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Is an A Grade Gcse from a State School a better than an A* from a private School

127 replies

soul2000 · 31/08/2013 10:58

In the wake of the reported fact that 32% of pupils from Independent Schools achieved at least 1 A at Gcse and only 8% from State Schools and now doubt, a large amount of the A Grade"s from State schools were from Grammar Schools. If someone from a bog standard Comprehensive achieved 2As at Gcse, is that a better achievement than 4A* from a highly selective Independent School

I know these types of discussions are bound to come back to Grammar schools rights/wrongs, or about family finances or parents previous Educational background. I just want to see if people agree that an A from a normal Comprehensive requires a far greater effort than an A* from an a highly selective Independent School.

OP posts:
HmmAnOxfordComma · 31/08/2013 11:11

From a really troubled comp where they have huge difficulties in attracting decent staff, massive behaviour problems even in top sets, scarcely proper top sets because all the brightest or better behaved children are elsewhere, poor facilities, etc etc: yes.

From a leafy comp in the suburbs where they have hundreds of applications for each teaching post, huge levels of parental engagement, exactly the same type of kids as in your private or grammar school: absolutely not.

From a 'bog standard' comp with a range of abilities, backgrounds and a mix of some good and some not so great staff: still probably not.

Do all three of these types of school exist? Yes, and everything in between too.

BeenFluffy · 31/08/2013 11:08

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