"school snobbery"

[dinkybinky]

I think it?s hysterical that some people think that if you child doesn?t attend a Grammar school or selective independent then they?re not academic. The level of ?school snobbery? that goes on is quite bewildering sometimes.

[WileyRoadRunner]

owllady I have no problem in saying that in RL. The school left my bereaved child sobbing in the corner all day after insisting she should come in/would be looked after.

[WileyRoadRunner]

And I don't think it's vulgar in the least to expect a grieving child to be cared for at school when they have actively encouraged them to come in. .

Obviously that is an incident personal to my family situation but it ultimately was the straw that broke the camels back and led to me putting my children where I did.

Sadly we do not have any other state schools with places available in the area.

[seeker]

" I have no problem in saying that in RL. The school left my bereaved child sobbing in the corner all day after insisting she should come in/would be looked after."

That is awful.

But it is relevant to the private/state debate exactly how?

[ChazsBrilliantAttitude]

OwlLady
Truthfully some state schools aren't good enough for any children to go to.

I am lucky that I can vote with my wallet and go private but its not right that some children are given such a substandard education. (no I don't think all private schools are good nor do I think that all private schools are better than state schools - some private schools are poor and some state schools are stellar)

Whether or not I think state schools are not good enough for my children I am faced with the fact that 3 out of our 4 local primary schools do not think that my children are good enough for them because my children are not from the right religion.

[OwlLady]

you are confusing what I have wrote

the school you sent your children school did not fully support your children when they needed support. It has nothing to do with whether that school was a state school, a private school or a selective school or either description. What was important was that the palliative care was not there to support your children during a period when it sounds like they needed it most.

It doesn't mean all state schools are not good enough for your children

A statement where someone says the school is not good enough for their children implies their children are better than other peoples children and whilst as parents we all love our own children more than other peoples we wouldn't necessarily say it out aloud to someone else.

Have you heard of chums btw? They run counselling/groups for children who are bereaved

[QueenieLovesEels]

I don't think placing a high value on education is snobby.

Of course any child with motivation will get to university no matter what school they attend. They will, however, have a much easier time of it if they are educated along side people who have similar values.

[TheOriginalSteamingNit]

No, placing a high value on education is not snobby. I do that.

[giveitago]

dinky I went to a grammar back in early 80's. I was not tutored and don't think other people were either. All very relaxed.

I doubt I'd get in now, not because I'm not academic but because everyone is tutored including those at very good private schools.

End of.

Most children are very able but within our school system many children are not considered 'able' because they don't have access to the means of entering what is now a exclusive type of school and are not playing the game.


I still don't undersand what academic means in within british education. Really don't . To me it means nothing to do with the child but going to a school that will tutor. Great - if you can get into one. And so on and so on......

If my child got into a grammar I'd be very happy but I wouldn't think he's any more 'academic' than another child. No way.

If he doesn't get into one I'll be crying into my beer as he's then left to a variety of faith schools and that's pretty much it. If he's neither academic nor or a mono culture for faith ,he's pretty much f'cked.

Tutored or a mono culture. Great stuff. Well done britain.

[WileyRoadRunner]

owllady normally it is not a state/private issue but in our circumstance it was as (I did state above) there are no other state schools within our catchment area and the ones outside are oversubscribed.

Therefore we felt we had no option to go private, to an independent faith school which offered my daughter the comfort she needed. There were other issues too, academic issues which led to the move as well but her happiness was the most important thing.

Those that have a state school available to them which offer those things are very very lucky.

My issue was with Minty suggesting sending your child to private school "implies snobbery". It does not.

seeker you always pop up on these threads bashing people who send their children to private school. You only read what you want to read. Have said it before on other threads some state schools are fabulous, some private schools are shit.

[QueenieLovesEels]

In Lincolnshire many children are not tutored for Grammar school places and the schools serve the purpose for which they were originally founded- that of allowing access to an academic education that isn't reliant on income but innate ability. The same applies to some Grammar schools in Essex.

There are still pockets of social mobility in Britain. They are however, rare.

[OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos]

There is no reason why being 'non academic' has to be seen as an insult. Not everyone can be academic, and thank goodness, because for society to operate we need all sorts of people. Academic intelligence isn't an indicator of how worthy or valuable a person is, it's just a personality trait.

I also think it is ok to feel like a certain school isn't good enough for your children. It doesn't imply anything other than a personal opinion of that school. It has nothing to do with other people's opinions or choices.

[QueenieLovesEels]

I think there has been underinvestment and an undervaluing of other talents and traits in children. This is not the case in other European countries. I value all sorts of talents and types of education as long as they meet the needs of the children in question.

Unfortunately,there are a lot of schools that fail children routinely. There is more than one way of educating children but I am of the opinion that our country's education system needs overhauling.

Far too many people go onto attend university who have no academic inclination whatsoever but don't feel there is a viable alternative. Hence the focus earlier on and anxiety that parents have.

[OwlLady]

There isn't a viable alternative though is there in a lot of cases. The dismantling and discouragement of skilled apprenticeships has hell of a lot to answer for.

Everlong, that's just rude! what a strange lady. Why is there any need to even comment

[toosoppyforwords]

I send my DC to private independent primary and will most likely continue to send to grammar/private at secondary. We are lucky we can afford it and i appreciate that
Our choice was not based solely on education and academics (although i do think my own children will do better at this school than the local state primaries) but was primarily chosen because of the wrap around care they offer i.e. 8-6 if needed and 51 weeks of the year if needed so i didn't have to constantly be thinking of before school and after school clubs and what to do in the half terms and summer. The majority of the children stay behind after school and during the holidays so my children dont feel out of place, or like they are the only ones not being picked up at 3.15. As a working mum this is invaluable to me as it gives me complete piece of mind.
I wouldn;t class myself as a snob. We are a pretty normal, working family, who certainly are not rich. I certainly dont look down my nose at anyone who attends state schools. It is clear that some children are academic regardless of where they go and will do well whatever school they are in, where as others are not. Why does everyone have to be academic anyway?

[seeker]

"seeker you always pop up on these threads bashing people who send their children to private school. You only read what you want to read."

Nope. I have never "bashed" anyone. You only read what you want to read.

[giveitago]

"I send my DC to private independent primary and will most likely continue to send to grammar/private at secondary. We are lucky we can afford it and i appreciate that"

And appreciate therefore that's why many people can't get their kids into 'academic' schools.

I have a son - there's the 'best' school in our borough which is a grammar is it accepts applications from everywhere. I've paid with my tax but with it's acceptance it takes only about 5% from the borough.

So wrong. And apart from that I'm left with catholic, CofE and hindu schools. My ds is not from any of those exclusively yet he has granparents from all three! There's are hardcore of us who are left out. Those who are truly british UK multicultural and plus not rich enough to afford private.

I really don't understand my country. It leaves so many of us out.

[OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos]

What do you mean 'it leaves so many of us out'? Your ds will be offered a school place, he won't be 'left out' at all.

The grammar school closest to us is one that accepts applications from everywhere, but the LEA that its in takes money from the LEAs of the children that go there. So many of the people that live in at Borough think they are paying for children from neighbouring Boroughs to go to a selective school that they pay for, and that often their children can't get into, but they are wrong. The council that a child lives in pays for his or her education.

People need to stop seeing schools as 'the best'. The best school just doesn't exist. There is only a school that will suit a particular child best. Very different.

[seeker]

I didn't realise there were Hindu schools - since when?

[ChazsBrilliantAttitude]

There is certainly a Hindu primary in LB of Harrow that is a couple of years old.
www.avanti.org.uk/kapsharrow/

and in the private sector there is Swaminarayan which IIRC is opposite the Neasden Temple
www.swaminarayan.brent.sch.uk/

[clam]

I'm pretty sure that one friend of mine cannot understand why I send my two to a state comprehensive. She must have spent tens of thousands on private education for hers. DS absolutely trumped hers at GCSEs though.

[seeker]

"Grammar schools aren't the best schools. They are however, the best schools for children who are of above average intelligence, coupled with a propensity towards academia."

Well, only if you think those tendencies can only be catered for in isolation.

[HullyEastergully]

oh who cares