Changes to 11-plus to stop middle-class parents 'buying' access to grammars by hiring tutors

[breadandbutterfly]

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2241411/Changes-11-plus-stop-parents-buying-access-selective-schools-hiring-tutors-children.html

Similar article in the Times apparently but paywall.

And I think Grammar schools have had their day. They are not a solution. They are not a way forward and they are not a social mobility stepping stone.

You can "buy" into them as much as you like and spend your money on tutors but it wont help. Better by far to just spend your money where it counts.

Not everyone can do what I and my DW can do.

Ronaldo, I'm astounded that you think your lifestyle, as you describe it, marks you out as different in any way.

I teach plenty of bilingual kids, who often travel to other countries, and I'm in a bog standard comp. DH and I both went to state schools, yet we have a study, plenty of books and own two cars Also, my DTDs (aged 6) play the piano and have been to the theatre on a number of occasions. They are charming and polite.

On the subject of the thread, I live in a town which has a state grammar so well regarded that people will travel across 2 counties to get their DCs to it. It's ridiculous. I say change the system. Get rid of the remaining grammar schools and create a true comprehensive system. The government needs to invest in all schools. Academies and free schools can go too.

Could we all agree to stop prodding "Ronaldo", please? I know it is entertaining, but it is pointless and rather cluttering up the thread. Pointless as he is almost certainly at least partly fictitious - see Dora comments above as to the language his chid previously spoke - and even if he is 100% genuine he has made it clear his position is unalterable. (Much to my relief, so my 6 year-old ds does not run the risk of being educated with boys whose parents have problem attitudes like this.)

Everyone is a critic and everyone is astonished,.

Ye Gods! I am sure you have taught ESL children ( who are bi lingual) thats not quite the same is it?

I am sure my lifestyle as I described it is so ordinary. I am sure all the children in your bog standard school are so highly cultured and know all about the sugar plum fairy. But what else? I am sure you have books on your shelves.

What kind I wonder? Dont bother.

I am astonished that you are all so wonderful.

I am also astonished that you all claim to come from bog standard backgrounds when having met so many from such backgrounds I know you are laying it on. Two sides of the coin again.

Its what I didnt say that counts.

I was right - it is a name change! I thought it was rubbish with the old name and I haven't changed my mind!

Jux - you make a great point. Though research shows that more than 1 intro session is required - or the intro in the exam room itself would suffice, which it does not at present. I think it is rather that it is a law of diminishing returns after a certain point, say 6 months as someone else suggested upthread. So tutoring for the 11+ by law in yr 5 in grammar areas would ensure equal access for all. Or places allocated on school results/recommendations as happens in Germany.

So you think they are charming and polite eviltwins? How do you know I would agree with that? Ones man brassly is anothers classy.

It wasnt me but I know poster here ( not sure who) made a comment once that often these charming and confident DC we speak of are outspoken and over familiar. So which might it be?

exotic fruits I havent changed my mind about you either.

The proof will be in the pudding- Ronaldo's DS is very young and appears to be an experiment- no one(least of all Ronaldo) can tell how it will pan out in 12 years time.

I am not going to out you- but proof that it is just a name change or you wouldn't know my opinions from a couple of posts- only from crossing swords on numerous threads like this!

exotic - don't prod. The new name change is the same as the old but without the fake courtesy. This incarnation has come to a website full of middle class women to tell us we are all his social inferiors and our children his ds's intellectual and social inferiors.

Actually,I think I've cracked it. Ronaldo, you are Michael Gove, and I claim my £5.

He is also bi lingual - alkthough both DW and I are actually English speakers.

then the answer you gave was this

My DW is bi lingual as her papa is French speaking. I speak some French and we brought him up to be bilingual

you painted a lie in the first statement you are seeming to be pompus and deceptive

"I don't want my DS to mix with state school kids, lower middle - class or otherwise"

Not sure what you are implying with this part of your post, that the highest class of person found at state school is lower middle - class, or that being an "oik" is catching.

I have personally known a huge variety of people in my life ( and family) from the daughter of an heridetary peer ( who went to a state sixth form college) to those brought up by single parents on benefits. My own family is resolutely middle class and well educated in a mixture of school types, independent, grammar and comp yet we are all very similar.

I think you actually have an irrational phobia about state schools and should just admit it.

We will never know how the experiment works out- it isn't one I would try.

I will not experiment on my DS exotic fruits. I have always maintained that I do not do social inclusion experiments, multi cultural experiments or play with my DS's life with my childs life or experiment with his education.

I leave that to the state schooling system. Its nothing but an experiment in social engineering and half cocked learning theories put into practice at the whim of some chump in the Department of Education every other week.

Why are you so keen to keep my state educated children away from your son? What do you think they will do to him ?

Oh, but Ronaldo is so entertaining on a Sunday night! Just think, such an eminent figure with so many books to admire in his library and so many famous and influential friends staying the night and he chooses to chat online to us all rather than read his books or influence his friends! We are very lucky! He wouldn't have given us the time of day when he was at the height of his career.

And no,Ronaldo, be off with you, and start your own thread entitled "My son and I - why we are better than you."

Here's something to inspire you (esp in the light of your v classy comments about numbers of cars you own - nice touch and not remotely nouveau riche):

Then LEAVE MY THREAD ALONE.

exotic fruits , whats the gripe? I never made a secret of my name change. Indeed I think I more or less announced it.

Furthermore what will you do of they should end up at the same university .
How bizarre to build a life around keeping your son away from most of society.

I do think that you are a figment if your own imagination . Or rather, I hope you are.

I missed the announcement - just came upon here and thought 'heard it all before'.

Ronaldo is my guilty pleasure. He has kept me entertained all afternoon while I have been on bedrest,

OP must be a bit fed up - a sensible discussion has been hijacked.

Right, I am moving my own thread across to a new thread for those who wih to discuss grammar schools. For those who wish to discuss Ronaldo, or whatever his newest incarnation is, and his son, I am starting a new 'Boasting Thread'. Please make sure you put all the details there, Ronaldo.

Ivy, its not deceptive. My DW speaks English as her first language ( schooled in English. In Canada you can be schooled in either and that determines your language base).
Her father was French. Her mother was English speaking. They also both spoke English as main language in the home.

I speak some French . I am not French and I am not a native speaker. We set out to ensure he could speak both languages because we didnt want him disadvantaged in the future in Canada. Thats not deceptive. We speak English as a first language in our home. DS speaks both English and French as its part of his education ( we HE).