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Original poster

Ethnic minorities in selective schools in London

87 replies

lll36 · 09/09/2017 13:02

Since recently Theresa May has backed the idea of grammar schools for social mobility, it seems like grammar schools outside of London have a low amount of ethnic minorities. However in top grammar school in London, such as, Henrietta Barnett and Tiffin Girl's school the percentage of ethnic minorities is the vast majority and the free school mean rates are still low. Do you have any ideas to explain this trend?

OP posts:
theconstantinoplegardener · 09/09/2017 14:13

Part of it will be that the given percentages of various different ethnicities for any area will be the population as a whole ie children and adults of all ages. However the percentages for school-age children will be different from the population as a whole (usually higher percentage of BME pupils) because there tends to be higher fertility amongst immigrant families and also there are increasing numbers of mixed race children, which are also counted as BME.

pisacake · 09/09/2017 14:08

My mum went to a grammar school in the 60s. Looking at the old photos, all white.

Nowadays she would be a minority there. www.woodford.redbridge.sch.uk/_files/images/D5A7CAB4966701C76027FAB901EE68FA.jpg

I'm pretty sure, however, that private schools near London's majority-minority grammar schools remain mostly white.

Danglingmod · 09/09/2017 14:07

There were more ethnic minority students in the grammar school I worked in than in its corresponding secondary modern - a long way away from London.

Original poster
lll36 · 09/09/2017 14:03

I think you have a point EssentialHummus. Do you think they're more likely to get tutored for 11 plus?

OP posts:
W00t · 09/09/2017 14:02

I would add also that the percentage of BME pupils at DD's super-selective grammar is also very high, probably about 55-60% of pupils. The schools are v prestigious and Parents will go to great lengths to get their children in.

Original poster
lll36 · 09/09/2017 14:01

That's true but around 80% of top schools are ethnic minority which doesn't reflect London's demographic

OP posts:
EllenJanethickerknickers · 09/09/2017 13:58

The ethnic mix in my local super-selective is a lot more diverse than that in the local area over 100 miles from London. I don't know why but would hazard a guess that local Asian parents are more pushy and interested in their DC's education than average and more concerned about them going to grammar schools. Some of my 'pushy and interested' white friends value the high achieving comprehensive on their doorstep more than the grammar school.

titchy · 09/09/2017 13:50

it seems like grammar schools outside of London have a low amount of ethnic minorities.

Yep, same as non grammars. Ethnic mix of schools tends to reflect that of the area as a whole.

CauliflowerSqueeze · 09/09/2017 13:17

Not the case in north west Kent where ehnic minorities make up about 75% of grammar schools.

EssentialHummus · 09/09/2017 13:14

I used to tutor for the 11+ in nw London, so pure anecdote and speculation here. I think first and second gen immigrants from ethnic backgrounds, particularly from India (of which London has a high concentration) are more likely to have an "education education education" mindset and drive their dc hard through the 11+ process. It's not foolproof in getting them in, and it can result in students getting in who then need tutoring in subjects all the way through.

Bigbiscuits · 09/09/2017 13:05

I guess that may change over time as more second and third generation people start to move out of London in search of selective education.

Bigbiscuits · 09/09/2017 13:04

Simple. More ethnic monorities in London than in the grammar school counties.