top grammar vs top private

[darleneconnor]

For argument sake say you had to choose between a top (ie top 20) state grammar and a top private school which would you go for?

Assume no financial constraints and no objections to the principle of private education.

because you saw an Asian guy and thought IMMIGRANT! HA HA!

Well if its a choice between people that have proved themselves to get into the "top" schools and universities against very stiff oppo or ex postmen without a sigle O level then yep Im pretty pleased with that overrepresentation of "Eton OBs and their ilk"
Perish the thought that they might actually have proved themselves time and time again..

Do you find that the world divides itself up so neatly, Propatria?

If you look at the academic career of the now ex shadow chancellor,then yep it does.[wink}

JoanofArgos.

Don't be so fucking ridiculous.

Up to a point I'd agree. I'd expect Oxbridge graduates to be 'overrepresented'. I'd expect children from state and private selective schools to be overrepresented. But a child with sufficient brains and determination can get to those from any background, its not an impossibility. That's (more or less) meritocratic.

But public schools - they are such a small slice of the population, the 'top of the top' excludes 50% of the population automatically, they exclude anyone not from a small geographical area whose parents think boarding is a bad idea, they exclude nearly everyone who can't pay a lot...

How very rude! I'm not sure what's ridiculous there..... unless it is you, twitching your curtains looking for dark-skinned individuals driving vans in order to prove a point!

Hang on heres a chap -been hanging around the corridors of power for years,private school ,Oxford ,Harvard,father was even a beak at Eton...its that well known man of the people Ed Balls..
Your solution to the overepresentation of public schoolboys,not of course forgetting those public schoolgirls..would be?

Overrepresentation in all political parties doesn't make it better does it?

Unfortunately I have no solution, entrenched privilege can persist for centuries and I'm not a revolutionary.

I have to say that there are two fantastic things Eton is able to do that I think would be brilliant for education if they were more widespread.

1. The most personalised, thoughtful school reports I have ever seen.
2. Free music lessons for half a term so you can ry out learning an instrument with no obligation to organise a rental or cough up for extra lessons.

Boffin,I think youll find a fair few schools that give music lessons free for a term,its not just Eton(private sector of course)

Entrenched privilegelol,go and actually meet a few parents with children at private be that Eton or a small local school,or do you not want reality to ruin a good story..

My DD went to a small local private primary, half her cohort went on to private secondaries.

Joanofargos.

You seem to think think that the word 'immigrant' is in some way derogatory or funny

I can assure you that I don't. And being somebody from a family of immigrants myself I have no need to curtain twitch.

Read my posts carefully and LOOK AT THE CONTEXT before trying to take the piss out of them

any ideas where ther is a good tuition place that prepare for the 11+ exam? tx....i am new to the forum.

Deepest apologies btw to those people trying to have a reasoned debate on here

Depends where you are, Frenchlady. Perhaps try a new post and let us know which area you want.

apologies i live in croydon.tx

Sorry, Frenchlady. I don't live in that area but I'm sure that if you create a new post there will be someone around to help you.

thank you for your suggestion.will definetely start a new post on the subject as i am desperate.tx

Hi !

any further thoughts on the old grammar/independent debates ? we are in south west London and looking at the Croydon/Sutton schools/Dulwich. waiting for D day but are likely to have to decide between WCGS/Sutton GS and boys/co-ed indies round there.

thanks !