Garethjk22 Your comments re Oxford/Cambridge are nonsense.Just because the media pick on some State school person who did not get into Magdalen College Oxford despite being 'forecast 3/4 A Grade A levels,you seem to think it was cos her face did not fit. All prospective students are forcast A Grades otherwise they would not be invited to Oxford in the first place.
They know what makes a suitable person to stand the rigours of Oxford in the same way as CTC and others know what they think will make the right pilot. Oxford University is cheaper cos you can spend all your 3/4 years in Hall ,only£1850 pa which is a lot cheaper than being in the private rented sector after the first year in most Universities. You sound like you have a big chip on your shoulder !?
There are only a certain number of places to go around at Oxford and they want the best despite the interference from people like Blair and Brown.