Social exclusivity

I was listening to Andrew Dilnot the head of St Hugh's College, Oxbridge on the radio this afternoon. Most of the time the BBC interviewer wanted to know what the colleges were going to do to get more people from state schools in. I did wonder why Dilnot didn't tell them that it's more a case of the state needing to try a bit harder to educate its charges, but perhaps he's too polite.

Now I see that a report commissioned by the government has concluded that grammar and religious schools should be scrapped, again because they are socially exclusive.

And then the thought struck me. How many public school ponces are there at the Football Association's centres of excellence? I mean they are both selective and socially exclusive.

I think we should probably be scrapping them too shouldn't we?  

Comments

[Brian Micklethwait]

All enterprises that work properly are socially exclusive.

[Ellee]

What most people don't release is that it doesn't cost more to get into Oxbridge, it's just considered elitist. That's the message these unis need to get across.

[Bishop Hill]

Brian

Judging from the football results, the FA schools of excellence may be the exception that proves the rule. ;-)

Ellee

Given that tertiary education in this country is paid for by the taxpayer, it would be surprising if it was more expensive. And anyway, Oxford and Cambridge are supposed to be elitist - like the FA's schools of excellence.