At Rugby, Marten says she is doing her bit to try to increase the diversity of children attending grammar schools, and open up the opportunity of a grammar school education to more children from less privileged backgrounds.
In a 2002 pamphlet they argued that pupils should be funded on an individual basis, with schools given incentives to accept those from less privileged backgrounds.
Howard attacked Blair over tuition fees: "Let me make it clear: this grammar school boy will take no lessons from that public school boy on the importance of children from less privileged backgrounds gaining access to university".
"This grammar school boy," the Tory leader said triumphantly, "is not going to take any lessons from that public school boy on the importance of children from less privileged backgrounds gaining access to university".
Long the preserve of the upper classes, a wave of cut-price boarding schools providing a state-funded education could be made available to children from less privileged backgrounds.
Such a significant drop in outreach funding could mean too many potential students from less privileged backgrounds, who have the ability, don't get encouraged to go to university". As many as 2,500 schools, 300 colleges and 100 universities had been involved in the Aimhigher scheme before universities minister David Willetts announced he was closing it last November.
In an effort to attract children from less privileged backgrounds, Rugby now reserves 10 places out of its annual intake of 120 for children eligible for free school meals, who can secure a place even if they score 10 marks below the 11-plus qualifying standard that year.
Players from less privileged backgrounds are attracted by the league's salaries.
For students who come from less privileged backgrounds, getting to university is already a hurdle.
Meanwhile, children from less privileged backgrounds get the rap without any opera.
