Actually I would deny it.It's true that say the top thirty independent schools have pupils of mainly wealthy /upper middle class (though many many exceptions) and that their excellent education and, more importantly, supportive home life gives them a leg up. But for the vast majority of the independent sector there is no particular advantage in gaining access to universities/employment.Furthermore none of the independent schools are "for profit. Eton for example has over 100 boys with fees fully remitted and 20% boys receive financial assistance.However Eton is a special case and it is ludicrous to suggest there are many other schools like it.
At Oxford and Cambridge there has been a rapid decline in independently educated students.Critics of the independent schools tend to forget that these days universities and employers want the ablest candidates available and don't care about where they were educated.
The assault on independent schools is therefore little more than spiteful class warfare.There is no proof that the very large sums claimed in VAT will in fact be forthcoming, not to mention the need to find government funding for the mass of pupils forced to transfer to the state system.
I don't in fact have much sympathy for the independent sector because of the ridiculous escalation of fees in recent years.But what most critics don't appreciate is that even if independent schools were abolished altogether, the wealthy and well educated middle class will ALWAYS find a way to give their children an advantage in life.