To think that going comprehensive is an exit from the middle class?

[VolvoMo]

There may be a few minor exceptions (due to wealth or ideology) but doesn't going comp take away your middle class badge and worse, give your kids the chance to carry a big chip on their shoulder for their adult life.

Oh yar, people who talk about class are definitely rather bottom-drawer. I am obsessed with it and am the most fearfully common little oik.

I'm working class, does this make me a lower person? I don't think so.

I think it's more important to be a nice, kind, moral all round good person :)

My dd's state primary is a dang site posher 'n' some of the private schools round our way. The mothers weave yoghurt and everything.And there's no uniform so all the little girlies can be mini boden'd. S'fab

Of course not. Over 90% go to state schools and in the majority of places there are only comprehensive schools so all the middle class are there-except the 7% in private education or home educating.

Is a well bred horse upper class? I always thought that smacked of nouveau (a bit like buying your silver or having fish knives). I thought the 'proper' upper class horse was some hairy old hunter.

I really am glad to discover that if I want to be middle class then all I have to do is bankrupt myself and send the DCs to the nearest rather down at heel private school with its mediocre results.

Phew!

I've had 2 friends who teach at private schools in different parts of the country tell me that a significant proportion of the kids are offspring of (the more successful) local criminals.

Something to consider as the mini Volvos traipse off to school?

Well bred here means a pibald Percheron Shire. Has lots of hair. :o

Wasn't op banging on about this 6 months ago?

My kids are in Burke's peerage courtesy of DH. They are also happily ensconced in the local "bogstandard" comp.
I, on the other hand, am common as muck and privately educated.
That help at all OP?

Lady Di had an audi. Was she working class?

My friend's FIL is upper class and has no money. He complains her hairdryer takes up too much electricity at his country pile and they have this ongoing battle where he tries to sneak up and unplug it from the mains when she's mid blow-dry. I think it's hilarious...!

But I don't see any middle class responses, so I think my original question has been answered!

What would be a suitable middle class response?

What a ridiclous post, OP. Don't the footballing class also send their kids to private schools.

Can you have a working class body? I think I've got a body built for labour - short and squat if I didn't work out. Are the true aristocrats always tall and fine boned and able to eat what they like? Race horses v pit ponies! :)

Quite amothersplace, especially in some parts of Surrey :)

Yes we are in affluent SE. Going independent is the norm in these parts. Maybe we need to move to Hull or somewhere!

Erm, well in my corner of affluent SE we all went to local vair good comp. That's quite commonplace in leafy greenbelt isn't it? Perhaps your area is (shudder) a bit low-rent?

I've got a working class body

I look like a very hard-worked farm-girl that's shagging the cowherd and consquently gets the cream off the top of the milk

In 20 years I will look like a laundrywoman with a cheery rosy face and strong, fat forearms.

I'd offer you a biscuit, but there doesn't seem to be any middle class biscuits on offer. Just jammie dodgers. Common as muck.

Oooh middle class biscuits! Please state make and type, I want to check out my friends offerings at coffee mornings

I have M & S shortbread with chocolate, will that do?

Great post, OP. It's quite an MN achievement to get so many unanimous responses. Funny how nobody at all sees it quite the way you do.

Sorry not read the whole thread, was too busy looking for a flattering angle so I can enter my photo into and be in the running for the next 'Fanny of the Week' badge, it sounds nice.

i am desperately middle class and from hampshire and went to oxbridge and have never set foot in a private school

I went to both, so must have both a chip and be classless. Wow, how special.

Rock on OP, nobody cares.