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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Priority admissions to grammar for free school meals

999 replies

polycomfort · 02/04/2015 14:58

I'm pretty much not a person to start hand-wringing over low income families getting breaks. Happy for people less fortunate to get the odd leg up. Fine.

But I'm really angry to have just read that the local grammar school has just started giving priority admission to children claiming free school meals. I understand they get an extra £900 per child so I get that there is probably a financial benefit for the schools themselves. But I've been practicing with my daughter every evening (can't afford a tutor) using books I've bought cheap on Amazon and was thinking she might be just about good to go after lots of effort from both of us and now I'm just thinking what's the point? There are 20 applications per space as it is, and now just because I'm not poor she has even less of a chance. We don't have a high income but I work full time and so she doesn't get free school meals. For my efforts I may end up having to send my really rather bright daughter to the crappy (and it is crap) local comp even though she may be brighter than a child whose parent doesn't bust a gut to work every day of the week.

I don't think it's okay for grammar schools to be crammed full of wealthy kids who could go to private school, but couldn't they do a household income cut off rather than using a free school meal as the criteria? Then all the kids who can't afford to go to private school could be assessed for grammar school. I don't see why kids from the middle income should be penalised.

OP posts:
CloserToFiftyThanTwenty · 02/04/2015 15:00

FSM is a form of household income cut off, though, it's just lower than where you would like it to be

fedupbutfine · 02/04/2015 15:04

you can work and still be eligible for FSM. YABU. And you're benefits bashing.

Underthedeepblueocean · 02/04/2015 15:05

I am bit a fan of grammar schools but if we have to have them - I'm in favour of this.

tiggytape · 02/04/2015 15:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ItsAllKickingOffPru · 02/04/2015 15:05

Is it in an 11+ area? I don't see a problem if so. the academically bright from the poorest households will be getting a fairer chance. In the flawed 11+ process this is about as fair as they can be and closest to the old fashioned Grammar ethos from when they were set up.

Original poster
polycomfort · 02/04/2015 15:06

Way lower than the figure at which you begin to have options over how you school your children, so yes - too low in my opinion.

OP posts:
Underthedeepblueocean · 02/04/2015 15:06

The problem is, why should good and hard working but not very bright children have to go to a rubbish school?

JugglingLife · 02/04/2015 15:07

In our area (Birmingham), there are loads of super selective grammars. A limited number of children were given priority for the first time this year, they could gain entrance on a lower 11+ score. Whilst I was initially a little put out they actually have created more spaces at the schools so actually it shouldn't have a huge impact on the other children IYSWIM.

Cantbelievethisishappening · 02/04/2015 15:08

I may end up having to send my really rather bright daughter to the crappy (and it is crap) local comp even though she may be brighter than a child whose parent doesn't bust a gut to work every day of the week.

Hmm
PureMorning · 02/04/2015 15:09

I think it's a good thing.
We work full time and get free school meals. It's means tested.
Do you think my son's are worth a lesser education because we earn less than you?

Iggly · 02/04/2015 15:09

Another reason why grammar schools should be abolished.

MsShellShocked · 02/04/2015 15:11

I think your fears are unfounded. And even with a lower pass mark very few FSM children will get admitted.

anothernumberone · 02/04/2015 15:11

Your problem as far as I can see is having a crap comp as the alternative. Your child might not get a place anyway with that level of competition.

tiggytape · 02/04/2015 15:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Heels99 · 02/04/2015 15:14

What does "priority"mean? Presumably they still have to pass the exam?

PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom · 02/04/2015 15:14

Are you in Northern Ireland Poly. It's not something I've heard of in England but I think it was talked about there?

Original poster
polycomfort · 02/04/2015 15:16

"Do you think my son's are worth a lesser education because we earn less than you?" If they are less bright then yes, I think they are lesser deserving of a place at a selective school.

Do you think your children are deserving of a better education than mine because you are poorer?

OP posts:
Sirzy · 02/04/2015 15:16

Surely if she is that bright then she will pass the 11 plus and get in without a problem?

YABU, I dislike the grammar school system anyway but as PP said if we have to have it then I am very much in favour of a system like this to make it fairer.

BinaryBunny · 02/04/2015 15:17

For my efforts I may end up having to send my really rather bright daughter to the crappy (and it is crap) local comp even though she may be brighter than a child whose parent doesn't bust a gut to work every day of the week.

WHAT? How do you know what the reasons are for low-income households? Why would you assume it's because they "don't bust a gut"? Maybe the child is being looked after by a Gran? Or the parent/s can't work due to disability? Or they genuinely aren't earning enough money on their minimum wage job? How do you know that this child from that household isn't brighter than your Precious Baby?

You're cooing across as a benefit-bashing middle-class snob.

momtothree · 02/04/2015 15:18

Sad that Crap schools even exist .....

PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom · 02/04/2015 15:18

Here is the BBC news story on NI in case anyone is interested.

NurseRoscoe · 02/04/2015 15:19

In my opinion, if it's a fee paying school and the children are going for scholarships, it should be given to the most able children, the ones with the highest results on the entry exams, regardless of their parents background. Positive discrimination is still discrimination and it's not going to be there as much as they get older, they aren't going to say 'let's let this 18 year old into university over this one as her parents have a low income' they are going to look at how hard the student has worked and what they have managed to achieve. Everything should be done fairly.

calmexterior · 02/04/2015 15:19

If these school continue entry should be based on the child not the parents. So probably a good idea as it will compensate for all the tutoring and cramming and give kids a chance. Agree the number of kids will be tiny though.

switchitoff · 02/04/2015 15:20

I live in a GS area and one GS is in the process of changing its rules to prioritise FSM children like you say. However, the key point is that all the children (FSM or not) still have to attain their pass-mark. The only change is that FSM children will be put at the front of the queue, so they get preference over any non-FSM children. As the pass-mark is so high, I imagine this will make very limited difference to the number of FSM children they end up admitting.

Many GSs currently have 1% or less children on FSMs. I don't see anything wrong with allowing some more to have priority.

tiggytape · 02/04/2015 15:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.