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Original poster

why is it so difficult to find a good school

114 replies

poppytin · 27/04/2012 16:21

Why are almost schools with good academic performance are either independent, grammar, or faith schools? What would you do if you have an academically bright child but lived in an area without independent nor grammar and would not like your child to attend faith schools? Since most schools have adopted academy status, shouldn't they remove catchment criteria and serve as many good pupils as possible?

OP posts:
motherinferior · 27/04/2012 17:02

Seeker, he'll be fine. Honestly.

Ho yes, I like to balance it out too. And then judiciously wave around my Oxford degree in showyoffy way too Grin

usualsuspect · 27/04/2012 17:01

No grammars in my area either , thank goodness.

seeker · 27/04/2012 17:00

Well actually, my ds isn't going to school at all. I'm sending him to be apprenticed to a playwright. He actually wants to be a coal miner, but that's not for the likes of us. I think it's important that he keeps to his station in life.

[so old she remembers Monty Python emoticon]

Actually, mother inferior- I'm whistling in the dark. Can't you tell?

LeeCoakley · 27/04/2012 16:59

Please take these tables with a pinch of salt! E.g. I live in the area of the top one. It's a 'comprehensive' in the most loosest of terms (selects boarders who make up 25% of students), it does the IB and you need all As to get into the 6th form (normal comps Bs - Cs) and chucks you out at the end of year 12 if you are going to bring the rankings down.

Also - I don't understand the 'average' scores that make this the top 100. If for instance all students get all As for 3 A-levels, which is the normal amount to take, then the average score should be 810 but all these schools the average is about 950. Unless I've got this wrong. Maybe a lot of the top schools do the IB which seems to be awarded a higher score than A-levels.

Definitely look into the GSCE grades required for entry to 6th forms before using this data as an indicator of a good school. Best to look at GSCE results themselves if you want to make a decision based on league tables.

The comps where I live are outstanding! I am lucky to live in an area where there are no grammar schools and only a scattering of independents.

usualsuspect · 27/04/2012 16:58

Well ,I like to balance out the MN school snobbery Grin

motherinferior · 27/04/2012 16:56

Am PMSL at our competition to find the Most Unappealing School. It's like a right-on version of the Four Yorkshiremen.

seeker · 27/04/2012 16:55

My ds will be going to a high school which would make most mumsnetters go all unnecessary.

It has something like 38% A-C because the top 23% go to grammar school.

But 38% get their A-C despite that, it has a good OFSTED and plenty of sport. It wouldn't be my first choice, to be honest, but I fully expect my ds to get his crop of As and Bs at GCSE. I expect them to teach him and look after him, andnif they don't I'll be in there like the wrath of God!

ragged · 27/04/2012 16:52

Because you're confusing group averages with individual achievement, in your assessment of what constitutes "good academic performance."
One year local comp had a headline GCSE pass rate around 35%, maybe lower.
One of those kids, from the 35% cohort, got accepted to Cambridge Uni to study Vet science 2 yrs later.

LSE article on why faith schools do better, I think(?) it concludes that quality of intake is the main factor, with governing arrangements also having influence. Twas ever thus?

usualsuspect · 27/04/2012 16:48

I had a choice of several comps too , and yes a lot of MNetters would never send their kids to them in a million years.

But they were all good schools IMO.

motherinferior · 27/04/2012 16:46

I had a choice of a number of perfectly OK comps, actually. Comps many MNers would come over all faint and peculiar at the prospect of, admittedly, but nevertheless OK.

Original poster
poppytin · 27/04/2012 16:43

anyone can explain the dominance of faith schools in the top comprehensive list above? Assuming these schools take in pupils of all abilities just like a normal non-faith comprehensive, does faith devotion lead to academic performance?

OP posts:
RiversideMum · 27/04/2012 16:32

Me too.

usualsuspect · 27/04/2012 16:25

Depends where you live , and what you think is a good school.

Plenty of good comprehensives where I live.

Original poster
poppytin · 27/04/2012 16:23

this link shows that the vast majority of top comprehensive schools are faith schools
www.independent.co.uk/news/education/secondary-tables-2012/the-top-100-comprehensive-schools-at-alevel-6294992.html

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