Cambridge to 'drop state school admissions targets'

[Stripedquilt]

A lot about this in the news this morning.

One thing I don't understand - 'The institution is focusing on a new access plan to be put into action from the academic years 2025-26 to 2028-29.'

Will this apply to the applications made later this year for the intake of the academic year 2025-26? Or does it mean they start implementing the new access plan from 2025-26 onwards - so the state school targets would be dropped for those starting uni in autumn 2026, not 2025?

Thanks for any clarity!

@ForlornLindtBear Obvuously not. But why mention the NHS when you first meet someone? It’s not just chit chat is it? Medical intervention is usually what you talk about when you know someone. I am happy with that and showing empathy is fine and of course everyone does. However having a go at 16/17 year olds for one sentence is unfair and chippy. Of course mc children are disgusting @Teentaxidriver Did you not know?

@TizerorFizz that's not quite what the statistic says. For the number of grammar school patients who applied (2493) there were 642 who got an offer, over 25% acceptance rate. NOT that 25% of all places were held by grammar students. Looks like 18% from the numbers out of all int and home candidates but I agree it's a lot!!

@TizerorFizz this is beyond bizarre but I'll answer you. Because it is their only recourse and it is inextricably linked to their situation, ability to play their instrument and their future maybe? All very central to the DS's life and hopes I would imagine. If their disability is on show and it is clear that they are struggling, one way to address the elephant in the room is to talk about it head-on and to give people a steer on your openness about it. If someone is brave enough to do that, the least the others can do is to listen and show empathy and respect.

This seems like a conversation to be had with a young teen. Have you ever met any ill people?

Where did I say the conversation happened when they had only just met? And yes, x is affecting me, I have been told I need an operation but the NHS no longer fund this procedure is a valid conversation to have. The person who made the comment is not a bad person, but it demonstrated a lack of awareness due to theim previously having lived in rather a priveleged bubble.

Said young people are all still friends and have since participated in other musical activities together.

If Grammar schools did actually means test, there would be a very good argument for them getting increased funding, as is the case with FSM. They might actually start helping with social mobility again too. The system is very broken.

Well Im also waiting for the nhs. It’s what happens. Quite frankly we need to move on and make our own choices. Quite what the NHS and MC bashing has to do with Cambridge I’m not sure. I’m more interested in why grammar school dc are so highly represented?

Gosh the empathy in that post is astounding. From your other posts on a multitude of threads, if you are waiting for the NHS, that is your choice. The young person in question had no choice at all, was at a totally different life stage from you and their illness was affecting their future. No-one is bashing the NHS or the MC at all. My DC are very MC and would never act like that and no-one on this thread has said that all privileged DC would.

Grammar school DC tend to be highly represented in good universities mainly because of two things (A) they are clever (B) they apply.

“You sound delightful too.” Ah, you can always rely
on a socialist to chuck in a personal insult. Must be dull though, being so predictable.

Why is it my choice? Are you telling me to pay? Anyway. What’s happening to the clever dc at comprehensive schools? If grammars are 25%, private 25% (?) the comp clever dc are seriously underrepresented aren’t they?

Yes it is your choice. Because you can clearly afford to pay if the wait on the NHS is untenable. The young person doesn't have that choice. Stark difference.

RTFT. You've got the wrong end of the stick. The PP stated that it was not the composition that was 25% but the offer to application ratio for GS.

The 25.8% is actually the Acceptance/Success Rate to application ratio.

Across all
Subjects @ForlornLindtBear ?
Because there's a huge difference between say English and modern Languages and HSPS and Land Economy for instance. The first subject's odds being far harder.

Yes grammars across all subjects @faffadoodledo . The table the poster linked does show the breakdown by subject.

The success to application ratio is not a great one to use in this discussion or generally eg some good schools may know full well which teenagers are likely to have a chance at Oxbridge and which not and direct those who don't away from even bothering to try - very wise of the schools or some might have an over inflated view of their own abilities and try when it is pretty pointless.

I suppose there is also the point that if a teenager does not have the ability o do a simple google search to find out which subjects might give them more chance to get in they don't deserve a place anyway.

My youngest two both recently started their first qualified jobs so I have seen a lot of young people applying for things post university in the last few years. On the whole if you are good and go to a reasonable university you are likely to do fine in your job. If you got in when you shouldn't then you probably won't pass any post grad professional exams anyway or be weeded out in the work place so it all works out reasonably fairly in the end and if you don't get on (eg I was not made a partner) you can do what I did and set up on your own. We remains a fairly good country for opportunities.