My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

AIBU?

..to think that state educated kids are going to find themselves at a huge disadvantage in public exams?

301 replies

SpiderPlantSally · 28/05/2020 14:32

Every privately-educated Year 10 or Year 12 child I know - this amounts to six different fee-paying schools - is having a like-for-like learning experience at home with live online teaching, following their usual timetable.

Every state-educated child I know of the same ages (also five or six different schools) is being set written work, with very little or no live teaching. At DD's school there one hour of live Maths for the whole Year 10 cohort each week, and a contact session for the other subjects once per week, when the teachers are available for email contact or chat. That's it. Otherwise lone book work.

AIBU unreasonable to think that state school pupils will be at a huge disadvantage when applying for selective 6th forms and universities in the autumn? Surely the private school pupils will absolutely clean up on the top grades in next summer's GCSEs and A-levels?

OP posts:
Report

Am I being unreasonable?

217 votes. Final results.

POLL
You are being unreasonable
22%
You are NOT being unreasonable
78%
W00t · 28/05/2020 19:39

devlesko the govt funding scheme for music and dance schools goes up to £56k p.a....so some of them are charging that amount.
Point is- a school funded to the tune of £32k per pupil p.a. can afford to equip teachers better than one funded £4.5k p.a. can't it? Even allowing for Steinways etc.

Report
Devlesko · 28/05/2020 19:39

Marie

You don't have to be einstein to support learning, you can do it in many ways.
But yes, some people aren't able to do it, that's life.
Some have refused to do it, as well, refusing to "step up "
Which camp are you, my love.
I'm the support camp, I ask if she needs help, show an interst in what she's doing, and guess what? I don't have a GCSE to my name, but I have an interest in my child learning.

Report
LaurieMarlow · 28/05/2020 19:41

The last recession did nothing at all to improve recruitment and retention in education. Things have not improved since then. Indeed, they are considerably worse.

Unemployment projections are waaay worse for what’s upcoming.

I actually expect teaching will become very sought after. And that will be good for the profession.

The training is a challenge in the short term, I doubt anyone’s looking at how to overcome that, but they should be.

Report
Dixiechickonhols · 28/05/2020 19:41

Yes. Dd’s state school (grammar) is setting work and requires it submitting but virtually no live teaching.
7% private can easily raise grade boundaries especially in subjects not offered commonly in state. I know when I did Latin gcse at a state school A grade boundary was high as most candidates were from private schools.

Report
Westonsupermarebeauty · 28/05/2020 19:41

And parents are the primary educators of children, regardless of class or economic status, something that some schools forget completely. Though not all.

Report
NeverTwerkNaked · 28/05/2020 19:42

All these teachers arguing that setting work is an adequate substitute for teaching- you do realise you are arguing your jobs out of existence? it that's all that is required the govt will need far fewer qualified teachers moving forward

Report
MarieQueenofScots · 28/05/2020 19:42

Which camp are you, my love

See this is why you’re so obtuse. I’m able to see past my own situation.

I’m hugely privileged which is why it’s so important to acknowledge the difficulties a huge number of working parents are facing and how that will negatively impact their children.

I understand you’re not hugely educated by your own admission. It shows my love in your unwillingness to consider circumstances.

Report
Westonsupermarebeauty · 28/05/2020 19:43

And I totally am with the poster who is saying you don't need G.C.S.Es to promote learning or thriving.

Report
Westonsupermarebeauty · 28/05/2020 19:44

sorry for the typos. I really do need a new pair of glasses but no chance of getting to the opticians at the moment, big backlog.

Report
Devlesko · 28/05/2020 19:45

W00t

Thanks, I had no idea, I thought they were all the same fees. Thanks
Definitely, it's a whole different ball game.
We are entertainers and musicians we have all the equipment at home.
It makes a huge difference, as dd has gained so much from her online activities for the website. She sends stuff to the relevant teacher and they upload it to the system.
There are some families who don't have the equipment though, we only have it because of our work.
The teachers don't have all the equipment but are able to access the school system from home.

Report
W00t · 28/05/2020 19:46

They're not going to train them @Beawillalwaysbetopdog!
Anyone can teach, it's dead easy. They'll get rid of qualifications for "teachers" next.
Doesn't matter, because only proles send their children to state schools.

Report
SpiderPlantSally · 28/05/2020 19:48

There is such disparity in what is being provided! Wouldn't say DD's school is awful, but it's not great. I am acutely aware that DD will probably be fine compared to many - she has her own lap top, study space etc and no distractions, whereas many of her classmates are having to share computers or even look after younger siblings while Mum and Dad are at work. But she's teaching herself with provided resources, not really being taught, at the moment.

OP posts:
Report
Westonsupermarebeauty · 28/05/2020 19:48

And exactly how are you 'priviledged' Mary Queen of Scots.

Apart from the obvious, you are professing your 'Royalty'?

And if you are 'priviledged' how do you get to speak with authority on behalf of those you regard as 'not priviledged'. Pray, do tell...

Report
Devlesko · 28/05/2020 19:49

Marie

What circumstances have I failed to see?
My ds1 went to a sink estate school, now closed. I doubt he'd have had much to do through the schools. The other parents who were unable to support or unwilling would have existed the same as those who would have supported.
My ds2 went to a state school, a bit better, was CofE and still open. There website has clear instruction on what the children need to access their work.
They are following a full timetable, and my friends seem quite happy with it.
Some parents will be supporting their children, some won't be.
I don't know how I can be any clearer, nor what your problem seems to be.

Report
PickUpAPickUpAPenguin · 28/05/2020 19:52

My kids are at a comp and online lessons are starting on 1st June for y10 and y12. y12 get lessons 10-12 and y10 get lessons 1-3 and the school have worked out a timetable for each child. No news on the face to face time yet but hopefully this will be more than a chat about how online learning is going.

Report
MarieQueenofScots · 28/05/2020 19:54

What circumstances have I failed to see?

In small words, that lack of parental ability to engage isn’t always “unsupportive” them “not stepping up”.

I don't know how I can be any clearer, nor what your problem seems to be

Oh you’re perfectly clear, I just think you’re wrong.

Report
MarieQueenofScots · 28/05/2020 19:57

Westonsupermarebeauty

Run my own businesses unaffected by Covid
Don’t need to work full time at any time
Time, money, lack of stress to support my daughter, who is also receiving a full education from her school.

I’m damn lucky and I absolutely acknowledge that.

I’m not speaking for anyone, I’m suggesting it’s important to acknowledge that there are varying circumstances at play, and it’s always worth considering that before professing a statement.

Report
Noconceptofnormal · 28/05/2020 20:07

Yes agree, state schools are having their arse handed to them by private schools in this situation. I get that private schools have more resources and fewer pupils so were always in a better position to provide learning in these circumstances, but some state schools don't even seem to be trying.

Report
HorsesInTheSky · 28/05/2020 20:20

Aren't they at a huge disadvantage anyway? What's new?

Report
Fifthtimelucky · 28/05/2020 20:29

@W00t : I'm interested in where are you getting the £56k figure from. I don't think you're correct. I don't think any of the schools charges anything like that.

Report
Devlesko · 28/05/2020 20:29

marie

There are kids who come from terrible backgrounds, it's awful, of course they miss out, but that's not down to the lack of school.
Their parents aren't supporting them the same as the parents who can't be bothered, or think they shouldn't, it's not their job.
Unsupportive parents can and do come from all walks of life.
I know a family with kids at the big private schools, the kids are getting the education but the parents aren't engaging with their education, it's not their job. They don't even check their kids are doing hat they should, lets hope the school can keep them on track.

Report
worldsworststepfordwife · 28/05/2020 20:34

SpiderPlantSally I hear you my dd is in a “sink estate” school she spent hours earlier teaching herself a new Spanish topic before she could even think about doing the work set. My feelings on this were part feeling sorry for her, part gratitude that it’s a new topic so her progress through the curriculum hasn’t completely stagnated and part it’s a deprived area school, I can guarantee there’s no way all the kids will put themselves out to do all that level of self teaching

It’s all frightening I’m sick of reading threads like this where I’m constantly reading “why can’t my child get this, they’re only getting that” and I’ll read what “that” is and it’s a million times better than my kid is getting

Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

coronabeer23 · 28/05/2020 20:43

My eldest are at an excellent state secondary

Year 12: full A level timetable combination of live and set lessons. Year 12 exams after half term. UCAS prep starts on June 1st

Year 9: combination of live and set lessons. Full testing and marking

For both years: emails if children don’t attend live lessons or submit work. Emails if they’ve been particularly good during lessons.

Regular recorded assembly, weekly emails to parents and children from head teacher. Form tutors contacting all children by phone to check in. Pastoral head checked in regarding some issues kids were being supported with

Report
W00t · 28/05/2020 20:46

@Fifthtimelucky it is some years since we researched it, as DD is Y9 now. The govt website for the Music and Dance scheme has all changed and I can't see the document I read, which detailed the scheme and what you could apply for. However, Yehudi Menuhin School fees are £44k p.a., and that comes under the scheme.
44, 56, it's kind of meaningless when you're into that ballpark of fees!

Report
siring1 · 28/05/2020 20:46

Money buys privilege.

I'm a teacher and private tutor. I've done a lot of work on Zoom teaching children. They all go to state schools but have they money to pay me.

When the schools go back.on average the most disadvantaged will come back last and lose out even more.

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.