my son is going to the local bog standard comp

ragged looking for the "true" comp postin to see what you talking about sign post please and trying to persuade him to change schools if you were so sure that school not good for him why send him to it now always difficult for kids to change schools/friends etc

ragged
I only used the phrase "true comp" to clarify that what are often thought of as comps next to grammars are nothing of the sort

the intake at DCs school is truly comprehensive - from millionaires outwards
hence why the top sets are interchangeable with the local private schools (literallly, depending on parents finances!)
and the bottom sets are . . . . . . . . .

I don't see how that's reverse snobbery?

Oh Gawd, now we've got reverse snobbery ("true" comp).

DS1 is at a tiny private school. But I'm trying to persuade him to switch to one of the bog standard local state secondaries. Because I'm sure any of them would provide a more challenging & stimulating education, and many more opportunities than his current school offers.

MOst people do just go to their nearest school really - it's only on MN that this is a bit of a minority activity!

After all, there are more than 7% of the actual population who are well-qualified with good and satisfying careers and a happy life, I reckon, so there must be the odd one or two of the 93% of state educated people who claw their way out of the gutter and carve out a decent life for themselves!

DS1 is at a bog standard comp. DS2 goes to a bog standard comp in September. It's what people do here. There are no grammar schools & the closest (i.e. less than a 90 min journey away) private school achieves lower academic results than any of the three bog standard comps we can choose from.

I'm perfectly happy with the schools though. My siblings all went to a local bog standard comp and they are now (in no particular order) a Financial Director, an Orthopaedic Surgeon & a HR Manager. I am less well qualified but that is mainly because I am was a lazy cow. A private education would have been seriously wasted on me .

One of mine is at the local state middle and he is thriving there. I am not sure why it means he cannot be a vet or a lawyer. 5% of children go to private school, are you seriously suggesting that it is only those children that get As, get into the top universities, and have the best jobs? By their very nature, state middles, uppers and comprehensives are of mixed intake and therefore by their very nature will produce children of varying abilities, including those with special educational needs

Aye to that.
My children are hard working and resilient and I know they will get decent grades.
And then they can do what they like - hairdresser, mechanic, doctor, artist, it's up to them.

(frankly I would be relieved if they trained in a skill, set up a business and got on with it)

Oh the shame shall we celebrate that we have a belief in our children and as us as parents to get the best they can do regardless of the school

Because Pusheed feels we should be crying into our beer because our children are apparently shut out of several well paid professions because we sent them to the local comp.

Our local state beat 3 indies in the league table and why did Pusheed put "celebrate" ...

I loved the humour of my old school. The laugh on school journey, the ridiculous antics, the long-suffering teachers.

Still in touch with some people from school and most have done well and are happy - they are doctors, dentist, city lawyer, radio DJ, children's book author, journalist, gas fitter, football coach, clinical psychologist, teaching assistant, administrator, civil servant, PA, and numerous IT professionals.

Total wastes of space, all of them. Parents shoulda gone private. Sigh.

When people look at he results at grammar schools and some private schools and compare them to the results of comprehensive schools they often spectacularly miss the point.

Grammar schools and private schools are rigorously selective. They have very few children with special needs, and they both have very effective means shedding those who do not make the grade along the way!

If you are going to compare, compare the grammar or private school with the top set of a comprehensive. The listed results show the entire cohort. Compare like with like and you will get a very different picture.

Well, quite - but I'd be wary of assuming their grades will automatically be good enough just because they're at private school. However I think there's a fundamental difference in the way we're thinking about cause and effect here.

But really, what TalkinPeace said as well!

THIS thread is about celebrating the excellent education that can be had at true comps.

Well, I've said all I have on the subject so I'll retire and let you "celebrate' your success.

Really, you think going to a selective private school is going to mean your children will be allowed to choose from all the careers there are?

Whats with the 'allowed' part of the question? Who is it that is going to allow or not allow my kids to become lawyers if that is what they want to be and assuming that their grades are good enough?

GTN exactly !! she should show those bloody teachers and go for it .IMO there are such low aspirations nowadays it is no wonder we have so many kids out of education

pusheed
there are more than enough threads about private school on Mumsnet.
Go post on one of them.
THIS thread is about celebrating the excellent education that can be had at true comps.
I expect my children to do better in life than I have because I have given them opportunities and support.
THAT is what matters. Not fees.

Really, you think going to a selective private school is going to mean your children will be allowed to choose from all the careers there are?

Sounds a bit.... entitled, for want of a better word!

"I don't think going to private school is necessarily going to enable your dc to choose any career they want, Pusheed! You might need a reality check there at some point....."

Going to a private school is no guarantee but going to a selective private school where 30% go onto Oxford or Cambridge is.

Granted my runt of a son :) isn't going to play professional basketball but most professions will be within his reach.

I've a distant relation who wanted to be a vet. His A levels weren't good enough - this was from a good private school. But he really wanted to be a vet - so, he did a degree in anatomy, got summer jobs with local vets, and then went on to do the 5 or 6 years training as a vet. He's now doing extremely well. Wasn't down to the school he went to - it was down to having passion and tenacity and sheer bloody gumption.

titchy - well, the friend is trying to nudge his DD towards whatever the nurse equivalent is to a vet, get some practical experience and then see what the options are for on-the-job training.

As for the point about being a chef, it was just a job category I casually chucked into my post :) but there is a thread about SAHM and whether a degree is wasted, that is waiting for your input. :)

What does bog standard mean? Is it about the number of A* - C gcse passes or is it about the type of children going to the school.

My DS has just got our first choice of catholic secondary school with 82% A* - C gcse passes (including english and maths) but with a very high (over 60%) intake of non white or english as a second language pupils.

I could not be happier. Is this bog standard?

But -of course- they should be able to choose any career they want, they paid for it, after all.

It ispossible to come out of a 'bog standard' comp with excellent A'levels. And the farmer's daughter with good A level grades and first hand experience with livestock I'd likely to have the edge over the privately educated child with his own pony.

Sorry but are you saying Pusheed that has yours go to private school they will get better qualifications and landing their dream job and will not have to compromise... my children go to state school and doing very well thank you and in no uncertain terms do they compromise.