To be surprised you mumsnetters criticised my ex’s school !!

I know a 22yr old with 1 gcse. I imagine these days that's pretty poor!

Why in the flying fuck, would you give a rats arse, if anonymous strangers on the Internet thought your EX's school he went to a million years ago was bad.

Then to declare he got two CSE's, as if he got a Doctorate. I really believe after your last thread and this one, you must be a wind up merchant.

2 CSEs in 1986 was pretty poor! Even if they were grade 1CSEs that’s rubbish. How many did he take? I did o’ levels in 1985 and we all had a minimum of 7 subjects, my DH had a mix of CSEs and GCE o levels and did 9 subjects.

There was a school near me that was considered really rough, I knew families that moved to be out of its catchment area but 2 CSEs from there would still be very poor.

I’ve just noticed the Ops username.

You really need to find a new hobby. Spamming Mumsnet is really not it

Most people would take a lot more than 2 CSEs, so not good even in that context.

Its a shame you’ve picked up on colour there .
Not all English people are white

Education is the way up

Couldn't agree more. Have never understood the inverted snobbery and defensiveness of some white English people about education and school. You don't see it in families whose roots lie elsewhere, especially in Asia and West Africa. Education is the way up and out.

2 CSEs is pretty pants!

Only secondary schools did them - I did O levels at a grammar in 1979!!

So they’re being made to do extra qualifications because the two Csc’s wouldn’t be enough? good I’m glad you agree

My DH left school with one level - a spirit level and that level has kept his family living a very very good life

It depends what his pass grade was
CSE grade I is equivalent to a C @ GCSE
grade 2 is a D
grade 3 is an E

It was not possible to get above equivalent grade C, that was the maximum.
Higher grades were attainable only if you took Olevels

Those who, it was thought, would find Olevels too difficult took CSEs

So two CSEs is the equivalent to two GCSEs at grades C to E.

I agree a lot more is needed than academic qualifications to do well in a career. On one side of my family nobody has done all that well academically but they are all stunningly successful in their work lives because they work extremely hard, they are talented and they have oodles of drive, resilience and common sense. They all had part-time jobs while still at school, which they got through initiative and stuck with. All doing well in their personal lives too.

I passed my 11+ but mum sent me to the comp where I was in the O level classes - ie we were expected to attain O levels , we didnt get the nice classes like typing or home ecc, we got double science, - biology and physics, double math, commerce, computer studies - very academic

However when you hit 13 and had to choose your options for your exam years you would be entered for the exam classes they thought you would pass so I only got to take CSE in English and Physics It was a way they kept their pass rate looking so high. Luckily I was the last year of that system and GCSE was coming in, I took GCSE in Geography for which I passed before the exam because of the test paper scores and course work

ILEA - Inner London Education Authority

It depends what subjects they were in.
English & Maths beats Woodwork & PE.

This isn't true thankfully, I know kids doing practical college courses and either resitting their Eng/maths GCSE's alongside or doing Eng/maths functional skills.

As I used to say to the kids: "Just because you thought it in your head, does not mean to say it needs to come out of your gob, darling"

Given all this I’m not sure why you are outraged than mumsnetters don’t want to send their kids there now?

I don’t understand the point of this post?

You’re claiming surprise that people would slate a bad school. A school that fails pupils academically and also from a safety standpoint…

Are you saying parents shouldn’t favour schools where kids are taught well? Where kids won’t get beaten up or fall into a drug habit? (I presume these fall under the “rough” description)

And to top it all, you cite your ex failing at said school as the source of your surprise.

Are you also constantly surprised when people won’t eat food they don’t like?

What point were you trying to make here?

I'm genuinely confused.

He says the school was violent and he only achieved 2 of the 7 qualifications that he sat (I didn't know about CSEs until this thread), and you're surprised it's getting slated on MN?? Which bit do you find surprising?

It's maybe surprising it hasn't improved in 40 years - but not so shocking as to start a thread I wouldn't have thought.

I left school with other the old O levels and CSE’s existing side by side.

Many, from my peer group, with basic CSE’s went on to have happy, successful and well paid futures.

Many, that got extra school qualifications , and further education, did not.

it depends on ambition.

Regardless of how shit or not 2x CSEs might be is there not a small chance that the school bears no resemblance to what it was like in 1986. Which is nearly 40 years ago. I suspect it may have a different head, different staff. 🤷‍♀️ maybe it’s got better, maybe it’s got a lot worse?

YABVU to have such a low bar for education, I really hope you want better than the equivalent of 2 CSE's for your kids.

Grange Hill ?