Ben, there is nothing to admit. I also agree with selection because of the hard core of parents that no longer give a toss about disciplining their kids so they know how to sit still and shut up in comprehensive school.

My parents put me through C of E school but pushed me all the way. My Dad wanted to send us private but my Mum talked him out of it, spending the money on all the after-school stuff while making sure we left knowing how to read and add up and go on to get degrees. Labour has not changed in 40 years, they will continue to send their own kids to private or religious schools while ruining every other kind for the rest and constantly trying to shut grammars down. I'd be angrier about it if it was anything new.

I know at least one private school leaver who can't string a rational sentence together when writing, they just didn't teach them English and literacy in spite of fleecing the parents for years. So money doesn't always guarantee quality if the parents remain hands-off, as you say it's the experience, good and bad, that make an education and kids only get one.