Worst forms of selection in schools: Views of M'snetters

Oh Bum!
I just realised that now that the OP has retired they might seek work as an Ofsted inspector.

Then again, one of the most chaotic schools DH ever worked at was a Catholic Boys selective in London : may he's met OP .... I'll check

I've just been to see a very impressive comprehensive school for ds who is currently in Y6.

They have a slow turnover of staff and many of them have sent their own children to the school.

It is fully comprehensive, and has a fair banding system to make sure they can't cream off the top achievers by stealth.

In the head's speech he said something like "this is a very diverse school - culturally, ethnically, financially and academically. It's part of what makes the school so inspiring and such an exciting place to teach and learn in."

I just bloody loved that.

It's a sad fact that kids either go to very average schools or very expensive ones, with all that that entails.

What an absolute crock of shit! My DC went to an excellent state school. There was no selection and certainly no chaos in the classrooms.

I'm glad you've left teaching, we don't need people with views like yours in the profession.

The Academy question is completely separate.

I suspect OP is bitter because their school has been taken over by Harris and they have completely rightly been edged into early retirement

I share the joy in your retirement, OP.

I've taught in an excellent comprehensive school and wouldn't think twice about sending my DD to a similar school.

Every school should be providing an "orderly education" and I think every child can benefit from one.

I don't have strong views on grammar schools, but don't live in an area with any and can't see a problem with that locally.

I strongly disagree with faith schools and religious selection. Leaving that aside, some faith schools were clearly meant to be comprehensive faith schools but were actively selective schools. There is no room for schools to pretend to serve one community but actually serve only a selection of that community. School admissions should be transparent.

Shocked at the level of utter ignorance and bilge coming from a retired teacher!

OP
What happens to the children who are not selected?
Or do you not care about them?

And where is your complete chaos evidence ?

I'm a teacher in a non-selective school and it is NOT chaos! We have some very disadvantaged students and some very privileged students. Everyone is included and everyone has the same right to their education!
Selective schools might work for the most able, but the disadvantaged will suffer from inadequate mixing with different walks of life, IMHO.

I'm not so sure that there's an argument for not interviewing the parents. By taking that option the school is getting an idea of the level of support and interest in the child and his/her education and of expectations of behaviour, manners etc.

I attended a South East London grammar in the mid to late 70's.

The school selected in several ways and all parts had to be passed in order to gain entry. They were, in no particular order:

Passing the 11+
Past school reports
Primary school headmaster's reference
Reference from my priest
Faith
Interview between pupil and headmistress
Interview between parent and headmistress
Interview by headmistress of parent and pupil together

I was a "decent working class kid", daughter of a divorced parent on a low income and living in rented accommodation.

A large percentage of my classmates were also decent working class kids. The middle classes were in the minority.

I'd be happy to see an identical selection process still carried out if the results were the same.

Interviews were abolished some time ago.

Faith qualifications these days need to be countable things (like frequency of attendance) or proof of membership (being on roll, baptism), and the arcane ones should have been eliminated, though I'm not sure if they've totally gone yet.

It's a sad fact that kids either go to very average schools or very expensive ones
OP, you are a troll as no competent or professional teacher would say such a thing about schools all over the country.

I would suggest that you get this thread pulled before the Friday wine starts to flow.

Why are they interviewing the parents in the state sector, I know why it happens in the independent sector? Are you saying that if you take two children; A and B both are equally capable and bright but the decision to take A over B will be taken on how the parents interview? Or is that just speculation on your part?

You do know that interviews aren't permitted under the Code, OP? I've certainly never heard of it happening sneakily, and you can bet that sort of news would be round the town in seconds.

Today, there are so few options for decent children.
Hogwash.
There are lots and lots of excellent options for lots of decent and not so decent children.
Luckily my DCs have teachers who do not write them off with a parental interview.

Utter bollocks. I wish I hadn't graced your stupid thread with an answer.

I teach in a non-selective comp. There is absolutely nothing chaotic about my school.

If you choose to apply for a selective school then you will find that they select based on their own priorities. Fwiw, I didn't think QEGS Penrith did any interviews, I had the impression that they based their selection entirely on the results of the tests.

There are just so few schools kids can be proud to attend nowadays, just such a shame
WOW you really are a bitter old hack.
Thank goodness you have left teaching without going near my kids.

I gives me the utter RAGE that there is ANY kind of selection in state schools.