I don't actually even have an issue with private education, much less streamed education -- having attended an independent school, it'd be rather hypocritical of me. That's not to say that I wouldn't much rather the standard of teaching be improved in all schools, thus getting rid of the need to have independent/private/public schools in the first place.

I think my point is that there are several types of elite. As I said to Hilary, I am all in favour of people striving for greatness -- and in their being helped to achieve it. However, many elites seem to have as a prime agenda item the pushing-down of others, to preserve their elite status.

And what you say is certainly true of the NUS and its petty factionalism. My own experience of intra-Guild politics is much different to the careerist-centric one you're talking about. I'm certainly not denying that such people exist within that sphere, but the current downturn in student unions' profits etc. make them a lot less "sexy."