Fed up with the usual A level coverage

[SeriouslynotFred]

The usual Benjamin or Sophia opening envelope at grammar school with screams and a "I got 4 A stars. I'm going to blah de blah now". Well done, but seriously lots of it's down to lucky genes, tutors, family pushing. Privilege.

I also want to see the children who struggled but achieved despite background, slogged away from difficult start in life, no tutoring to take 11+ or private school and managed against odds for a group of Cs or Diploma and will do a useful plumbing, electrical, teaching, as well, rather than bloody fashion at London or maths.

Where's the range a d diversity in these stories. Bore feast.

I think what irks people is that good grades are usually assumed to be the result of hard work and intelligence and nothing else. In reality, many people have difficult lives and have a lot against them. Abusive or unstable homelife, poor health and major life tragedies to name a few. A lot of very intelligent and hard working young people are either excluded from high achievements or made to feel less than because their grades aren't as high and shiny as those who happened to be born into comfort and stability. It's far from equal playing grounds and tbh people want it to be acknowledged. If you get good results by all means celebrate, it's amazing but it wasn't only hard work and intelligence that got you them.

It is very diverse. Across the sectors, grammars are more diverse than comps.

But selection still accounts for BM’s success at ‘A’-level.

I don’t think I’d call it a charade. More a quasi-grammar.

Remember the documentary 7 Up. It followed a really diverse section of kids as they grew from childhood to young adulthood and beyond.

One of the 'posh' lads on it was asked as an adult if he had any misgivings about appearing in the series. He said that his only criticism was that the episodes showed these privileged kids waltzing through school, university and into good jobs without ever showing the grinding hard work of revision, exams, essay writing etc. Rich people don't get handed good exam grades. They have to perform under the same conditions as everyone else.

Of course background plays a huge part. Both of my parents went to university as mature students as further education just wasn't on the radar for them at school age.

But I don't think any kid passing exams despite appalling personal circumstances would like their home lives broadcast to the nation.

Thanks. I think lots of posters get angry and don't seem to get it. You did.

Yes. You get it too.

I take it back. The Times has a double page spread of blonde lovelies from Roedean 🙄

There's nothing wrong with me.

I don't have 'skin in the game' either.

I am perfectly able to pass on a comment on something I've noticed, as anyone can. Some clearly do know what I mean, others don't 🙄

I'm incredibly proud of my son. He has ASD/ADHD and didn't attend brick secondary. He had an EHCP and bespoke package for home Ed (I was the unpaid LSA) and internet school. He went to a 'normal' 6th form with a weekly mentor to study further maths, maths and physics. He achieved A, Astar and A at A level and has a place for MEng in mechanical engineering at our local city university - well rated and he is not ready to leave home.

My and his hard work with appropriate support in the face of school that wrote him off and refused to give adequate support even with an EHCP. Nothing to with privilege but about achieving in line with ability despite neurological difference.

Pity there are not more success stories of DC who stayed in the school system - maybe because their schools were failing them?

I have to admit that I prefer reading stories about the kids who have achieved well from an ‘underprivileged’ position.

Why do girls have to screech ‘2 As and a B’?

Always get one who does 9 A levels and next week, when GCSEs results day - another one who has done 16 GCSEs. Why do that many?

I did a year of A levels before I gave up. I went to my 6th form and the options I wanted to do I couldn’t as two subjects were taught at the same time.

I did an Advanced GNVQ - this was 1998/2000 and equivalent to 2 A levels. Got a merit which was worth B and C.

I was more prepared for university work than the students who did A levels as AdGNVQ was modular like university. As then A levels were one assignment per subject and 2-3 papers at the end. Some modules had exams some was coursework and some a mix

I must admit I still want to screech in your face to the primary school that called in an EP because they thought my speech delayed son was educationally below the average and possibly had a learning disability (IQ less than 70) only to discover that his assessed IQ was 146. Ie top 1%. But then claimed it was irrelevant.

I just like reading about kids who've done really well.

Even if, according to some people, they don't deserve it because they happen to be from a better off background or they went to a grammar school.

Just because you didn't do well at school doesn't mean that he people who did are somehow "lucky" or privileged"

The usual Benjamin or Sophia opening envelope at grammar school with screams and a "I got 4 A stars. I'm going to blah de blah now". Well done, but seriously lots of it's down to lucky genes, tutors, family pushing. Privilege

Exactly what I thought about the Olympics. All these people who were blessed with the genetics to excel at sports and then surrounded by coaches and nutritionists, pushing them to excel. It was all about the gold. Where was the celebration of those who try their hardest and put in the hours without any expert trainers?

You obviously know nothing about Roedean.

Fifthtimelucky

"Pretty sure that there aren't any (state) grammar schools in Surrey!"

There are.

Are you saying those girls aren’t blonde (about half of them are), or aren’t lovely?

I think you need to look again.

I hope this is a joke.

And why not if they've got good results 🙄

Why not show someone who is Muslim opening results? Lost of Muslim people doing A levels like everyone else...

Mmmm. Looking forward to see all those kids beautiful excited and happy. And usually the journalist present all sorts of career path because we need all sorts to keep the country going.😉

@SeriouslynotFred

So don't watch the coverage then if you don't like it! You're making a sweeping incorrect statement anyway. Our son went to a bog standard non grammar school & worked his bloody arse off for his A Level results & we're certainly not rich or pushy parents!!