Choosing Who You Like

Alison Richard, vice chancellor of Cambridge University speaks with admirable sense,as might be expected from the head of an institution committed to education, learning and research:

"We try to reach out to the best students, whatever their background. One outcome of that is that we can help to promote social mobility. But promoting social mobility is not our core mission. Our core mission is to provide an outstanding education within a research setting.
As institutions charged with education, research and training, our purpose is not to be construed as that of handmaidens of industry, implementers of the skills agenda, or indeed engines for promoting social justice."

Cambridge gives the opportunity to enjoy any education the heart could desire. Its teachers at all levels are adept at recognising raw brain power, and unimpressed by coached achievement. They are concerned, too, that the colleges enjoy the abilities and characteristics needed to provide a civil environment. Wall to wall pure mathematicians or poets, or sportsmen (for example) are not that, and the social skills of generalists and affability of Etonians are as much part of the mix as any other characteristic.

Examination results are a poor measure of clubability, as is well known, and often an inadequate measure of any kind of ability. What a pity the Cambridge view is not more widespread in our society, rather than the Balls-up the country's education system has been made under New Labour.