An education system based upon how much mummy and daddy earn NOT academic ability?

Health and Social care (no offence to anyone taking these!) and making unis purely academic once more.

Ah, your poor trust fund. ******.

Yes, because we really don't need social workers...
And if you're saying someone's degree is worthless, I think they're going to be offended even if you say 'no offence'!

The point is, YOU'RE not paying it back.
You've essentially personally recieved a free education.

I would say if you wanted to pay it off immediately, go ahead, but if I were you, I'd think about using it to fund whatever you want to do after uni. That's beside the point though.

If the government were to impose that restriction, it would completely level the playing field. There could be no "the rich get richer" debate. You'd have done everything by yourself.

Read my thread on "means tested tuition fees"

Why should the playing field be level? Why shouldn't I be able to use what advantages I have? I really fail to see why it's an issue.

Well I haven't fully decided, I might use it for a deposit on a house, but yeah beside the point.

Also, I doubt it would actually level the playing field. Think about it, if I couldn't use it to pay off my loan, I'd use part of it to buy myself the present I promised myself when I graduate, instead of using my first pay packet. I'd use it to put money ddown on a house. Things poorer people wouldn't be able to do. So I'd still be at an 'advantage'...

So what does any of that have to do with the standard of the school? Not all bad schools are in low income areas and not all good schools are in high income areas.

Absolutely, HOWEVER the fact that it's not school resources that ultimately determine your grade means that the poor school students CAN match the private school students, they just need to work harder for it (and the universities aren't stupid, they know that getting AAA from Larkhall Academy requires more independent work than would be required at say Eton).

That's not the point.

The point is that you'd be paying far less than someone else for the same education. Which is rather unfair.

And ah right, well, sounds like a plan

But everyone has advantages and people use them differently? I might be slightly financially advantaged, for example, someone might be athletically advantaged, should we ban them from sport because it's not fair on everyone else?

And I do hope so!

Lmao, that is not the same thing!

Atheltic and academic advantages are more ABILITIES.
It's not an ability to be rich, at least not if it's your family who are rich.

It is the same, they're advantages! There's all different sorts, be it financial advantage, sport talent, academic talent, atistic talent, natural good looks, etc.

We're "equal" in as much as rights (until a crime is committed at least), but we're all unequally advantaged, and unique.

No it's really not.

See how you said "talent" for some?
They're not "advantages."

You don't need a damn degree for it though! Or if you want one, do an academic subject like English and then use it to secure a decent job position.

Yes they are! It's not peoples fault some are born with talents and some aren't. Similarly to some people are born to wealthy families and some aren't. It's just how it is.

Yes you do need a degree for it, and what would be the point in studying English if you want to be a social worker and there are social work degrees? Of what relevance is an English degree to social work?

I can't believe you believe that.

It's a degree that proves you're academic ability (somewhat at least),

and you need communication skills for social work.

You don't need a health and social degree to be a social worker.

But an English degree has absolutely nothing to do with social work.



And the communication skills required for social work are much more effectively taught in a social work degree.



In Scotland you do.

"To become a social worker you will need an honours or postgraduate degree in social work"

http://www.sssc.uk.com/sssc/social-service-careers/training-as-a-social-worker.html

My mum had to do her postgrad in social work after her undergraduate psychology degree to become a social worker. And I have good reason to believe it's the same in England and Wales.