New grammars by 2020 which will exclude 90% of local kids

I've had this argument with Bucks and it got me nowhere. They just said if you don't want to send your children to the grammar then don't.

Interestingly the letter they send with the results tells you that your child is deemed 'suitable ' for grammar.

It's a rotten situation but I do acknowledge that my children are at an amazing school (although all schools have some less good teachers) - the extra curricular and enrichment opportunities are outstanding and the culture of success and ambition is truly inspiring. (It has to be noted that the school is in a very affluent area and receives £200k + a year in parental donations).

flying If that's true then clearly there's no need for grammars.

Bucks County Council considers that 'Upper Schools' are more than capable of educating 'all' pupils adequately . Therefore the nearest 'appropriate' school for any pupil is the nearest Upper School !

HPFA yes I'm in Bucks and the situation in that article is exactly that. My catchment upper - Great Marlow- is an amazing school but the majority of Uppers are in and out of special measures. Burnham grammar (the one in the article) is rated good - the rest of Bucks grammars are rated outstanding.

cantkeepawayforever yep exactly that - they say the Uppers (sec modern) are all ability schools...

As I said people be careful what you wish for! Bucks has always been 100% selective with no comps.

It also has a hideous affect on primary schools with people upping and leaving good schools in year 3 to go to schools whose usp is their 11+ pass rate (private). It's a horrible decisive system - and I say that as someone with both kids in a v v sought after grammar.

So a secondary modern is regarded as a suitable school for an 11+ passer, but a grammar school is not regarded as suitable for an 11+ failer?

As I say, grammars having their cake and eating it too, by weeding out those who are poor but have passed the 11+...

BertrandRussell yes I am right - believe me it's a very contentious issue here - it is the nearest school you are qualified for so, as I said up thread non qualifiers don't have grammars taken into account. Any council providing more then this is exceeding the minimum requirements.

Gov.UK says "suitable school" too..........

Olly The situation you describe sounds similar to this one:

localequalexcellent.org.uk/index.php/2017/02/10/one-village-two-schools-world-difference/

A day early here is the Select Committee report.

www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/education-committee/news-parliament-2015/evidence-check-grammar-schools-report-published-16-17/

I haven't read it because I can't face yet more reams of evidence which I know the government will ignore. One expert has tweeted that it is "politely brutal" in shredding the case for more grammars. Can only hope it will influence MPs.

Olly- are you sure? That would mean some kids only getting transport to a grammar school they
Couldn't get into. And what about
Faith schools?

The government has finally admitted that it failed to assess the impact on disabled children and young people of its “discriminatory” plans to expand grammar schools in England.

The Department for Education (DfE) has previously refused to say if it carried out an equality impact assessment (EIA) on its consultation paper, Schools That Work For Everyone, which includes plans to remove the ban on opening new grammar schools in England.

The consultation paper fails to include a single mention of disabled children and young people.

www.disabilitynewsservice.com/dfe-finally-admits-we-didnt-assess-equality-impact-of-grammar-school-expansion/

BertrandRussell Kent is providing over their legal obligation (as does Warks) - I would imagine with ongoing cuts this will change. The legal obligation is to provide transport to the closest school only.

I'm surprised at the transport thing- in Kent if you live more than 3 miles from the nearest suitable school you get a bus pass- and suitable is the nearest grammar if you have a place there even if there is a nearer secondary modern.

This is the other fact people don't focus on with grammars. Our county is 100% selective - our grammars are outstanding. A large number of our Uppers (sec modern) are in and out of special measures. The majority of children will not go to a grammar school!

Our catchment upper is exceptional hence people will not go to the closest upper (special measures) - no one from here has ever gone there - irrespective of the impact of the cost of transport.

Yep always free transport to closest sec modern.

Ironically our closest sec modern is not our catchment one - no one goes there from our village- the non grammar kids from here pay for transport too.

But if someone living in your house had children who passed the 11+ but they could not afford the bus, they would HAVE to attend the secondary modern as it's closer?

If that system was logical, it would mean that some children would have to attend the grammar because they could not afford the bus to the secondary modern? Or does it work asymmetrically - that there is always free transport to the nearest secondary modern, but only free transport to the grammar if it is your closest school?

That way, the grammars 'win' twice - they get to cream off both on the basis of academic merit AND socioeconomic background ...

Sir not Sur

MixedGrill £570 per child per year to be precise!

To be fair my children's school (Sur William Borlase's in Marlow) pulls from a very small geographical area - its catchment doesn't go further then 5 miles I think and this current year 7 they offered catchment siblings and then catchment to 3 miles.

And Olly demonstrates one reason why the demography of grammars reflects those that can afford bus fares, maybe at £20 per week or more.

"Only parents who just do not care send their kids there "

And actually, morally, those are he children who the country as a whole should be seeking to help, by ensuring that they get the best possible education.

All children should be pushed to reach their potential whether high or low ability.
Absolutely
the vote last summer was driven by the lower skilled feeling left behind
and then the Government wants to bring in a policy that will educate the high fliers and leave behind the low skilled
leaving us still relying on immigrants for years to come
except we'll have thrown them out

My daughter goes to a grammar school...no paid tutoring...single parent yet she got in easily.
All children should be pushed to reach their potential whether high or low ability. Both sets of children are just as important. All parents just want the best for their children ...hopefully.

Olly
I live near a county boundary.
There is a bus to the good comp 4 miles away that picks up at the driveway of the bad comp - because the country boundary is in the middle of the road ...........

cantkeep
The local school is a sponsored academy
Only parents who just do not care send their kids there
The Poles (of whom we have lots) send their kids anywhere but ....
That school will not improve so long as it stays in the Chain its with

Selective schools just add to complication and administration
and divert funds from front line teaching

There not their!