Fed up with the education divide ?

there is always a normal distribution of ability in any sample
But aren't you talking about a selective school?

Mortorana, I will answer why the less able achieve in our school (there is always a normal distribution of ability in any sample).

• Structured education-centered environment from early years.

• Structured ambitious infant and junior school. Reading homework from reception. Writing homework from Y3. 100% of pupils achieve level 4 or above at KS2.

• There are about 20% low(er) achievers at the school, they get extra support at school. They used to do modular maths, but now do the same as others. They respond by working harder. Discipline and motivation are high. Parents very supportive.

I think if you replicates most of this, everyone would get a C in GCSE, SN being a separate topic.

Obviously most students at the school get a string of A-A*, which is different to a C.

Martorana
computer based home-works - are easy in easy out
don't understand. My ds often has computer based maths homework- easy in easy out strikes me as a good thing- he can log on wherever we are, do his homework and submit it- all he needs is wifi. What's not to like about that?
2 teachers per subject - continuity
*or two different perspectives?
many exam boards - why? is it because some are easier than others?
I can see History would have a reason for regional differences, but find it difficult for most other subjects
i don't know why you would use lots of exam boards- it seems daft and labour intensive but not sure why it would have any effect on the kids
hundreds of handouts - interleaved with course notes in an exercise book? sorry- don't understand the problem
speaking to governors - they are too important
who says? Have you tried? Have you tried making an appointment with the teacher you want to talk to?

vanilla
lower ability pupils do vocational courses within the comp schools
you really need to get out more
kids at DCs school are doing hairdressing, horse care, car mechanics
as well as Latin and Astronomy

I will never, ever support segregation between state funded schools

Morethan. I find it hard to believe that E grade Gcse standard students could write 750 words on the pros and cons of a single European currency.
Maybe they could copy of a blackboard or write from a website, but there is no way they could write in their own words.

My Niece (Russell Group University) asked for help from me to answer questions on the European Union . She asked me what websites to look up
about the Single European Currency and how it came in to being (Maastricht treaty and all that stuff) and How businesses trade across the E.U.

She was having to resit a 1500 3 Question Word Essay on Europe at the end of her first year Business Module.

You are saying grade E and D Gcse students could answer a similar question ( Ok different language but similar).....

there are 86 schools that got 100% 5a*-C inc E&M
none of them have any low attainers according to the DFE tables
www.education.gov.uk/cgi-bin/schools/performance/group.pl?qtype=NAT&superview=sec&view=aat&set=2&sort=ks4_13.ptgac5em&ord=desc&tab=150&no=999&pg=2

therefore its pretty clear that Vanilla has absolutely no idea how schools cope with those who cannot pass the 11+

Talking,

Here is a selection of your quotes:

at least 20% of the population could not get a string of GCSEs even if you threw the resources of a top boarding school at them.

...but the skills for care home workers and labourers are best assessed with C&G exams or Btecs, not GCSEs

the Ebacc is not an appropriate measure for many children it will not give them the skills they need for life

So if you argue that some % of dummies should not get GCSEs, but vocational courses instead, how is it not secondary modern?

I give it to you that would be a Modern Secondary Modern, with computers and stuff...

Martorana
computer based home-works - are easy in easy out
2 teachers per subject - continuity
many exam boards - why? is it because some are easier than others?
I can see History would have a reason for regional differences, but find it difficult for most other subjects
hundreds of handouts - interleaved with course notes in an exercise book?
speaking to governors - they are too important

Vanilla, you have stated very clearly that your children's school achieves 100% A*-C with English and maths, and therefore any school could do the same. I have asked several times what methods your dc's school uses to achieve this with it's lower achievers - could you answer please?

talking
ok I am wrong

boubly
but where I live, 500 kids do not go to our catchment school
so the prices in the catchment are irrelevant
that and the catchment for DCs school is 10 miles across and house prices range from £80,000 to £15,000,000

first of all thanks for the lesson in grammar/spelling
I meant from a poor achieving school to a better achieving school
and if that is bilge you just have to look at the house prices around the catchment areas of the 'better schools'

"You actually do argue for a secondary modern for the bottom 20% while praising comprehensive education for your own little darlings. How hypocritical."

What do you mean? I honestly don't understand this at all.

Vanilla
You actually do argue for a secondary modern for the bottom 20% while praising comprehensive education for your own little darlings. How hypocritical.
where do I argue that? ... quote and time of post please

how many low achievers at your DCs school?

"too many computer based home-works
not sure what that means
hundreds of printed handouts
why is this a problem? You collect them in a folder
no text books
yes, this pisses me off too- I end up buying them. At ds's school they have the. But aren't allowed to bring them home- because they never come back again. Which is,ni suppose, a child/parent issue, rather than a school one. Are any textbooks on the VLE?
different exam board for each subject
what, for every subject? That 'a a bit odd- it's quite usual to use a couple of different ones. Why do they use a different one for every subject?
2 teachers for each subject
don't see a problem with this
unable to speak to teachers
this is the only big problem in your list in my opinion-do you not have email addresses? What happens if you phone for an appointment? I would talk this to the governors if I were uou

^parents who can vote with their feet are doing so
um no^

This is very complacent. This denial can result in all sorts of political things from privatisation of state schools to re-introduction of grammars and secondary moderns.

You actually do argue for a secondary modern for the bottom 20% while praising comprehensive education for your own little darlings. How hypocritical.

wow Vanilla
you cannot see beyond your own little selective bubble.

How many kids at your DCs school are low and middle achievers?

Boubly
but denial on principal just feeds the brain drain from comps parents who can vote with their feet are doing so and then the gap widens even more

you said from the comps
which is bilge
because in most of the country there are only comps
and 90% of the population cannot consider fee paying

oh, and the word is principle

Talking

Your first link does not show good GCSEs. it shows up to grade G, which is as good as toilet paper.

The second link shows that in state funded schools 53.6% of pupils achieve GCSEs grade A* to C including English and Maths.

So it's 47% failure, not 40!

Gove is absolutely right. I am warming to him. Schools need an EBAC target, otherwise they just marinate in their self congratulatory complacency.

Talking
I didn't necessarily mean from a comp, I meant to a better school whether it is another comp, grammar or private

Martorana
too many computer based home-works
hundreds of printed handouts
no text books
different exam board for each subject
2 teachers for each subject
unable to speak to teachers

Soul 2000

Of course Btec and C*G are producing that standard now.
Technology has improved so much of the content has changed, but if you look at the skills involved at each level they are pretty similar.

I'm not objecting to criticism of comprehensive schools. I am objecting to criticism which does not appear to have anything behind it. I have asked you several times, boubly, to back up your statements, but you continually ignore.

boubly
parents who can vote with their feet are doing so
um no
because in this county (and most others) its comp or private
and the numbers using private is unchanged over many years

it is all very well people objecting to criticism of the comps
but denial on principal just feeds the brain drain from comps
parents who can vote with their feet are doing so
and then the gap widens even more