More evidence of social selection but there is a regrettable lack of an historical perspective here. "We have replaced an education system which selected on ability with one that is socially selective" says Sir Peter Lampl but he does not indicate when this meritocracy existed. Schools have always been socially selective: that is one of the reasons they exist at all and success in school is strongly correlated with social class. This has been known for decades but many seem to have forgotten it. Guardian Unlimited | UK Latest | Top schools attacked on poor pupils