Oxbridge = Inaccessible to most students?

It used to be that you could go to a grammar no matter your background, as long as you were willing to work hard, and were smart. Now smart kids who still want the best for themselves can't go to grammars due to their family's income, which is completely unfair.

Did you go to a private school? If so, you have been tutored much more thoroughly and in smaller class sizes than your state school counterpart.

I hear parents who send their kids to the big name private schools feeling pressured to get the kids tutored for the 11+/entrance exams, and then again for GCSEs, because it has become the norm. Some parents take on the responsibility themselves or pay for access to online courses.

But it isn't just that kind of extreme additional support they get. If you have your own phone that's paid for by the bank of mum and dad, your own laptop, and a good wifi connection, you have constantly individual access to various learning opportunities. Those at the other end of the spectrum are more likely to have limited access to these things, typically through borrowed resources from public services, or restricted data allowances on mobile phones. Their basic ability to educate themselves is far more restricted than someone who basically can afford to pay for the same access.

The point made above about being around peers who encourage you is also a very good one though. If you are constantly encouraged rather than discouraged, whether it be by teachers, parents or peers, you start believing in your ability (and sometimes far too much so).

You are lucky to be in a LEA that offers the 11+. These are namely areas of much higher wealth, and obviously where there are numerous grammer schools to support the system. Many in poorer areas won't even get the opportunity you were provided with.

So imagine how badly those people who were tutored would have done without being tutored? There is obviosuly a raw ability here, you had that raw ability over your fellow students who were tutored. But there will be plenty whose raw ability is much worse than yours but has been managed through a system of tutoring.

What does family income have to do with grammar schools? The reason most people can't go to grammars now is that demand far outstrips supply.

Even for many who have the opportunity to take an 11+, the actual ability to attend the school may also be impossible. Families are priced out of living near grammar schools where house and rent prices go up purely because there is a grammar school nearby! So they don't bother with the 11+ because there's no way their child can get to and from school safely/quickly without the parent having to take time away from work, and potentially earn less. Given that admissions to 11+ are not just based on the results, but will also take into factors such as geographical proximity, preference for those with siblings at the school, religous preference in some cases, it is not just someone's ability on the 11+ that will get them into that school.

In England there are less than 170 secondary grammar schools out of 3,000+ schools. A disproportionate of these grammar schools are in areas of higher wealth, or in city centres. Grammar schools are ultimately for the few. They either need to be abolished entirely, or rolled out consistently to provide equal opportunity for everyone. Otherwise, unfortunatley they just will increase the social mobility gap, even if their intentions are to reduce it.

You are lucky to be in a LEA that offers the 11+. These are namely areas of much higher wealth, and obviously where there are numerous grammer schools to support the system. .

I would expect that to be even more damning

It's because the top two social classes achieve the best results. That's it. If a student wants to work hard enough individually to go to Oxbridge, they are more than capable of doing so. But, in a world in which some parents pay a **** ton for their child's education - Those students are pushed to perfect the exam system. Its not about Oxbridge being "inaccessible" to everyone.

While grammars are based on so-called natural academic ability, an academic mind is a taught mind. Having a stable family environment, parents who are university educated, is going to put you at an advantage over someone from a single-parent household and whose mother is on the dole.

The idea that grammars are therefore meritocratic or egalitarian is a little misconceived.

Someone doesn't understand how genetics work, nor how wealth can be gained.

Someone doesn't understand how genetics work, nor how wealth can be gained.

That doesn't really mean they are more "able" it just means they are more coached. Their potential has been managed far more thoroughly and carefully through private tutition, whether it be through schools or personal tutors. They have been pushed through a system and fast-tracked. Those who haven't had that advantage aren't any less able, their potential just hasn't been facilitated yet.

Intelligence is more likely to be passed on, but doesn't mean it is. It is often more nuture than nature that increases its chances of being "passed on".

High IQ does not equate to wealth. There are plenty of people who earn their wealth via means that does not require a high IQ level.

Intelligence is passed on, with offspring averaging an IQ closer to the population average than the parents' IQ. This means that the offspring of intelligent parents are more likely to have high intelligence. Successful, high IQ people tend to marry and have children with other successful, high IQ people.

Someone doesn't understand how genetics work, nor how wealth can be gained.

Did you go to a private school? If so, you have been tutored much more thoroughly and in smaller class sizes than your state school counterpart.

Intelligence is more likely to be passed on, but doesn't mean it is. It is often more nuture than nature that increases its chances of being "passed on".

High IQ does not equate to wealth. There are plenty of people who earn their wealth via means that does not require a high IQ level.