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Original poster

Secondary Comprehensive Schools

63 replies

LesleyA · 27/02/2018 12:41

HI please advise...is it almost a given that most kids that go to comprehensive secondary schools will finish at 16 and then go onto vocational studies rather than getting their GCSE's. In other words the majority wont qualify to go to university?

OP posts:
marytuda · 27/02/2018 18:51

Hi! I think this may be a windup . . . . Either that or . . . I don't know, there are countries where state education is virtually non-existent, or absolutely not worth bothering with . . . You educate your kids privately or not at all. People from there sometimes get together in this country with natives who think the same for, erm, unreconstructed historical/family reasons. And together invent reasons to justify their choices . . ???

TalkinPeace · 27/02/2018 18:36

@LesleyA
Here are the exam results and outcomes from a couple of colleges whose intake is around 95% comprehensive school kids ...
www.barton-peveril.ac.uk/courses/files/2016/10/BP-OE-OCT2016-RESULTS.pdf
www.barton-peveril.ac.uk/blog/barton-peverils-oxbridge-success/

www.psc.ac.uk/achievements/destinations.php
www.psc.ac.uk/results/

Comprehensive schools have ALL abilities in them

Soursprout · 27/02/2018 18:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

tiggytape · 27/02/2018 16:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CookieDoughKid · 27/02/2018 16:05

Sorry OP but that's a very strange question you are asking. Sounds like you do not have familiarity of state school education system or know anything about the pupil demographics in the UK.

AlexanderHamilton · 27/02/2018 15:47

Every year a proportion of the children who attend the private school Ds used to go to opt to leave aged 16 & go to a local college to do a vocational course because it’s what they want to do.

Most state comps round here only offer A levels, you have to go to college to do a Btec. But A levels are the most popular type of course for the academically able.

jaimelannistersgoldenhand · 27/02/2018 15:41

You need to look at the specific school. My kids go to a comp and they have people who get all A at A-level. There is always at least one person who goes to Oxbridge and many go to Russell Group universities.

daffodildelight · 27/02/2018 15:17

Apologies if I am mistaken but OP I think you have asked this recently on a previous thread and already have you answer.
Is there something specific you are worried about?

Frombothsidesnow · 27/02/2018 14:37

It actually makes sense if, as a PP pointed out, the OP has seen some outdated information about the grammar school/secondary modern split. What she's describing is a secondary modern from the mid-20th century.

Twofishfingers · 27/02/2018 14:36

I think OP is trying to justify forking out a second mortgage to send her DCs to a private school...

Twofishfingers · 27/02/2018 14:35

Unless I don't understand your question, you are completely wrong.

Our local comprehensive has 89% of children who stay in education...

ATailofTwoKitties · 27/02/2018 14:28

Didn't you ask about this a few weeks ago, Lesley, or was that someone else?

The answer is still that comprehensive schools educate the vast majority of the country's teenagers to GCSE level, many of those will continue to A-level, and many of those who do A-levels will go on to university.

It does vary a bit by how good the individual school is. Try page 6 of the Sutton Trust report for some details on proportions who are accepted at university. Even the results for the lowest fifth of schools say nearly 60% (of sixth-formers) go to university.

nocampinghere · 27/02/2018 14:19

what are you on about?
my local comps all do GCSEs
almost all do A levels
almost all go on to uni.

where did you get that idea from?!

Brakebackcyclebot · 27/02/2018 14:14

What? NO!!!!! That is total rubbish.

My kids go to a comprehensive. Most kids in their school stay to do A levels, and many go to uni, including Oxbridge.

GrockleBocs · 27/02/2018 14:13

Up until the 1970s most areas had grammar schools for 'academic' children and secondary moderns that aimed to equip children for a manual type of work. Which children could go to a grammat was determined by a test.
Most areas changed in the 70s to a comprehensive system and abolished grammar and secondary moderns in favour of schools for everyone (hence comprehensive). Some areas retained grammar schools but the schools that aren't grammar schools there are not like the old secondary moderns.

Astronotus · 27/02/2018 14:05

LesleyA. If as Grockle says you are moving from overseas please be assured that many children go on to university from comprehensives in the UK.

user1495997773 · 27/02/2018 13:59

My comp had a 6th form, and most of us who 'stayed on' went to uni...

GrockleBocs · 27/02/2018 13:59

Not sure what that z's doing on the end Confused

GrockleBocs · 27/02/2018 13:58

Having done a quick AS Lesley is moving here from overseas and is struggling to understand the school system in England (Bristol possible destination).
I suspect she's confused about secondary moderns (i.e. not grammar) and secondary comprehensivez.

Yvest · 27/02/2018 13:56

We had 23 oxbridge offers from our comp last year. I expect those children did a levels.

Frombothsidesnow · 27/02/2018 13:55

Nope. Selective secondary? Private secondary? Secondary comprehensive, or secondary comp as many people say.

Astronotus · 27/02/2018 13:54

LesleyA. I'm curious. Why did you ask this question?

BlueCowWonders · 27/02/2018 13:51

But who says ‘secondary comprehensive’
It’s usually either/ or isn’t it?

unfortunateevents · 27/02/2018 13:50

OP, did you think about that question before you posted? Comprehensive schools educate about 90% of the population of England and Wales. Are you suggesting that only 10% of all students who attend those schools go on to do A levels/attend university?!

minifingerz · 27/02/2018 13:49

You do realise that children can go on to university after taking vocational qualifications?

Plenty of kids do BTECs and then go on to do health sciences, engineering, IT and other subjects at university.

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