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Bits of news on the grammar school issue

266 replies

HPFA · 07/04/2017 18:48

Two snippets of news

schoolsweek.co.uk/film-company-targets-grammar-teachers-in-recruitment-video/?utm_content=bufferb7668&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Unclear exactly why grammar teachers are being targeted to tempt people into teaching. Perhaps to tempt recruits by suggesting they can have a nice career only teaching the easy kids.

And another piece of news:

www.tes.com/news/school-news/breaking-news/exclusive-church-england-not-interested-opening-new-grammar-schools

This is perhaps hardly surprising. Since faith schools are already so heavily criticised for being socially exclusive it would hardly do the C of E's image much good to open up schools explicitly targeting the already advantaged. Still welcome news to those of us on the pro-comprehensive side.

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HPFA · 12/04/2017 21:36

If you'd seen me struggling to understand error intervals earlier today you'd have yet more evidence....

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noblegiraffe · 12/04/2017 21:34

Bert Noble and I are all one person!

That can't be true, I'd have never given a grammar thread such a timid title Wink

Clavinova · 12/04/2017 21:22

Anti grammar campaign groups Kent Education Network and Local Equal Excellent have already been discredited for 'embellishing' their claims and evidence - who knows which of their stats are correct and which are made up?

HPFA · 12/04/2017 21:05

Perhaps its time to reveal that Bert Noble and I are all one person!Although how my C in Maths O-Level allows me to talk knowledgeably about Further Maths at A-Level is something of a mystery.

Now would I have allowed Bert to once beat me in a debate on the Religion thread with a killer point on a Celestial Teapot....

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HPFA · 12/04/2017 21:00

I was going to post her Guardian article....

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BertrandRussell · 12/04/2017 20:55

interesting
Fiona Miller though Who is in a class of her own when it comes to exclusion from comment!

HPFA · 12/04/2017 20:50

comprehensivefuture.org.uk/do-grammar-school-admission-policies-that-prioritise-poor-pupils-really-make-a-difference/

Fiona Millar is disqualified from opposing selection in so many ways however....

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Clavinova · 12/04/2017 20:48

My 'yes' was to Noble.

Clavinova · 12/04/2017 20:44

Yes - here's the edited article from TES;

www.tes.com/news/school-news/breaking-news/exclusive-more-third-grammar-schools-change-admissions-policies

BertrandRussell · 12/04/2017 20:43

Is parachuting a couple of lucky poor kids in really the answer?

noblegiraffe · 12/04/2017 20:41

Excellent Clavinova to see some good come from this debate.

noblegiraffe · 12/04/2017 20:40

there didn't seem a lot of hard evidence behind the original article.

That's why I merely posted it for info instead of starting a new thread 'Desperate government tries to bribe unions for support over failed grammar plans'
Wink

Clavinova · 12/04/2017 20:33

A piece of important news you missed out -

At least 50 of the (current) selective schools say they will give poorer pupils some priority for the first time in next year's admissions process;

www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/grammar-schools-admission-policies-poor-pupils-change-prioritise-liverpool-blue-coat-a7659636.html

HPFA · 12/04/2017 20:33

I do think Clav was right though that there didn't seem a lot of hard evidence behind the original article. And I can hardly see it as likely that the NUT would start supporting grammar schools!

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OCSockOrphanage · 12/04/2017 20:31

[Helmet fixed firmly in place]. Does one operate as a parent or as a force for social equality and mobility? I see my DS's friends making choices about uni and shiver at their employment prospects. Many are clever, but choosing subjects that are not going to make them employable, or even able to deal with the debt burden they will incur to study. Surely, this is setting them up to fail and they could be better much better advised?

Clavinova · 12/04/2017 20:26

Noble
From the Schools Week article you linked to;

Unusually, the National Association of Schoolmasters and Union of Women Teachers said it did not oppose grammar schools, which it recognised as an “important part of the schools network”, but said it had raised concerns about plans to expand selection as it distracted from other issues.

“We are not looking at any deals around funding or anything else,” a spokesperson told Schools Week.

Clavinova · 12/04/2017 20:22

'Two snippets of news
schoolsweek.co.uk/film-company-targets-grammar-teachers-in-recruitment-video/?utm_content=bufferb7668&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Unclear exactly why grammar teachers are being targeted to tempt people into teaching. Perhaps to tempt recruits by suggesting they can have a nice career only teaching the easy kids.'

Seems like another piece of misquoting from Schoolsweek.
What the advert actually says;
Just So Films has asked full-time teachers in secondary “state and grammar schools” to get in touch if they want to feature in a film that will delve into their experiences in the classroom.
Might just be a twenty-something advertising bod who doesn't know that grammar schools are state schools.

noblegiraffe · 12/04/2017 20:17

Snap HPFA Grin

noblegiraffe · 12/04/2017 20:16

NASUWT said about grammars:

“It is time for government to commit to the vision and values of comprehensive education that secures equality of opportunity and entitlement for all our children and which is the basis for securing our shared values, inclusion and mutual respect and understanding.

“The Government’s proposals to remove barriers to selection of pupils on the basis of ability, aptitude and religion are a distraction from the real challenges and crises in our education system.

“A crisis of not enough teachers, not enough school places and not enough money, as a consequence of years of public sector cuts and austerity.

“These proposals are a distraction from the failure of this Government to end the scourge of insecure employment and low pay, discrimination, prejudice and hate on the streets, homelessness, the lack of affordable housing and the lack of investment in high quality training, skills and decent jobs which are blighting the lives of children and young people.

“The Government’s proposals on selection are about extending privilege to a few, not about tackling the problems of inequality and social exclusion which blights the lives of many in our country.

“We must demand a better deal for all our children.”

www.nasuwt.org.uk/article-listing/grammar-schools-a-distraction.html

I don't think that's a ringing endorsement.

HPFA · 12/04/2017 20:14

Clavinova

I tend to agree that Schools Week were rather over-egging it. More details on the NASUWT position here:

www.nasuwt.org.uk/article-listing/grammar-schools-a-distraction.html

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Clavinova · 12/04/2017 20:12

No, not a joke.

Clavinova · 12/04/2017 20:07

"Well this is pretty shady
schoolsweek.co.uk/unions-wont-go-easy-on-grammar-plans-to-win-funding-deal/
Rumours ministers will try to buy support for grammars from the unions with a school funding deal."

What rumours? Schoolsweek have only printed a headline - where's the detail/rest of the story? Are they making this up?

Interesting that the second biggest teachers' union in the country state they are not opposed to (new) grammar schools.

BertrandRussell · 12/04/2017 20:03

I am really pleased- it used to be just me!

HPFA · 12/04/2017 20:02

Is this another category to add to HPFA's list of people who are not allowed to have opinions about selective education?

With Noble's and Clav's contributions we are now on No 10. I'm tempted to make this

  1. Anyone not covered in nos 1-9

but maybe it's too early for this.

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noblegiraffe · 12/04/2017 20:01

I've excluded her because she wasn't educated with students her own age at sixth form

I'm assuming (hopefully?) that this is a joke!