Is the ranking of high school important? Real? The university only cares about the result?

[cecilia1233]

Hello is me again. Recently I'm seeking for my height school in UK and have some question.
Like I say in the title. I saw there are lots of rankings in internet. But as the local people, can you tell me if these rankings important? Or are they real?

In China, I find a school with high ranking, always in top 3, but my agent tell me that actually that school is full of Chinese and other international student, barely can see British. In fact the University destinations are not good.

Also, I see lot of non-good schools also have good A-Level results, but actually the University destinations are not good. Why? Is there anything else the University cares about?

Thanks all of you. I will go back to China on Friday and I need to make the decision.

Or are they real?

Do you know the phrase "lies, damn lies and statistics"? League tables tend to be simplistic and some schools capitalise on this. A Levels results are converted into points and the league tables are ranked on points. Schools can 'cheat' by encouraging the children to take lots of exams which don't have much currency eg General Studies or Critical Thinking.
Serious Universities will not make offers on GS or CT so they are no use to the pupils but are of use to the school.
You are right to look at destinations, not school-rankings.

Up
Thank you.

Cecilia, What pupils are expected to do in Britain can be very different from what Chinese schools want. Only yesterday I was chatting with someone who specialises in helping Chinese University students learn skills that they were never taught in their previous education. Some schools could have more experience with this than others, you want a school that will help your child.

So I wouldn't look so much at league tables, but much more at how do they help my child cross the right cultural and academic mindset bridges.

I would look at destinations and results of the subjects of specific interest, to begin with. If the school does not publish these, it also gives you an idea of the culture of the school. Likewise well governed schools tend to have lists of staff and governors, and contact details.

Most of all, visit the school. Ask yourself if they are set up to put your child first, if there are policies and strong leadership to make the policies meaningful. Your child is here without you, and young. So they need to be looked after well. If they are not well, they will not do well.

As for mindsets, as long as the ability and interest is there, even those with no English, let alone western mindsets, can become English public school scholars within two short years. Chinese students as a whole are no less or more creative or radical than any other human being. In a population of 1+ billion, there will be more skilled and able children there than here. Chinese people know about "high marks, low ability" in families who can pay for tutoring, better than any others, so they need no lessons on that. Perhaps these richer families are sending their children here because they cannot compete in China's elite universities? All children need help and support, not someone to tell them they are defective. As long as the setting is one where they can be comfortable, they will pick up the methods and thinking needed. They do not need to change, only to recognize the change of theatre and game. Do not under-estimate the usefulness of intellectual brute force at Oxbridge or the elite London colleges. They will be glad of their "Chinese skills and habits" before long.

What age is your child, and which schools are you considering? Perhaps parents with experience of them can share those with you.

Good luck.

Thank tou, thank you so much.
First I need to say. Not my children want to study in Britain. It's me LOL. I'm a student who want to study in UK and happened found this website.
I went to all the school I received offer. Now I'm thinking about Hurtwood house, which result is the best. If it had gave me the offer then I'll go there.
If it hadn't, I may go to Pocklington Schoo, which's better compared with Trent College.

I'm not local to the area so I don't know Hurtwood House but looking on the map it does seem a rather secluded location. I don't know what sort of a social life you would have there.