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Original poster

Intrigued by the 'bright child will succeed in any school'

254 replies

findasolution · 03/02/2016 16:46

This comment fascinates me. I am a long time Mumsnet user (name changed), making my first post as an OP.

I was a relatively bright child, straight As up to 3rd year of senior school (in old money), when things started to go wrong.

I got tired of being bullied for being smart and driven, lost my confidence to in being different and dumbed down/rebelled to fit in, resulting in leaving school with 4 O levels - way below my potential.

My mum sent me to a local comprehensive (West Midlands) because it used to be a 'grammar'. Such was the due diligence 30 plus years ago Grin. Couple of years after I left, each entry year was closed to allow the school to run out before the school closed, premises bought...at least there was a reason behind the teachers (most, not all) being completely disengaged with us.

Anyway, that's my background, and I know this is not reflective of most schools today. With so many making choices where they can, by religion; location; intelligence; cost etc allowing), I am really interested in people's opinions on how children can definitely achieve their full potential in any given secondary environment, and therefore considering alternatives to their local state schools is not necessary...

OP posts:
ItMustBeBedtimeSurely · 03/02/2016 16:58

It's total rubbish imo. Only the very bright and motivated can get good results from a bad school. The moderately bright or less mature will inevitably flounder.

But even in the worst schools there will be a few children who do well, and people use that as evidence that bright kids do well anywhere. Never mind the other children who could have done better in a better environment.

PurpleDaisies · 03/02/2016 16:56

Forgot to add, bright kids end up in top sets so they're usually shielded from the worst of the behaviour.

The good thing is if these kids make it to A level they are brilliant at working independently and are often incredibly motivated.

PurpleDaisies · 03/02/2016 16:53

I think the key phrase in your op is "achieve their full potential".
Bright kids can usually compensate to an extent for crap teaching (we had no maths teacher at all in year 10-substituted lasted up to a fortnight at a time), disruptive classes and uncontrolled bullying but take those kids who got A's and B's in rubbish schools and put them somewhere good and they might get straight A*'s.

I think poor schools have the biggest effect on the life chances of the middle kids. Put them somewhere good where the culture is to work and not muck about and you've got completely different students.

ArkATerre · 03/02/2016 16:48

'Any' school that takes discipline and behaviour management seriously and will not tolerate any disruption in class maybe, but just 'any' secondary that does not address those issues.

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