In praise of comprehensive schools

[FreshHorizons]

It was cheering to see the Sutton Trust announce that 60% of Team GB medalists came from comprehensive schools.

I have finally come off a thread where certain people can't find a good word to say about comprehensive schools. They equate them with mixed ability teaching, poor behaviour and an inability to stretch bright children.

I would like a thread to celebrate the best of comprehensive education.

In my case it allowed my 3 , very different, children to be able to go to the same school without being judged by outsiders. It meant the stability of knowing one school over a long period of time and them knowing our family. It meant that days off and parent evenings didn't clash and that money was saved by handing down uniform. They were able to move up with the bulk from their primary school. They were able to mix with children of different abilities and backgrounds, as you do in adult life. It meant being able to enjoy education for the joy of learning new things, without the stress of an exam that would determine their path in life, aged only 10 or 11yrs.

Those things didn't really matter, although they were helpful.

What really mattered was that they could all blossom at their own rate.
They all got a good education and are now happily established in careers- the careers that they chose.

It wasn't all about the academic side- there were opportunities in sport, music, outdoor activities etc.

It would be nice to have some success stories. Please don't post about crap schools- start another thread for that if you have grievances you want to air.

It is the summer, the sun is out and some happy, optimistic stories would be nice.

This from the Guradian's blog. Like the Telegraph, it keeps its factual commentary separate from its editorial and comments section:

Greening herself seems to sceptical about championing a grammar school renaissance. Some Labour MPs said they thought Greening sounded distinctly lukewarm about the policy she was supposed to be defending and they were right. Greening kept stressing the importance of having an open mind on the matter of educational reform and she said nothing to suggest that she is a grammar school enthusiast (while, quite cleverly, also avoiding sounding disloyal to May.) In fact, Greening even seemed reluctant to use the term “grammar school”, instead preferring to talk about selection.

Angela Rayner is seizing the opportunity to prove herself - if Labour can ever get itself back to being a proper party of opposition she might be one to watch. This sort of question is spot on:

Can you tell the House what evidence you have to support your belief that grammar schools will help disadvantaged children and close the attainment gap?

HPFA . They had to merge the boys/girls`and drop the 11+ to survive !

Are there '1000' middle class children in Oldham. ?

The alternative theory is that grammar schools in Oldham and the 'Shadow 5000 Pound minister's patch' might alleviate the problem of middle class flight out of the area !

Though Miss Raynor would not want Ashton in any to become more 'gentryfied ' as that would eat in to her majority!

What the fuck is a "ghetto school"? This isn't New York!

A ghetto school is where children who live in that area HAVE to go because of social or economic pressure. They don't have access to better schools just a mile or so away, because their parents can't buy or rent within a mile of those schools. Generally they are failing and have little attainment. I hope this helps.

Could you name me a couple of ghetto schools, please?

Holding the views you do, I assume you're in favour of fair banding or
a lottery system for secondary
school admissions?

2StripedSocks The two aren't mutually exclusive Mum. You don't stop trying to improve comps by expanding a few grammars

Really, given the ongoing budget cuts, where do you think the money will come from to ensure both initiatives are followed through.

I'm pretty sure you will find that the money will be thrown at the Grammar schools to enusre they their success underpins the decision to allow them.

Why would I name schools? How stupid. Do you even live in south east London? And you're not reading my posts are you? You're just mouthing off. my experience and my personal circumstances are just that, nothing you can post on Mumsnet makes a difference.

Why on earth wouldn't you name a school you describe as a "ghetto school"? It would be interesting to look at the stats and the OFSTED report.

Because I am not keen on identifying where I live in any more detail.

I'll PM you the links and you can read them. Personally I think you would be better off with a hobby to fill your evenings.

2StripedSocks Parents who have chosen private ... will jump ship because......

Its free. Children from my DCs school leave every year to join private preps. that will prepare them for the 11 plus. If they fail to get their chosen ranked school they stay on to prepare for CE.

My nearest selective describes itself as being the same as a free private school. Says it all really.

The2Ateam mum This is a thread started to praise comprehensive schools. Obviously populated by those who are happy with their local comps. I doubt they would be on crowing if they had to send their children to ghetto schools. I too support comps but my kids don't have access to decent ones and therefore I support anything which allows them an option.

I fully support comps. I live in an 11 plus area bordering two other 11 plus areas. I have first hand experience of the many flaws of the Grammar system. Can you say the same?

yep plenty of ghetto schools round here too, not that anyone would call them that.
They are usually called shit school, or crap school.
I've heard gangsta school too
You are very lucky if you live where there are nice, good schools.
If your schools are brilliant you can start threads saying lets celebrate.
No medalists have come from our schools, parents tend to not have the thousands to support such training.
Don't kid yourselves these are normal comps, they are as elite as many of the elitist but don't suggest it to those who attend for goodness sake.

I won't name neither but they are in East Lancs, not hard to find, just look for the newspaper and T.v reports.

The2Ateam Why would I name schools? How stupid. Do you even live in south east London?

SE London has Grammar Schools:

Beths Grammar School (Boys)
Bexley Grammar School
Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School
Townley Grammar School (Girls)

BTW, my DH grew up in SE London and went to school there. My MIL still lives there.

BertrandRussell

SE London as the following non selective secondary schools:

Bexleyheath Academy
Blackfen School for Girls
Business Academy Bexley
Cleeve Park School
Haberdashers' Aske's Crayford Academy
Harris Academy Falconwood

However, as there are also Grammar Schools in SE London I doubt these schools are comps.

2StripedSocks But only 12% are from private preps. Interesting, where did you get the figure for the number of private prep. children gaining places at Grammar Schools?

*2Striped
"*England’s free schools received 60% more funding per pupil than local authority primaries and secondaries in the latest financial year, new analysis by Education Guardian shows.
The average amount of state funding given to free schools in 2013-14 is £7,761, compared with a national figure for local authority schools of £4,767, according to Department for Education data released last month. DfE statistics on academy spending (free schools are a type of academy) includes data for 54 mainstream free schools, set up in the first two years of the scheme. A quarter are documented as receiving at least £10,000 per pupil in 2013-14, compared with national averages for conventional state schools of £5,817 among all secondaries and £4,402 among primaries."

Mum- I wonder if those are the "ghetto schools" in question. One is certainly awful (an Academy, interestingly) and one requires improvement. Neither of the ofsted reports mention gang related violence. Or any sort of violence.

The other 3 are good or outstanding.

Justine Greening is going to be quizzed next week by the Commons Select Committee. She's better hope they haven't read this.

educationdatalab.org.uk/2016/09/there-is-not-yet-a-proven-route-to-help-disadvantaged-pupils-into-grammar-schools/

No wonder she was looking so miserable in the Commons.

Does anyone realise how big south east London is?

Could be zone 1 to 6. If you don't live in south east London, or London for that matter, quit preaching. FFS.

I suspect that any places with ghetto schools will be places with generally poor public services overall, i.e. communities of the left behind. Bringing in grammar schools, even only a handful, will do nothing for them.

One might hope that Theresa May's christian conscience might stir her do more for such communities than Cameron or Osborne would ever have even thought of doing.