I think you've got it entirely the wrong way around Aiden.

My observation is the National Curriculum generation, being of modest intellect but high aspiration, are sweeping all wider knowledge away in their desire to "get ahead".

The net effect of this is that "traditional" intelligence is considered a quaint hindrance to yet more money/status and is sneered at.

Which is why a small part of me is revelling in the current financial crisis...