To think that all private schools DO NOT cheat at exams?

[IsItJustUsOrNot]

Firstly, hello all. Secondly, name changed. Thirdly, I'm not looking for all the usual anti or pro private education arguments or comments that we all already know and love. So here goes:

Some pupils at our Prep were given 'help' to pass their Common Entrance exams this year, whether they wanted it or not. After the exam sessions had finished and the papers collected in, some pupils were called back later the same day to do them again, rewrite them to neaten them up, shown where extra marks could be picked up and so on, or a whole paper was gone through before an exam. We are being told that this is only to help the pupils, there is nothing bad about it, they are not public exams and all Preps do it. Some of us are not convinced however, see it as cheating and, worse, that the children have been forced to cheat. Who is right?

It is inevitable once a cash nexus is introduced that this sort of thing will happen. Some parents think that they are paying for an educational success, regardless of the capability and effort put in by their offspring.

Fee paying Schools need successful outcomes if they are to survive and are under intense pressure to deliver. Plus, there's less scrutiny than there would be in a state school, so I am in no way surprised that it goes on.

The cynical part of me has been musing on the subject of History of Art and the attraction of courses like this to those associated with royalty - at extremely good universities.

I think the attraction of history of art for royals is their family having an amazing collection, plus employing curators who really know their stuff. Yes, it's a massive advantage, but not because of cheating - rather access and early exposure.

I went to a private secondary that refused to release results or appear in league tables on principle. The emphasis was on developing the whole person and most of the staff refused to teach to the test. Obviously there's privilege behind that policy as students can fall back on their social/cultural/financial capital rather than results. But certainly no cheating.

One of my main objections at the time to the pupils at our Prep being made to cheat on CEs was the very poor example this sets them for life. I have been reminded of that reading through this thread, the related one in the Staffroom, and the 2 in Education and Secondary Education about Eton and Winchester (not sure about Radley too as I haven't read enough about that yet). If pupils are set the example to cheat by a Head or staff, we can't be surprised if they then later follow that example and choose to cheat as the pupils at Eton and Winchester appear to have done by sharing the leaked exam questions around. Then the world is apparently told, by the Headmaster of Eton no less, that they have done nothing wrong. Again we can't be surprised if they then become cheaters in their University, professional and personal lives.

??

I thought the letter which said it was wholly not the fault of the boys was icw pre-U Economics

My comment relates to the Guardian's latest report, linked above by Liney, Edith?

thanks!

Looks as if one boy got sacked (?) and the others received unsolicited info

Then the world is apparently told, by the Headmaster of Eton no less, that they have done nothing wrong. Again we can't be surprised if they then become cheaters in their University, professional and personal lives.

Yes, imagine if Eton started to produce arrogant, dishonest, lazy, bullies and bragards with a bogus sense of entitlement.

Thankfully our fine, upstanding, hardworking, honest as the day is long and sexually continent Ex-Etonian Foreign Secretary is proof that such a thing is beyond the reason of possibility.

They're not all like that, but very good Boysof!

I'm not surprised it goes on at public schools, but don't think it's a private school issue.
Our private school gets good results and doesn't cheat, they aren't bothered about academic success, they are all different.
It's like saying all roses are red.

Of course they are all most likely cheating, that is what they are paid to do, results at any cost. That is why they dont do the normal GCSE and A-level exams like everyone else.

They do do GCSE and A Level like everyone else. I'm not sure what you're thinking CE is? If you had to compare it to a state exam it would be more like SATS.

It's an entrance exam prior to study for GCSE not instead of.

I am thinking about things like the Pre-U that they do.

Mine is doing ordinary GCSE's and A levels like everybody else.
Maybe if the school cheated enough they might actually get her to pass some.
How rude and insulting to those whose children are at a private school that have sn, learning difficulties or are just behind/ not very bright.
Every year there are children who leave private schools with low results.
Maybe private schools are better at getting the best out of the children rather than cheating.
I'm not suggesting it doesn't happen but I know of Maths GCSE students who were actually passed answers, they were state school btw.
Not recently either.

Pre U only started in 2010 and very few schools have taken it up so the large majority will still do GCSE/A Level.
I take issue at parents 'paying for results at any cost'. There are many reasons to chose to pay for education. Poor state schools in an area, special needs etc. My DC went after two years of sustained bullying in the state sector, even a school change and good staff didn't stop the physical abuse DC suffered. Exam passing wasn't in the mix at all and still isn't.

Returning to the OP: And the award for cheating and other similar unfancy footwork goes to....