Grammar schools have no effect as genetics determines academic success

[jeanne16]

This is a new study by Kings College London. The research shows that academic success is primarily down to genetics and not the type of school a pupil attends.

So should we all calm down about grammar/independent/comprehensive schools and blame it all (or credit it all) on the genes we have passed on to our children?

www.kcl.ac.uk/ioppn/news/records/2018/march/Selective-school-students-differ-by-genetics-and-GCSEs.aspx?TaxonomyKey=0/1/2/17

"They found that, on average, students attending grammar and private schools had more genetic variants linked to educational success compared to students at non-selective schools"

There were genetic differences between the children who went to selective schools and non-selective schools.

That's a tad different to the conclusion you came to in the OP, jeanne16.

Agree orange blossom, it's a demotivating article & I think all children will achieve some level of success if they have a growth mindset. The most successful kids we know come from immigrant backgrounds, one family with a parents who worked 4 low level jobs, basic english but lots of drive & passion for their dcs education. 2 of their dc's at a red brick uni, the 3rd heading that way

Intelligent. I have reread the article and cannot understand what you mean. My post was actually meant to be a bit tongue in cheek about all the stress we apply to getting our kids into specific schools, but perhaps that didn’t come across clearly enough.

Which article did you re-read?

The one you highlighted?

The one King's College publicised on their own website?

The research is not based on intelligence as most people would understand that term (= academic talent). The researchers found a myriad of genes involved, but don't know yet what these genes actually determine. So a strong bladder (useful during long exams), grit, optimism and strong finger bones might all feature.

As far as I remember, The Learning Habit study (something like 20,000 participants) came to conclusion that intelligence or talent were much less important for long term success than grit and other personality traits and family culture.

One thing I have never understood with these figures is what do the % figures refer to. If someone has an IQ of say 100, does it mean what percent is due to genes and what % is due to other factors. So if it is 50% would a child have an IQ of 50 without education? Or does it mean 50% of separated identical twins have nearly the same IQ?

In my experience studying hard yields much better results at school than high Iq. Studying hard can be done at any school but key for most teenagers is having peers who are motivated and parents who encourage them.

I agree black being in an environment where working hard - is simply what you do - ie basic being good in class, respecting the teacher, listening and working - sounds silly but many classrooms wont have that!

I dont understand IQ tests.

My FILis obsessed with them, and yet I feel whilst he has a certain intelligence himself, generally I find him to be a short sighted person with I would say limited intelligence ( he thinks he is super intelligent because he is wealthy). He has made and approached certain things in all the years I have known him with a distinct lack of intelligence, asking pertinent questions, appraising facts in front of him, etc etc.