... to think it slightly odd that so many of my school mum friends are hung up about secondary schools already, when their kids are only 5!

[sandyballs]

It seems to be the sole topic of conversation lately - how good/bad the local comp is, how extra tuition will be needed for the local grammar etc etc.

The kids are 5/6 years old! Let them be kids!

I'm sure our parents never had all this school angst!

p.s. Xenia - working at Ernst & Young? Might be well paid - doesn't sound remotely interesting. You have a very limited view of the world.

Just got my ds's School Improvement Plan (state primary school) which includes the quote;

"To develop pupils' understanding of how their learning can affect thier life choices for the future and appropriate acheivement will contribute to a more secure economic future".

I do not feel comfortable with this emphasis on future earnings for such young children, when school at this age should just be fostering a love of learning for its own sake. What does anyone else think?