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Education

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Original poster

Without meaning to sound smug.....

210 replies

alfiesbabe · 15/03/2008 12:10

(well ok just a little bit!) I'm interested to discover that our local 6th form college has 9 students with Oxbridge offers, our local state school has 4 and the private school where dh teaches has....2. What's going on here?? Is the tide turning at last? State school quotas?? I'm intrigued. I've sounded out DH and a significant number of the private school students were turned down. He describes them as very much conventional oxbridge candidates - ie predicted straight As/appropriate amount of sport and music involvement etc. Having said that, I taught a couple of the 6th form college pupils when they were at 11-16 level, and they are extremely bright and predicted straight As. DH also said it isnt just an oxbridge thing - some of his pupils are getting a similar response from Durham, Bristol etc.
I don't want this to become a private/state debate - I'm just intrigued by this.

OP posts:
Mercy · 15/03/2008 18:42

That's interesting MB.

What papers btw, is/was there an entrance exam on top of A-levels?

Are interests outside of school a factor too?

Original poster
alfiesbabe · 15/03/2008 18:43

Glad to amuse you then hundredtimes! replying to threads is not compulsory you know - if you're not interested in what I feel is an interesting and worthwhile debate then feel free to ignore!
I don't know where you get the idea about protesting too much because quite frankly, if I thought the private sector was better and worth the money I'd carry on using it wouldnt I?

OP posts:
Blandmum · 15/03/2008 18:45

Oh I went years ago when they still did entrance exams, which you could take in term 4 or term 7 (after you did your A levels A ala History Boys)

I did mine in term 4 and actualy failed one of them.

Bless them, the collage interviewed me anyway.

I was a bit musical, was verey politically active, read lots but compared to the kids I teach today I did fuck all.

I see kids do D of E, charity work etc etc, just to get an interview.

It was easier back then, I think. You just did your exams and apllied

Original poster
alfiesbabe · 15/03/2008 18:47

MB you sound wonderful!!!

OP posts:
ahundredtimes · 15/03/2008 18:47

But what is the debate? The debate is 'Isn't the state sector great, I'm so pleased I've moved my son, this was SO positive, SO right' blah blah blah.

Anyway, for the record - I was amusing myself. Anyway you are right I don't have to answer or click. I do think it's just so divisive and not very interesting way to talk about education really.

Original poster
alfiesbabe · 15/03/2008 18:51

LOL - what are you doing on the education thread then?! I think if you read the OP you'll find I was enquiring about what seems to be a bit of a sea change locally, and I was wondering what other people's experiences were. And the question of balance, and whether there should be state school quotas at oxbridge is a fairly hot debate. But as you say, you're not interested so .....????

OP posts:
ahundredtimes · 15/03/2008 18:52

Then why doesn't the thread title say that? What has your feelings of being or not being smug got to do with any of it?

Blandmum · 15/03/2008 18:53

AB, why thank you darling!

actually I'm working on DD to apply in 7 years (in a very light heartled an utterly jokey way). If she goes to the same collage she might well be the first child of two collage members to get there. And she makes me look quite calm in the old bolshyness stakes. By damn, but she'd give them a run for their money!

Original poster
alfiesbabe · 15/03/2008 18:54

Not a lot! That's why I feel only a little smug! My feelings aren't the important issue here; the debate about equal access is. If you didn't like the thread title it makes even less sense why you're here!!

OP posts:
Original poster
alfiesbabe · 15/03/2008 18:54

Sorry that last post was answering hundredtimes

OP posts:
ahundredtimes · 15/03/2008 18:56

You are very defensive about your thread. Don't be put out by the criticism.

i find any private schools thread that are smug or crowing just as irritating.

I think equal access is worth discussing.

I don't like the smug 'so ner' tone on either side tbh.

Original poster
alfiesbabe · 15/03/2008 19:01

Not put out at all by healthy debate. It's the fabric of life isnt it. Just don't see the point of post like your 18:17 and 18:19 ones which , er, make absolutely no point at all!!

OP posts:
Original poster
alfiesbabe · 15/03/2008 19:02

BTW MB I have a bit of a bone to pick... I take it you went to a college not a collage! I know you were a state school guttersnipe, but honestly, didnt they teach you nuffink at oxford!!

OP posts:
ahundredtimes · 15/03/2008 19:04

She's dyslexic

ahundredtimes · 15/03/2008 19:05

Oh and don't start looking for the 'point' of my posts - the majority all over MN have absolutely no point at all.

Flight · 15/03/2008 19:06

MB I can't help noticing how you spell 'college' - why the 'a'?

Flight · 15/03/2008 19:07

Oh sorry!!!!! Just read below, d'oh

Mercy · 15/03/2008 19:07

MB always says collage! I love it.

One thing I find really odd is that Oxbridge graduates could/can pay to upgrade their first degree to a Masters (I found that out on MN). Why????????

Blandmum · 15/03/2008 19:08

can't type, ot spell! And they still took me! I must have been the sympathy student of the year!

Blandmum · 15/03/2008 19:10

In all probability I am dyslexic or praxic. Ds is, and when I saw his dx it was me!

But in my day people who couldn't spell we just called 'thick!'

I can't be arsed to worry about it now. But I do spell check my lessons!

nappyaddict · 15/03/2008 19:10

i went to a state boarding school (but was a day pupil). We were all basically told if we applied to bristol we were unlikely to get in unless straight A students and perhaps not even then cos they saw us as more of a private school and were a bit anti-private schools apparently.

Original poster
alfiesbabe · 15/03/2008 19:10

MB I teach people with dyslexia! My mission is now to teach you to spell college

OP posts:
Blandmum · 15/03/2008 19:14

It took my poor, benighted English Teacher 2 years to drill it into my thick skull that they was they and not thay.

Blandmum · 15/03/2008 19:15

and I can do the big Biology word, no prob. My killer is double letters. they get me every time

nappyaddict · 15/03/2008 19:18

have not read all the posts but we were told when applying the reason 40% of oxbridge students are from private schools is because roughly 40% of the applicants are from private schools. not sure if this is true or not but it is what we were told.