Theresa May to end ban on grammar schools part 2

[noblegiraffe]

Continuation of the first thread from here www.mumsnet.com/Talk/education/2702565-Theresa-May-to-end-ban-on-grammar-schools

Just read backwards through the thread and am genuinely shocked at the narrow minded rants about Tesco workers etc.

Snap- goodbyestranger..
A lot of comments genuinely shocking.

Also, going steadily through the thread you can see the hypocrisy of so many who claim to be the champion of the people, and therefore anti grammar school, but who (Bertrand a laudable exception) opt for the non local school which they have the time or money to convey their child or children to, or even go private instead, their own DC being 'outliers', so not capable of being taught in the allocated state system. An exception must be made for these kids!

At least my DC went to the nearest secondary school with no moving house/ downshifting etc so no hypocrisy here. It happened to be a super selective though. More able kids of whatever background need that option because far too many able kids don't have these well heeled parents of sufficient means or leisure able to shift their school from the local one to a decent one to suit their particular needs

Not sure I understand the difference between super selective and grammar schools. Need to explore.
My ds to attend nearest school, which is trying massively hard to become school of choice for the community it is within, against huge snobbery.

Popped back in to discover that I'm apparently narrow minded because I went to a grammar school?!
Anyway, to raise a few points, I have never worked in a school who have had to hire some one in to help with open evening. It's not difficult. Although we always think the languages department 'cheat' by having themed snacks and joke about serving mead and Yorkshire pudding.
As for subject choice, well we do offer Ancient Greek which very few state schools can offer. Which brings us to somethings else. What we do, and indeed many other successful schools (waves at Prince's Teaching Institute members) make a big deal about is subject knowledge. But that's because we can as we usually have plenty of applicants for any roles (my mat leave being an exception).
Can I just ask was 2 x Latin a typo?

With regards Latin, there are only two places you can study for a PGCE in Classics (Cambridge and Latin). So few schools offer Latin in the state system that we take a student from Cambridge each year despite being two counties away. Outside London, it is mainly (but not exclusively) independents and grammars offering Latin.
The value of studying classical languages is obviously a different debate for another day.

I don't think anyone said that going to a grammar school makes you narrow minded.

However, ardent grammar school supporters often seem to have a pretty narrow view of what makes an education. It seems limited to what they think appropriate to high attainers- and also not considering the fact that high attainers might also be interested in the nebulous"vocational" subjects that are deemed appropriate for the also rans...........

she was NOT the top in her year.
Talkin is your DD's school an example of a very good comprehensive? How many DCs in a year (about) and how many got more than 5A* GCSEs?

I don't know what your DD's potential was so 3A and 10 As may be a fantastic achievement for her:; alternatively she could have been capable of more but the teaching was less A orientated ( I'd more 'good enough') than it would be in many selective schools.

Out of interest, with the possible exception of Oxford entry, what are the practical benefits of 10 A*s as opposed to 10 As?

Hmmm...our Tech department might disagree. One of their many successes (ADHD) was excepted on to the Rolls Royce apprenticeship programme. Highly intelligent boy, but much happier doing practical engineering fully supported in his goals. It's not all Amo, Amas, Amat.

Pissing my sides at a poster using terms like Yob Central then lecturing others for being narrow minded .

You couldn't make it up. And I'm a novelist : I make shit up for a living!

talkin but that's my point. Your dd wouldn't have done much of that at a school like my local one. And unless she found those grades pretty effortless, she wouldn't have got those either. And I think it's that inequality in comprehensive schools we should all be looking at.

Even the vocational stuff has to be "high end" -Rolls Royce, forsooth!

No, the vocational stuff just needs to be useful to the child, whether that's confidence, enjoyment or possible future benefit. And the reason it has the undeserved reputation it has is down to the fact not all schools were offering it on that basis.

bert your endless mockery of anything appropriate for high ability kids is a perfect example of the mindset of many SLTs in comprehensive schools; entrenched and dismissive.

That's a bit confrontational! It didn't have to be. That's what he applied for. He applied to others as well. But I know, what a shock that a top engineering firm offers apprenticeships. How dare we encourage our students to apply to courses that they'll enjoy.
So even when I demonstrate that there not all Classicists, I'm still a hideous elitist. Those apprenticeships are open to everyone from all schools.

And bert are you seriously asking what the point of A*s are?

Seriously??

goodbyestranger Wed 10-Aug-16 23:25:38 Well my view, having had all my DC go through the state selective system, is quite the opposite of yours TalkinPeace: I don't think any of them would have achieved anything like their achieved grades had they gone instead to the alternative (either of two comps), nor would they have gone to the universities that they've gone to, nor would they now be in the careers that they're now in.

And you know this how?

Did they look for employment in an academic selective company so they could perform at the top of their profession too or can they cope with mixing with some of the non academic elite now they have matured?

GetAHaircutCarl Thu 11-Aug-16 08:18:02 And bert are you seriously asking what the point of As are? *

To be fair A levels are not the only route into all jobs.

I know a number of qualified accountants who did not do A levels. I know a number of computer programmers who did not do A levels. I know a couple of CEOs who did not do A levels, I know a number of CMOs who did not do A levels. I know a COO who did not do A levels. In fact I have worked with a fair number of people who did not do A levels. None of them seem to consider themselves failures from what I can tell.

mum of course there is always more than one way to skin a car. I think my career has been proof of that.

But that is a very different proposition to asking what the very point of academic achievement is!

My ds going to a school that does not do Latin or ancient Greek. Chose it over school that does offer those due to its blatant non inclusiveness [as much as it can get away with without being officially selective].
Clearly my ds doomed even if an academically able boy....
Heavens, he might choose a Btech course with his gcses as will have that option if he so desires.
Oooh err....

How lovely to have a choice pondering.

I've always felt that choice was my biggest privilege in life.