to think that if you went from a state comp to oxbridge you were probably teased mercilessly for being a 'geek'?

[thedollyridesout]

Up to A level at least .

There are quite a lot of 'oxbridge from state' folk on here and I'd be interested to hear if you were teased or not for being clever.

Is it something to consider when choosing a school for one's offspring - whether or not they will be in the clever minority?

Cambridge was a blessed relief. I was bullied for ten years straight before that (I would say teased, but that would be too charitable a description). It was not the done thing at my comp to show the slightest bit of intelligence (until coursework was due - at which point you were suddenly and miraculously best friend to all).

Net result: I left the town and don't go back, and I intend my kids will go to my local private school where academic ability is prized (assuming they turn out to be academic that is).

I was treated like dirt at my crap comp for being 'posh' and clever, but then I was the epitome of uncool - long hair, glasses, piano lessons - you get the idea. All settled down by roughly GCSE level, and I'm quite proud of having got to Oxbridge without the benefits of an expensive education though admittedly it would have been nice. No teasing at uni, though absolutely fascinating to see how those who cared about such things organised their friendships based on social class; but they were in their own little stratum and the rest of us let them get on with it .

TBH I wasn't teased much at comprehensive for being bright enough to get into oxbridge (which I didn't want to do and probably couldn't have anyway for my subjects since comp didn't even do right A levels).

However...

Now I teach there and I much prefer to teach the students who went to comprehensive schools - nothing personal (the ones who went private can be lovely), but the comp ones are far better at getting organised and working on their own. (Biggest culprits for crap oxbridge students are some of the "best" schools in the country - their students do not find it easy to do things on their own initiative.)

I went to a private school, and then Oxford, and was still picked on for being a "swot" "geek" etc.
Kids are kids, being at the top in any school makes you an easy target, I think.

i went to a private school and there was still a geek group as well even though everyone was expected to still go on to a top university. there'll always be clicks and groups and people getting picked on, i suppose the aspirations are just relative.