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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be amused that the more exclusive a school is..

525 replies

seeker · 29/04/2012 10:02

.. by faith, fees, ability, aptitude..whatever- the more diverse a community the school's parents say it is.

OP posts:
TuftyFinch · 01/05/2012 23:27

Seeker the uniform is gaberdine.

LapsedPacifist · 01/05/2012 23:27

That was sarcasm, happygardening, not irony. Sarcasm is generally understood to be the lowest form of wit. Irony is something completely different.

Original poster
seeker · 01/05/2012 23:28

So yu were joking when you said you didn't know what a secondary modern was?
bloody he'll.

OP posts:
happygardening · 01/05/2012 23:28

Any way bored now and have a busy day tomorrow.
Ok sarcasm.

ealir · 01/05/2012 23:29

The thing I don't get about the arguments for an education system which is made up purely of comprehensives, is that I can't think of a single national problem that has ever been solved by a one-size fits all solution, surely the objective should be to get a range of schools that offer different things and so more children can get their needs fulfilled. Adopting a fully collectivised comprehensive system that would have be controlled by Central Government as there would be variations in the way that different Local Governments run schools which couldn't be allowed. It sounds like a nightmare system and does anyone really think it could work?
This is not considering the way that housing is stratified along various lines.

Original poster
seeker · 01/05/2012 23:31

The whole point of a comprehensive is that it isn't one size fits all. It has sets and streams.

OP posts:
gelatinous · 01/05/2012 23:31

I'm quite interested seeker, if you lived in an area where the local comp had a similar entry profile to you secondary modern would you send your dc there? Because if so, then I don't see why you would need to use the grammar system where you are, and if not, then what is your threshold for a schools performance/entry profile below which you wouldn't use it? (assuming your dc are as they are - ie: high ability.)

happygardening · 01/05/2012 23:32

So yu were joking when you said you didn't know what a secondary modern was?
bloody he'll.
No I was winding you all up because I think we're all taking life a little too seriously here endlessly criticising each other and it amuses me to pander to peoples prejudices and stereotypes. Of course I know what a secondary modern is and a comprehensive and a high school and a grammar school I lived in Kent for 7 years. Although I have to confess didn't know who the Smith were

TuftyFinch · 01/05/2012 23:32

On a serious note ....

the state/ private/faith/forest school argument has nowhere left to run. Everyone on this thread has a choice and I have little opinion on that. I teach people who had no choice and no voice. Many never went to school. Some have had the worst possible lives. We are all lucky.

Anyway. I think there should be Minatours at Tufty School. I'll order 4.

Original poster
seeker · 01/05/2012 23:33

The local comp wouldn't have a similar entry profile- because the "top"23% wouldn't have been creamed off to a separate school.

OP posts:
OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 01/05/2012 23:34

You're right Happy, you're not stereotypical. I always imagined Horse and Hound readers with children at independant schools to have very good manners.

gelatinous · 01/05/2012 23:35

well you do get comps that have circa 10% high ability due to their catchment, so that's about the same isn't it?

happygardening · 01/05/2012 23:35

Oh and by the way i actually think many indepednent schools are a complete waste of money and are just clever marketing machines able to convince parents that they are offering something better than the state when in reality they're not!

DerbysKangaskhan · 01/05/2012 23:36

The 'exclusive' schools near me (one both by faith and fees) do tend to go on a bit about how diversity is part of their ethos. When I lived in the States though it is very bad in places, even at University level, to the point of being ridiculous. It's a very odd hipster issue - the desire to be diverse, but only on the surface.

On the other hand, the local community primary school's OFSTED report had a section in where it described how non-diverse the school and made a big deal about this, particularly as this is a very mixed area. It's very strange how it's become all divided like this.

DioneTheDiabolist · 01/05/2012 23:36

Tufty would you have to pass an Angst Entrance Exam?

Original poster
seeker · 01/05/2012 23:37

Oh, forget it, happygardener. I used to have real respect for you. In a way that I don't usually for cyber entities. Today has been a real eye opener.

OP posts:
happygardening · 01/05/2012 23:37

OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos right Happy, you're not stereotypical. I always imagined Horse and Hound readers with children at independant schools to have very good manners.*
like the excellent ones you've just demonstrated no I'm sorry mine are much better than that!

happygardening · 01/05/2012 23:38

Signing out now. good night to you all.

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 01/05/2012 23:39

Seeker I think happygardening was being serious in her last point.

BTW is there any particular reason why you keep getting her name wrong!

TuftyFinch · 01/05/2012 23:39

You get special Ofsted points for being Equal and Diverse.

TuftyFinch · 01/05/2012 23:40

Dione, yes of course.

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 01/05/2012 23:40

X Post - the one about some private schools being marketing machines

happygardening · 01/05/2012 23:41

Yup ChazsBrilliantAttitude well spotted I was being serious in my last point!

happygardening · 01/05/2012 23:43

About independent schools being slick marketing machines pulling the wool over the eyes of anxious parents!

OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 01/05/2012 23:51

Am I the only one that's feeling Confused at this thread now?

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