Of course they did pick the brightest - even though I say so myself.

In those days it meant working class children could get a good education and there was social mobility. Now the situation is back to what it was before grammar schools and well of parents can pay for a good education and bright working class children dont have any help for them to progress. Working class children or are not academically gifted don't have any help from schools to make use of their talents. Nowadays many graduates end up in retail or call centres rather than developing skills the country needs. Media studies - given the standard of newspapers, TV and films - is not the way to go.