To think DD can get top grades in an 'average' comp. secondary?

[HotCaterpillar]

Dd has done well at primary, near top of class academically and is well behaved and conscientious.

I've moved area and she's due to start secondary in an averagely performing comp. in September. Aibu to think she can get top grades in that environment if she continues to apply herself to studying?

She was offered a place in a selective private school but I declined due to the fees, I could probably just about afford them but it felt very expensive when there is a free option. She's done well in state primary. I'm a single parent working FT, we have a good home life.

I am a a year away from the same scenario. We cannot afford private, but we can afford some tuition. Which is probably what we'll do to give my DD that extra that she may well not get in the comp.

Of course she can. But I so think it'll be easier for her to reach her potential in a good private school.

Look. You may not even need tuition. Mine didn't, and nor did any of their friends. It's a Mn myth that if you go comp you access a different kind of privilege by getting tuition. Honestly most parents either don't, or can't afford it.

My daughter got straight A*s in her GCSEs and A levels at a standard comprehensive, and has just graduated with a first class Masters from a top university. But she was helped by having a studious group of friends, and being personally highly motivated. She did notice early on that when put in one of the lower sets for her weakest subject (computing) she wasn't learning much - kids were unmotivated and teaching not as good.

Both of my (now adult) kids did. I think it depends on whether they can find a supportive peer group within the school.

Of course it's possible to go to any school and get all 9s. The issue is how much more likely this is In one school as opposed to another. I do agree with the pp above that parental support / expectations are probably the greatest determinator, regardless of the school. However, I do also think that all to often in state schools, there is an insidious culture of mediocrity. Children are too frequently told they are amazing and even 'gifted' and put in 'G and T' streams, only to come out with a 7 when exams are marked at a national level. You have to wonder if some teachers know what a 9 looks like! Children are given a false sense of their ability because they are being measured against others in the class who are likely to scrape a 4 at best. Teachers sometimes don't have the time to differentiate enough within classes. Also, the peer culture issue - teens will do anything to fit in and if it's not cool to be conscientious, they won't be.

I think all you can do is give the school a go OP. Your DD might make some great friends and be doing really well. If not, you can revisit moving her going into Year 9 (or earlier if you're not happy with the school).

Dd got two A stars and A at A level and just graduated with a first from university. Her comp was above average but it’s the individual teachers that make a difference at A Level.

If you're looking for a positive story, @HotCaterpillar, DD2 went to a poor-performing secondary modern school (grammar school area so no comps).

This week we went to her graduation ceremony to see her receive her first-class Masters degree. She obtained this from a university ranked 2 in the UK for her particular STEM subject.

She has achieved her academic success by sheer hard work (no tutoring) and when she had a weak teacher, she had the determination and resilience to teach herself. So yes, it absolutely can be done.

P.s. Dd had a grand total of 2 hours of extra tuition for a science GCSE as the teacher left.

Yes she absolutely can.
I achieved 8 As in a very average secondary school
Ds1 is predicted mostly 8s and 9s (took his GCSEs this year)
The only thing I would say he missed out on was help with his DT practical as the class size was too big.

Have a look at the comp's GCSE results. Is there a reasonable number of 8/9s in each subject? If so, I wouldn't worry - that shows that it can be done, and it sounds as if your daughter would be one of that top bunch. You're obviously a supportive parent, and that matters more. Saving on the school fees means there's a bit of money for tuition if she needs it.

Please provide evidence for ‘not many do’. Evidence related specifically to high achievers at primary level, not the cohort as a whole.

OP, my Dc went into secondary as high ability, as did many friends. They all did really well and are on academic Uni courses at top reputation places.

My sons attended a rural comp, enjoyed a fantastic social grounding, achieved the very highest exam grades (sciences) and went to top universities.

Where they couldn't help noticing that both socially and academically they were better prepared than some of their class mates from top private boarding schools.

If she is bright and motivated she will do well wherever she goes the key is to go to the right environment for her where she feels happy and settled . I went to a not working good comprehensive where university was not a concept that existed and the aim was to get everyone on a YTS scheme (remember those 😀). I got the best o levels but not straight As as in some subjects we had a succession of different teachers and for physics no teacher. Then I went to sixth form in a girls grammar and didn’t work as I felt I didn’t fit in so the right environment is important

here are the percentages with a breakdown of grades. 12% with 7, 9.1% with 8 and 7.4% with 9.

But as you can see from this link, “61.2 per cent of privately educated pupils’ results were at grades 7, 8 or 9, the second highest performance behind the 68.4 per cent secured by pupils at selective schools.”

guardian link here

for balance a Mail link

Of course, it’s hard because the last two years have been disruptive. But I do find on these threads there’s a lot of defensiveness, which is weird, because on threads about education generally everyone agrees it’s underfunded, teachers are struggling, etc. But then if you suggest this just might have an adverse effect on children, people bite your head off and tell you about their own DCs success.

OF COURSE SHE CAN.

Especially if you could have scraped enough to pay for private school fees, as that means you can easily afford to give her a well-rounded education through extra curricular activities, pursue her interests and tutors outside of the state comp.

Yes my son went to a state comp, got all 9s and 8s, and 3 A* atA level. He had excellent teachers. A lot of the other students all did exceptionally well. Although, the school is selective at 6th form, but many are.

Privately educated and state grammar students are ‘selected’, and there are many reasons why their percentage of higher grades may be proportionately higher. Greater number of motivated supportive parents, more individual attention at school, better facilities, more ‘enrichment’ etc that come with these opportunities.

And yes state education needs greater funding.

But your stats do not add up to ‘not many’ do well and the ‘odds being not in her favour’ given that she is very bright and has a motivated supportive Mum.

I did, OP. And the great thing is that these days you have a much better chance of getting into Oxbridge from a state school, as they apply positive bias, quite rightly.

But you are not comparing like for like, especially in 2021 when private school grades inflation jumped a lot higher than state school grades.

My Dd got good SATS at primary. The other children her age getting similar results went to private school. She got higher grades at A Level than they did.

The biggest factor in making sure your children does well is a supportive family environment. Parents at private school will have an interest in their child doing well (not least as they are paying for it) and expect a return for their money. As a cohort, these children will be fed well, have technology and text books to help them succeed. Take away the children that don’t have all these at a state school, then compare the numbers.

@SuperCamp snap!

I would say she can get top grades providing she works hard and has a good memory for facts.

You can see how she gets on and if necessary, pay for tutoring.

Please also remember that the top universities are increasingly more likely to offer places to students from the state sector.

Don't 93% of the nation's children go to state school? Is there a culture of mediocrity holding back the vast majority of the country's students? This seems so unlikely. I wish I'd known about the snobbery in UK schooling before I moved here. It's one thing that baffles me and makes me wish I was raising my children elsewhere.

Yes of course, mumsnet can seem like a different world sometimes. I only know people who went to ‘average comps.’

What a ridiculous and ignorant comment!!!

Yes op of course your daughter is likely to do well!

I would NEVER send my child to private school even if I could afford it, I am vehemently against a two tier education system and think private schools are a breeding ground for snobbery and self-entitlement.

I went to the worst comprehensive in my home city..,I got top grades at GCSE then went to the local college and got As and Bs. I got a first class degree and am now a teacher myself in one of the most significantly deprived schools in the entire country, I am unbelievably proud of teaching where I teach and of the pupils I teach and I despise the way that in this country young people and children are written off before they even stand a chance!