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Secondary education

Apologies to Cambridge matmos.

346 replies

grovel · 15/02/2013 22:50

I just loved being number 1000. Such power!

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grovel · 15/02/2013 22:53

And 2 typo mistakes. Yikes!

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pugsandseals · 15/02/2013 23:11

Couldn't bring myself to do it! Grin
Was a good thread those despite some of the heights of emotion. It means we all care deeply about education don't you think?

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pugsandseals · 15/02/2013 23:11

though those stupid auto text!

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pugsandseals · 15/02/2013 23:14

Off to bed now though. Night all!

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TotallyBS · 16/02/2013 00:01

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BeckAndCall · 16/02/2013 08:30

Brilliant timing, grovel, I salute you.

And actually, LOl at totally - a light note to end on........ ( unless you meant it of course - lets not go there)

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TotallyBS · 16/02/2013 08:41

Relax Beck. Just got an allotment so gonna be busy all day digging it up. So I won't be going 'there'.

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RussiansOnTheSpree · 16/02/2013 08:45

At least we can spell. Unlike some.

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TotallyBS · 16/02/2013 08:49

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Perriwinkle · 16/02/2013 14:23

The grammar school system is just as inherently iniquitous as private schools are.

Which county you live in determines whether or not your child can attend one. Grammar schools should be abolished in all counties, just as they have already been in some for a good many years now.

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HesterBurnitall · 16/02/2013 14:27

BS it's really out of order to continually discuss another poster, even more so when they're not even on the thread.

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pugsandseals · 16/02/2013 18:09

I don't know what to think about the grammar system anymore! It helped DH hugely & he eventually got an Oxbridge place due to the connections of his grammar school. It means he (& I of course) have been lifted out of poverty & gave him opportunities he would otherwise never have had. I missed the 11+ by a very small margin, went to a huge secondary modern & got completely lost on the crowd & did very badly in exams. It was only my out of school activities that led me to better things. DD tried the local non-selective system & lost confidence & was very unhappy - is now very happy at a private school which was originally a grammar.
I've seen friends do very well in the classes below me at secondary modern. Much better than those in the top classes in fact, so it works for some!
Maybe it's the 11+ itself that needs to change? Reasoning papers are all the rage in private school entrance exams & I cannot help but feel this is the way to go! Surely it makes much more sense to assess the potential of the child rather than just what they are good at/can be tutored towards on the day?
I'm not completely against a fully comprehensive system, but think that streaming is much more necessary & at a much younger age too! And somehow we need to get away from the spoonfed culture which encourages everyone to just do the bare minimum. And instead get back to a competitive atmosphere which encourages learning & academia.
Just some thoughts Grin

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Yellowtip · 16/02/2013 18:43

pugs in what way did the grammar school's 'connections' secure your DH his place at Cambridge? Did he get rejected initially and then get offered a place?

Reasoning papers are relied on heavily by grammars. Not just the VR and NVR but the Maths paper too is a reasoning paper. The whole point, obviously, is to identify potential.

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TheOriginalSteamingNit · 16/02/2013 18:45

Is matmos the version of tripos that the maths students do? Wink

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happygardening · 16/02/2013 18:59

I just want to say as far as I understand from colleger and peternas experts on Eton the fully paid for places at prep usually leading onto the KS no longer exist in the way they used too. I'm sure none of you care but I just wanted to set the record straight. Harrow still offer this; the Peter Beckwith scholarship or something sounding similar.

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TheDoctrineOfSciAndNatureClub · 16/02/2013 19:04

Totally, I've no idea what's gone on with you and seeker but can you give it a rest? Thanks.

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pugsandseals · 16/02/2013 19:08

YELLOWTIP - the school had a history of success with a particular college & as I said, had connections in order for him to get an interview. The same way as particular private schools have high success rates of students getting into particular colleges I suppose!

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grovel · 16/02/2013 19:11

Happy, I think you're right.

From Eton's website:

Funded Places

About 20% of the boys currently at the school are receiving financial support, and some of them are paying substantially reduced fees or indeed no fees at all. Financial support can come through a scholarship or through a bursary. No parents with a talented boy should feel that Eton is necessarily beyond their means. These are the ways in which a candidate can secure a funded place:

In year 6 (age 11): a conditional place offered for entry to Eton in year 9 can lead to a bursary award. Some preparatory schools offer funded places for years 7 and 8.

In year 8 (age 13): a boy with great academic strength from any educational background can win a King?s Scholarship, and an outstanding musician with good academic qualities can win a Music Scholarship. We are also introducing a New Foundation Scholarship which will create an entry opportunity for a small number of boys from UK state schools at age 13; although such boys might find preparation for the King?s Scholarship difficult to achieve, they will have intellectual potential comparable to that of a King?s Scholar, and will sit a special examination based on the national curriculum but designed to draw out that flair.

In year 11 (age 16) : UK students expected to gain outstanding GCSE results can compete for a Sixth Form Scholarship. Boys under the age of 17 on 1 September after taking GCSEs and who are attending a maintained (State) school are eligible to apply. Candidates receiving substantial bursarial assistance at fee-paying schools with no provision for Years 12 and 13 may also apply.

Please note that we do not offer sports or arts scholarships, though such abilities feature strongly in all our selection processes along with all-round personality and suitability for membership of a boarding community.

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pugsandseals · 16/02/2013 19:12

Also, if reasoning papers are so highly relied upon in the 11+, why do people think that tutoring will give their child an advantage? if an advantage can be gained from tutoring then surely the system is not adequate in it's aims!?!

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Yellowtip · 16/02/2013 19:16

pugs you've clearly grilled your DH to within an inch of his life on his passage to Cambridge (poor bloke) and his social life (or lack of) whilst there and the social dexterity of all his uni colleagues and friends. So tell me, what stopped him getting an interview on merit?

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Yellowtip · 16/02/2013 19:17

pugs NVR is highly coachable for. VR less so, but the tutored still gain an advantage.

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grovel · 16/02/2013 19:24

yellow, are you pro the current 11+ or anti?

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pugsandseals · 16/02/2013 19:37

YELLOWTIP - of course I know a lot about DH's uni days, I knew him before & during that time is that allowed?

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RussiansOnTheSpree · 16/02/2013 19:37

Grovel how can you ask someone about 'the current 11+ when there are different variations sat in each county (and for each school, sometimes)?

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Yellowtip · 16/02/2013 19:44

Yes, allowed. So why not an interview on merit?

And which private schools have particular success with which colleges these days pugs? (out of interest).

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