Theresa May to end ban on grammar schools

[noblegiraffe]

Theresa May to end ban on grammar schools, reports the Telegraph.

This is not a policy announcement, rather a testing of the waters, I suspect.

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/08/06/theresa-may-to-end-ban-on-new-grammar-schools/

[BetweenTwoLungs]

Tortoise no, the research compares children of similar abilities in areas with grammar schools and without. Those in sec moderns do worse compared to children of the same ability in a comp.

GetAHaircut because I'd rather find something that benefits everyone thanks. At the minute the most disadvantaged group in education is white working class boys, who's arguing for a seperate system to boost them?

[augustwashout]

getahaircut

I agree but also remember someone can excel in English but maybe rubbish at Maths and vice versa, they wont pass 11+ provision needs to be made for them, I think we need to tweak what we have to cover this.

Plenty of super intelligent DC end up in sec moderns etc but they are not all rounders.

[HugItOut]

What an awful idea. Wouldn't a policy to improve ALL schools for EVERYONE have been so much better.

My kids were offered places at an adjoining counties Grammar School but went to our local school and did well. So my very strong vote against grammars is not personal Of course I would have sent my kids to the grammar of my kids had been the type to need that type of environment but I still dissaprove of them.

I hate them with a passion. They are a stupid idea and incredibly unfair. You need to increase opportunities within all schools and stop the stupid testing in year 6.

I'm going to write to my local MP

[augustwashout]

GetAHaircut because I'd rather find something that benefits everyone thanks. At the minute the most disadvantaged group in education is white working class boys, who's arguing for a seperate system to boost them?

Comps struggle do to this though, yes some are good but too many are not good and have been failing pupils for a very long time.
Is that OK?
The separate system is the grammar school.

[augustwashout]

Wouldn't a policy to improve ALL schools for EVERYONE have been so much better

You would think so wouldn't you, but sadly we have tried this and it doesn't work. The gap between poor/rich getting wider every year, many comps have remained as crap as they were decades ago and have no improved.
This cannot continue.
How long does an experiment have to go on for until we draw a line under it?

[BertrandRussell]

"Grammar school" is a dog whistle to Tory voters. Like "tougher sentences" "armed forces" "nuclear power" and "British values". Anyone remember Peter Lilley's "little list"? Not much has changed.

I could write a Tory manifesto.

[SeekEveryEveryKnownHidingPlace]

So what is the advantage for the other 80%?

[TortoiseVTurtle]

Parents will follow whichever school is doing well, they will use any means to get an advantage for their child.

The secondary modern (now Skinners Kent academy) has parents getting their children in from Sussex and areas which are not in their catchment, it was untouchable before and now everyone wants their child there.

[augustwashout]

I shall also be writing to my MP in full support of them being increased across the UK. Hand in hand with proper support for all potential pupils in Primary schools.

[Halfpintmum]

I understand that there is more to it. But being a former grammar school pupil who was not from a well off background I can only feel positive about more children having access to them. They are a good opportunity to have an education that is somewhat closer to the private system, without having to be wealthy. There needs to be a rethink about the 11+ as the pushy parents have taken over, there wasn't as much coaching when I took it. But I would hate to see the grammar schools disappear in my area. Obviously it would be best if all schools offer this opportunity. But it doesn't seem to be the case.

[HPFA]

It makes me equally angry that many comps are not up to the job of helping such dc achieve their best. Yes some are good but too many are dire.

But turning them into secondary moderns won't help them improve. All evidence shows it will make things worse. Here in Oxfordshire (which I admit is a fairly leafy county) I'd say the majority of comps are good, some are mediocre and a few are poor. That gives a far better chance of being in a good school than when 20% are going to grammars and the rest are being dumped in secondary moderns.

[antiqueroadhoe]

Why is it that private schools, educating double the number of students attending grammar schools, never upset people? They have entrance tests as well.

[BertrandRussell]

"I shall also be writing to my MP in full support of them being increased across the UK"

Why?

[antiqueroadhoe]

70% of the UK are apparently in favour.

[BertrandRussell]

"Why is it that private schools, educating double the number of students attending grammar schools, never upset people? They have entrance tests as well."

Well, they upset me!

But they aren't relevant on this thread because they are not funded by the tax payer.

[TortoiseVTurtle]

antique they do, have you not seen the venom on here towards them .

I use the private system too for my DC with special needs, I never see anyone on here campaigning for increase in access to them

[TortoiseVTurtle]

And my ds got in to a superselective while on free school meals and sharing a bedroom with his two sisters while we tried to get back on our feet after dh lost his job.

[antiqueroadhoe]

they aren't relevant on this thread - since the issue is about selection and people are commenting that poor children are left out, I feel it is relevant, thanks.

[augustwashout]

They wont turn them into sec moderns they can look at a range of other types of schooling.

My county is very leafy too, and our comps are dire, awful and have been for a very long time ie they have been failing dc for decades. Not OK, time to stop.

NO point looking at evidence from other eras, schooling totally different in my dp day to now, and now there is no level playing field because state primary schools do not help,

Then you have private preps that are geared 100% to these tests and other entrance tests! How on earth can they compete?

Then parents step into the gap, left by state primaries and they tutor, and get attacked for it.

How can a totally un prepared state primary child, who probably has never seen a VR or NVR paper, and probably has not even covered the needed areas of the curriculum, compete against prep school dc, whose education, curriculum etc will be tailored to these tests?How?????

[TortoiseVTurtle]

Apologies for superfluous winks

[antiqueroadhoe]

[BertrandRussell]

"And my ds got in to a superselective while on free school meals and sharing a bedroom with his two sisters while we tried to get back on our feet after dh lost his job."

Well done to him.

Presumably before your husband lost his job, your family lived in different circumstances?

[augustwashout]

70% of the UK are apparently in favour

well that says it all, the General public want them. Great.

[HPFA]

Why is it that private schools, educating double the number of students attending grammar schools, never upset people? They have entrance tests as well.

Lots of people do get upset about private schools. But if your child asks why they aren't going to a private school you can say "Because we can't afford it", when they ask why they can't go to the grammar you will have to say "because you failed the test"

[Mycraneisfixed]

Grammar schools are GREAT for social mobility. Whatever the home background, if you've a high IQ you get educated with kids of similar ability.
Those who are less academic but have other talents ie creative, arty, enjoy woodwork etc are taught at a slower pace and don't get so demoralised that they just give up thinking they're stupid.