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Education

First Conservative education secretary to send child to state secondary

108 replies

BananaChoccyPancake · 04/03/2014 20:56

Of course, not your average run-of-the-mill state secondary ....

www.telegraph.co.uk/education/10674662/Michael-Goves-daughter-wins-place-at-state-school.html

Lucky for them they weren't caught out by the adjudicators admissions ruling.

I wonder if that was one of the schools he was offering to show Simon Cowell round.

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Tansie · 04/03/2014 21:01

That's almost more nauseating than if she'd been sent to Ascot!

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Tansie · 04/03/2014 21:02

Blair was the same with The London Oratory, wasn't he?

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BananaChoccyPancake · 04/03/2014 21:40

They're all at it. Nick Clegg too.

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motown3000 · 04/03/2014 21:58

How about don't worry DD " I wont be Education Secretary in 16 months and St Paul's take at 13+)......

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MoreBeta · 04/03/2014 22:04

Well I used to live round the corner form the Grey Coat Hospital School and would have been very happy to send my children there.

Unfortunately, I had to leave London and we don't have state schools like that where I live now so I have to pay for private.

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Martorana · 05/03/2014 06:30

"Unfortunately, I had to leave London and we don't have state schools like that where I live now so I have to pay for private."

Agggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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MoreBeta · 05/03/2014 08:14

Martorana - I was pointing out the subtle irony of Mr Gove sending his children to a 'state school' which is essentially a private school in all but name. He has just gone down in my estimation - a lot.

Its a bit like the irony of Diane Abbot sending her son to City of London school.

I do wish politicians would walk the walk not just talk the talk.

If Mr Gove had sent his children private and have done with it I wouldn't mind. If he had sent them to a selective Grammar I wouldn't mind.

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BananaChoccyPancake · 05/03/2014 08:23

Looks like he was persuaded by his wife, although she conveniently doesn't mention the exclusivity of the choice in her reasoning: www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2573444/SARAH-VINE-Why-Ive-chosen-send-daughter-state-school.html

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rollonthesummer · 05/03/2014 08:33

God, it's hardly your fun of the mill comp though, is it?!

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rollonthesummer · 05/03/2014 08:37

Run!

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telsa · 05/03/2014 08:42

This same Gove has just kiboshed a brilliant school backed by the World leading Institute of Education - The Holborn School, Lovely for him his daughter can go to this CofE girls school. Unlucky for Camden and Westminster families in central London who were ecstatic to be in reach of a co educational! non-religious school, a University Training School, in an area where children go to 38 different secondaries schools in 16 boroughs, because there is nothing here - only to have it snatched from them by Gove. The motivation is surely political. Such vileness.

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prh47bridge · 05/03/2014 09:45

For clarity the school referred to in the previous post does not exist. Telsa is referring to a proposal for a free school that was rejected by the DfE on the basis that it failed to meet the required standards for approval. Campaigners believe the decision is political on the basis that the IoE has publicly disagreed with some of Gove's policies.

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UptoapointLordCopper · 05/03/2014 09:59

Sorry, but "Beatrice is said to be an "enthusiastic" church-goer" made me laugh a bit. >

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telsa · 05/03/2014 10:11

Not a free school - a University Training School (very different) - that was to open in September 2015.

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lainiekazan · 05/03/2014 10:18

Although the school does have banding, with only 25% of places going to high achievers.

I'm not an out-and-out Michael Gove fan, but can the man win? If he'd sent his dd to a private school - well, that would have been suicide. And to a poorly-ranking comprehensive? Would any other middle-class parent do this if they had any choice in the matter? Of course not.

I never understand what is wrong with being "sharp-elbowed middle class". I really don't. Surely the opposite is not caring too much about your dcs' education. And I think the sharpest elbowed of the lot are actually Indian, Chinese and (lately) Nigerian families. We wouldn't castigate them for settling for less. We applaud their commitment and ambition for their dcs.

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exexpat · 05/03/2014 10:25

The Grey Coat school was one of a handful of church schools to have its knuckles rapped recently for its unfair admissions requirements: fairadmissions.org.uk/high-profile-faith-schools-change-admissions-policies-to-comply-with-the-law/. Even after making changes as a result, girls will only get in if they and their parents have been going to church weekly for at least five years. And it's not exactly a standard comprehensive. According to the Fair Admissions campaign, it is in the 1% of schools with the least inclusive intake based on free school meals entitlement, and 2% least inclusive based on pupils with English as an additional language.

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BananaChoccyPancake · 05/03/2014 10:32

" Sorry, but "Beatrice is said to be an "enthusiastic" church-goer" made me laugh a bit."

But that's the big issue isn't it? The education system as it stands is trying to turn us all into enthusiastic church goers. Just like Gove, Cameron, Blair, and Clegg. (Or their wives at least).

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UptoapointLordCopper · 05/03/2014 10:34

Quite.

And their wives? I think they are trying to shift responsibility to their wives. "Not my fault/responsibility. The children's mother wants it."

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handcream · 05/03/2014 10:52

I so agree with Iain..People saying that the school isnt really state! It is a state school.

Some people say that grammars are free private schools for the middle classes because of all the tutoring that goes on for the 11+ - what is all of this racing to the bottom or not being bothered about where your kids go to school.....

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Martorana · 05/03/2014 10:56

Is it his nearest state secondary school?
Does it have fair admissions policy?

If yes, and yes, then well done him
if no and no, then not.

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rollonthesummer · 05/03/2014 11:00

Is it his nearest state secondary school?
Does it have fair admissions policy?

I'd like to know this, too. If it's the closest state school to his main house he's lived in for a while, then fine. Church schools often have larger catchments though.

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telsa · 05/03/2014 11:00

exactly banana - if you are not a church goer and if you don't want single sex, then sod you - that is the attitude round my way.

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OTheHugeManatee · 05/03/2014 11:03

I don't see what's hypocritical in his doing this. He wants state schools to be more like private ones; he's sent his dd to one that is. What gives?

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exexpat · 05/03/2014 11:09

Grey Coat doesn't have a catchment - it takes girls from all over London, very few of whom live in the immediately surrounding area. It has extremely strict religious admissions requirements for the majority of places, plus I think a small number admitted on linguistic aptitude and a small number of 'open' (non-religious) places.

As to whether this is fair - see previous link about school getting its knuckles rapped... The new rules presumably don't break the law any more, but all the hoops to jump through mean that its intake is very definitely selective.

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Nocomet · 05/03/2014 11:16

And I'm guessing that anyone who can afford to live in the catchment of a Westminster school is better off than most private day school pupils parents here.

So not exactly a "state school" as those of us in the "provinces" see them.

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