Simple answer to the education problem.
Make manual skills, e.g. bricklaying, building, plumbing, waitressing, cool again. As Maureen Lipman said in that memorable BT advert "People will always need plates" so teaching pottery is not a waste of time. Give these less academic teenagers a chance to learn a skill, rather than waste time studying academic subjects, this will give them some self-respect and hopefully a job for life. Down the road from my house, there is a recently completed corner wall on a property which is a work of art, I admire it every time I go past. Someone had to learn how to create this and if it had been me, I would have been very proud. Stop regarding university as the be-all and end-all of life, especially in the middle classes. All my friends agree, we can't be the only ones, so come on MPs in the Dept. of Education - listen to the masses out there!