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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not give a fuck about schools?

569 replies

sensuallettuce · 20/04/2012 21:13

AIBU to be totally hacked off with this subject every bloody year.

I don't care that Saffron didn't get into your first choice school even though the local school is varie good she just isn't "suited" to that "environment" all the council estate kids Hmm.

It's such thinly veiled snobbery and competitive parenting at its very worst. Kids should go to the local school end of and if there is a grammar system state educated kids should be permitted to take the entrance exam (not privately educated kids who are trained to pass an exam) and this should be means tested.

I live in one of the most competitive school areas of the country with a massive social divide (Poole in Dorset). Because of this I ended up with all 3 kids at 3 different schools for 3 yrs Hmm.

How can people bang on about the state providing a perfectly good education then spend an extra £50,000 on a house in the "right" area. It's hypocritical snobby bollocks.

Kids will learn if they want to. I do not believe any of them have faired any better or worse due to my non choice of school. They are fulfilling who they are.

They have a loving home and are well balanced grounded kids and they know if I believe they have been "wronged" I am behind them 100%, if they have done "wrong" I am behind the school. I a, supportive of and interested in their education.

We all need to bloody calm down about this seriously Hmm

OP posts:
fluffypillow · 20/04/2012 23:04

I say I wouldn't go down the private route because it's not something I believe in. It's not just about a school, it's about a whole different lifestyle.

My friend sent one of her children private, and she does nothing but try to 'keep up' with every one else.....not for my family.

I wouldn't want my children to try to be something they are not ( and I wouldn't want them to be.)

State schools are fine for us thankyou, I just want one that will respect my childs rights.

usualsuspect · 20/04/2012 23:04

So what is the difference between a council kid and a non council kid

usualsuspect · 20/04/2012 23:05

My children grew up on a council estate , what is the difference?

Originalplurker · 20/04/2012 23:05

The type of err house they lived in maybe?..

teatimesthree · 20/04/2012 23:05

YANBU OP, I like your style - and your typos!

I honestly can't discuss this with people in RL, the whole issue makes my blood boil.

Originalplurker · 20/04/2012 23:05

This being all I should add

Heswall · 20/04/2012 23:06

HOw long would it take to turn a school around ?
They had ofsted inspectors and headteachers on 5 live today talking about satisfactory and even failing schools and they give the new headteacher of these schools a minimum of 3 years to take a school from failing to satisfactory - not good, not outstanding but the bare minimum.
And that's the head teacher, how long would it take for a governor to have any impact I wonder especially since the some of the teachers themselves are planning to refuse to co operate with ofsted.

wordfactory · 20/04/2012 23:07

One lives on the estate the other doesn't.
Though I've never heard anyone called a non council kid.

I'm not remotely offended by the term. It's just what we called ourselves.

K999 · 20/04/2012 23:07

I always hate when folk say " I worked hard" blah blah blah. Most of us work hard - whether living in a council estate or not....living in a "better" area doesn't mean you've worked harder than someone on a council estate.....

Originalplurker · 20/04/2012 23:08

A new head brought in is normally given five years unless they are clearly not up to the job. Worked in two schools

One had the five years, did fine....
Another school the head was a disgrace and let go mysteriously....

I'm talking about secondary's and they normally plateu with results pass rate then jump up.

usualsuspect · 20/04/2012 23:08

Well I'm fucking offended by it.

Heswall · 20/04/2012 23:08

So what is the difference between a council kid and a non council kid

About £20,000 usually.

Seriously it's less of an issue these days purely because nobody can get a council hopuse for love nor money but you used to be written off before you could walk coming from a council estate. No sure start, no nursery, playgroups, nothing to do after school or in the holidays, no money = no school trips. A grim existence for many.

wordfactory · 20/04/2012 23:09

In fact my current book is partly written in vernacular and the main character acknowledges that she knows who she can trust by whether they are a council kid.

fluffypillow · 20/04/2012 23:09

I found the governers at my ds's school to be very, very far up the Heads arse.

wordfactory · 20/04/2012 23:10

Sorry usual but no one has the right not to be offended I'm afraid.

Tis a part of my personal history and I won't deny who I am.

Originalplurker · 20/04/2012 23:11

True k9 re all working hard regardless of where they live. But it is a fact that DH and I did work hard to be able to buy a house, but that doesn't mean we think people living on council estates work less hard.

K999 · 20/04/2012 23:12

Jesus. The sheer ignorance on here is mind boggling......about £20k???!!!! WTF?? What does that £20k comprise? A drop in F100 shares?

Yellowtip · 20/04/2012 23:13

word your main character is incredibly snobbish.

Heswall · 20/04/2012 23:13

I found the governers at my ds's school to be very, very far up the Heads arse.

I couldn't disagree with that statement either in my expereinces, certainly not in any hurry to rock the boat or challenge anything at all really.

wordfactory · 20/04/2012 23:14

Where I grew up people worked fucking hard. Miners. Factory workers.
Shit pay. Shit conditions.

The estates were tough places to live.

Originalplurker · 20/04/2012 23:15

FYI, students atvsecondarybschool are profile according to a number of things including their postcode which then predict their fuse results, this is done before they begin year 10 and takes into account prior attainment.

Like it or lump it it happens Ann postcodes are related to socioeconomic factors which takes into account the type of housing, income and levelmofmparent education.

Just saying. You'd be surprised, they then use these prediction to beat students and teachers with to hit targets.

startail · 20/04/2012 23:16

I'm sorry to say I did move from my house on a council estate to rural middle classroom before DD1 was old enough to go to school.
(we also moved far nearer DHs work)

It is not unreasonable to want the best for your DCs, it is unreasonable and unhealthy to get in a totally neurotic tiz about it.

My DDs go to good enough local schools.
We've chosen not to go into debt to go private or subject DD2 too very long days to attend the grammar, (she didn't want to).

But I'm sorry OP if our local comp didn't get reasonable GCSE and A'level results and give my DDs the chance of a place at a decent university then I would be fussing about schools.

wordfactory · 20/04/2012 23:16

yellow she's fourteen and growing up in a period of social turmoil (eighties strike). Her community is being torn apart and people are too busy and despairing to care about a girl who has gone missing.

The MC knows she can trust very few people. Her list gets sorter and shorter. The circle draws in.

It's not about snobbery it's about claustrophobia.

startail · 20/04/2012 23:17

Middleclassdom (made up words and iPods don't mix)

usualsuspect · 20/04/2012 23:22

I still live on a council estate if any one called my kids just council estate kids I would rip their heads off

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