Private schools and Oxbridge

[HPFA]

This from the Times. Apologies as main article will be behind the paywall but you can just about read it:

twitter.com/hendopolis/status/1126953098449162241

It's fair to say sympathy on social media appears rather limited. The most gobsmacking thing is the comment that "marginal" candidates for Oxbridge are now missing out, presumable because private schooling is no longer giving the benefit it once did.

I always find these sorts of complaints rather puzzling. I mean, presumably these schools are selling themselves to parents on the basis that their children will do better than in state schools so why do they object to universities trying to compensate for that? Are they saying "of course our pupils have an advantage but it's wrong to try and account for that?"

The private schools SELL their Oxbridge results on open days. I remember NLCS telling a large hall of prospective prep school parents that Oxbridge entry was guaranteed to those who want it (the implication being the other 50% chose elsewhere). That's confidence given the kids were 3!

I assume that was some years ago now though Fan. I think it has been tougher for some years now and certainly the marginal candidates from private schools are probably now at a disadvantage when applying.

Im not sure how you would male that assumption @jeanne16

Private schools are still at a massive advantage. Yes the playing field is being levelled out a bit but just because you pay for education doesn't make a child magically more able to get into Oxbridge. There are lots of reasons why a few more kids from state schools get in. Thus includes a bit better outreach from Oxbridge itself, parents not being able to afford the continual fee hikes from private schools, (sending to state sixth forms like Peter Symonds etc) , students educating themselves and watching YouTubers do really well like Ibz Mo, but you can hardly say that even those who are on 'the margins' are disadvantaged.

I think this is a disgusting article from the Headmaster of Stowe the victimisation element comparing to anti-Semitism particularly shocking.

www.suttontrust.com/newsarchive/oxbridge-over-recruits-from-eight-schools/

This report looks at the 'disadvantaged'

I'm Jewish and am with OrangeCinnamon on this - to compare fewer borderline private school applicants getting into Oxbridge with the revolting antisemitism of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion is beyond disgusting. I am seething about this.

FWIW, I got into Oxbridge from an OK private school (nearly 30 years ago), my DH went there from a pretty crap comp. he was such a minority that to this day people raise their eyebrows when they find out where he went to school. I had the college prospectuses in my school library. He had to do everything - pre-internet - by himself. A lot has changed for the better since then, but I am all for contextual applications. The playing field needs to be levelled for the 93% somehow.

Agree the comparison with anti-Semitism was shocking. I would be embarrassed if I had children at the school.

Some of the same schools concerned about losing their advantage in Oxbridge entry were found to be cheating at the Pre-U exams that they help write. It is another advantage that should be removed - show me one state school that prepares for the pre-U.