As a general rule, if you want to go to good University then getting into grammar school is essential, certainly for Oxford and Cambridge and courses in medicine and law. It is possible to get into University from main stream comprehensive schools, but not into Oxford or Cambridge. For instance if you want to study medicine to be a doctor you will need to have had a grammar school education. Most medical schools will expect this.
I can vouch that the vast majority of my fellow medical students were from private or grammar school back in the day. However, I now note that medicine is a signifciantly less attractive career than what it once was - we are now seeing a much broader cohort of students form state and comprehensive schools in our medical student intake. Many astute students are observing the poor working conditions and pay attrition for doctors and are choosing alternative careers in finance/tech/computing/cybersecurity etc. which offer far more flexibility and earning potential per unit of work than a career in medicine.
As a general rule, if you want to go to good University then getting into grammar school is essential, certainly for Oxford and Cambridge and courses in medicine and law. It is possible to get into University from main stream comprehensive schools, but not into Oxford or Cambridge. For instance if you want to study medicine to be a doctor you will need to have had a grammar school education. Most medical schools will expect this.
I can vouch that the vast majority of my fellow medical students were from private or grammar school back in the day. However, I now note that medicine is a signifciantly less attractive career than what it once was - we are now seeing a much broader cohort of students form state and comprehensive schools in our medical student intake. Many astute students are observing the poor working conditions and pay attrition for doctors and are choosing alternative careers in finance/tech/computing/cybersecurity etc. which offer far more flexibility and earning potential per unit of work than a career in medicine.