'Not all state schools are made equal': do grammars dominate top uni admissions?

A comment piece in the Cambridge student newspaper Varsity to ponder over:
Not all state schools are made equal: Outreach will fall short until comprehensive schools are set apart from grammars in admissions
https://www.varsity.co.uk/comment/29749
Are grammars still making up too much of the admissions to top universities? And can they 'hide' in the statistics because they're state schools, even when they only select the best (and disproportionately the more middle-class)?
Or is that unfair on counties like Kent that have chosen to keep the grammar system, where almost anyone who is Oxbridge quality will have passed the 11+ easily and gone to a grammar anyway, regardless of household income or background?

A comment piece in the Cambridge student newspaper Varsity to ponder over:
Not all state schools are made equal: Outreach will fall short until comprehensive schools are set apart from grammars in admissions
https://www.varsity.co.uk/comment/29749
Are grammars still making up too much of the admissions to top universities? And can they 'hide' in the statistics because they're state schools, even when they only select the best (and disproportionately the more middle-class)?
Or is that unfair on counties like Kent that have chosen to keep the grammar system, where almost anyone who is Oxbridge quality will have passed the 11+ easily and gone to a grammar anyway, regardless of household income or background?

Indeed, this just shows the state sector should make grammar schools availiable to all.

I agree.
The state school system is full of bias and trickery imho with parents securing coveted grammar school places that rival private schools but hold the ‘state school’ tag. Or outstanding state comps in exclusive areas where only some families can afford to rent or buy within the area.
Keen to hear your thoughts: @Muttley79 @Supermature @2WheelGod @Admit-One

Indeed. Shows how parents who send their kids private aren't the sharpest tools in the box.

I think the big thing that isn't discussed here is that most middle-class people still go to a comprehensive school, and most comprehensive school pupils who go on to Oxbridge are middle-class. I was one such person! Most of my comprehensively educated Cambridge friends were from middle-class families like mine.
While the comprehensive intake into Cambridge might be a bit less middle-class than the grammar intake, it's probably here where there's the most 'hidden middle-classness' – including eligibility for a lot of widening participation initiatives!

Family income and background should be the key determinant in admissions to the top unis. This would level the playing field for a rich banker sending his boy to the local outstanding grammar school and the teacher sending her daughter to the local private school.

Indeed, this just shows the state sector should make grammar schools availiable to all.

'and background' - what does that mean?
What about retired teachers who sent their kid to the local comp? Should the kid get in ahead of the other two?

I agree.
The state school system is full of bias and trickery imho with parents securing coveted grammar school places that rival private schools but hold the ‘state school’ tag. Or outstanding state comps in exclusive areas where only some families can afford to rent or buy within the area.
Keen to hear your thoughts: @Muttley79 @Supermature @2WheelGod @Admit-One

Bias and trickery? Explain.
No worse than Private schools gaming the system -

You are right, some aren’t. Nowadays, it is best to buy the house in the nice catchment area than waste it on top private schools.

Background would be education and profession.
For example, an Oxbridge-educated Harrovian who works in the City but sends her son to the local state comp with loads of additional help would be different to the tradesman who puts all his funds towards sending his two girls to the local private school.
If there was one Oxbridge spot and the choices were:

I’d suggest that the first person should get the spot.

You think Eton is a waste of money?
Is its days of creating Prime Ministers over?

Good to hear you think I should have been boosted up the admisdion ranks.
Would there be a time dimension?
My dad only went to Durham, but it was the 1950s, my plate glass university didn't even exist back then.

We need the best minds taking their places at the top universities regardless of socioeconomic background.
I would have a time dimension.

It is increasingly becoming a waste of money imho. If the top public schools can no longer feed their graduates into the top universities esp Oxbridge that helps with securing the networks, there is no need to pay £50k+ to send their child to uni X rather than Oxbridge, Manchester, Durham and London unis.

Catchment area games for top state schools in certain cases.