope that helps.

@sheepdogdelight oh I haven’t missed it. I’m a big fan of social mobility as I can see it in my family. Gone from abject poverty to becoming senior professors and running hospitals in about 1 - 2 generations.

Which is why I often wonder whats causing the slow down ? Is there something wrong with the education system (I don’t think so) is it cultural or have we hit the limit?

@HelenWick There’s a lot more to an education than what happens i classroom. There’s drama, sports and music. They general have better facilities (they make you pay through the nose for it).

OP what was that infectious disease that caused a worldwide problem in 2020 and disrupted children's education?

UK has experienced increased and accelerating wage and wealth inequality since the early 1980s.

And no, it is not to do with getting rid of grammars.

You are aware if you take time to read your what you have just written back before you hit post, you can edit it?

Agree with what everyone else is saying.

A few points for you to consider:

The “smartest” people aren’t always the most well paid people. Not everyone is motivated purely by money, and lots of professions that require smart people are poorly paid.

Even if people are well paid, they wouldn’t automatically choose to send their children to a private school.

Smart kids can “appear”, “even now, after years of state education”, in the “lowliest” families. There hasn’t been some kind of mega sift that’s shaken all the worthiest, smart people to the top of the pile. It’s hugely worrying that you seem to think there has been!

All these discussions about opening up the supposedly elite education that Oxbridge offers fail to acknowledge what makes it 'elite' in the first place.
It's money. Lots of it. Funding research, facilities, academic positions etc.
When those with money find they and their offspring are no longer welcome, then the alumni/donor cash tap will be turned off. Simple.
In another decade or so, Oxbridge will have lost its 'elite/prestigious' label and will be scrabbling around like every other uni for funding.
It's already happening - the money and status is moving to unis like St Andrews and Durham. And to overseas universities.

Effectively your post is saying "I am annoyed that I can no longer buy advantage for my children to the same extent as could be done in the past". For years there has been a massive bias at Oxbridge towards privately educated children that has nothing to do with ability. This is now lessening slightly and the amount of bleating from private school parents is staggering.

I don't think Oxbridge will stop taking the "elite" or extremely wealthy international students.

Interestingly Durham has had it's reputation rather battered by the cuntish behaviour recently.

But surely wrt to Oxbridge - the new students will go on to become the future alumni and donate their own money? I don't think old money has any more value than new money, in terms of purchasing power, does it?

You need to be smart?
I assume that you are neither smart nor university educated yourself as you are coming across as very dense.

I think it's discriminatory to accept state school pupils with lower grades than privately educated pupils who have performed better. But I'm not sure if that's actually happening.

Staggering but also enjoyable

Oxbridge have always used their own entrance exams. What they have been doing is specifically encouraging more state pupils to undertake the exams and apply - because Oxford and Cambridge have an earlier admissions deadline many people do not think to apply in time - both are now trying to get more state pupils to throw their hat into the ring.

But also what has been proven is that exams are a poor measure, really, of potential because you can coach for Alevels - and coaching for an exam does not = genuine aptitude at degree level.

@itsybitzy oxbridge refers to Oxford and Cambridge collectively, which are consistently the best universities in the U.K.

Sounds like the OP is panicking because it’s finally dawned on her that money can’t buy IQ.
Shame on us peasants for getting above ourselves.

Oxford and Cambridge don't give a shit about enrichment, they care about reading, independent thought and commitment to the subject. I have had extensive discussions through my work and its misguided to think anything other than academics is relevant. I asked if a student needed to be 'well rounded' and was told 'they can be flat as a pancake if they've read everything'

DIDDUMS

What this should say is: Oxbridge targeting students with greatest academic potential

'When you’re accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression'.

We’re done a selection of state/private for our three. Even our worst private school was significantly better in every aspect than the best state (which is a top performing grammar).

But what if the state school pupil could have performed equally as well - if not better - had they had access to the same small class sizes and quality of education? This is what universities have become to recognise - that a lot of private pupils have only achieved the top A and A* grades due to intensive scaffolding from the school, extra tuition, resources, small group teaching. Lots of state school pupils are getting grades very nearly as high, from class sizes of 30 and very few resources. Obviously in that situation some of those state school pupils are MORE CAPABLE.
As a PP has noted lots of private parents just hating that you cannot buy the places!