Education and social mobility - John Humphrys is coming on for a discussion, Fri 29 Jan, at 11.30am

[GeraldineMumsnet]

John Humphrys is filming a documentary about education for BBC2. He is embarking on a journey around Britain to meet parents, teachers and students.

His task is to examine the relationship between education and social mobility - why is it that education cannot close the attainment gap that exists between children from the poorest and wealthiest backgrounds?

Government education advisor David Woods has accused parents of being prejudiced against their local state secondary schools. Dr Anthony Seldon, Master of Wellington College, calls the current independent sector an apartheid system. Professor Stephen Ball, from the Institute of Education, concludes that grammar schools, parental choice and faith schools have all been responses to middle-class concerns.

John is coming to Mumsnet this Friday (29 Jan) at 11.30am to hear your experiences. Are you benefiting from parental choice in education? Is it at the expense of others? Does the current system put too much responsibility on parents to make the right choices? Is it too stressful? Do you feel you have to top-up your children's education eg home-tutoring, learning an instrument, employing a lawyer? Are they worthwhile investments, or necessities that cause resentment?

Please post your thoughts here. Thanks in advance.

[EducationDocTeam]

Thanks TiggyR for the suggestion, will follow up with MNHQ!

We didn't mean to completely kill the debate! I hope people aren't put off because they feel like their own story isn't important enough. The focus of the programme is on everyday education issues that the majority of parents face on a regular basis. As the debate here has shown, lots of people are wrestling hard with the decisions they have to make, and these decisions have can big impacts on their lives. We don't want to gloss over the realities of the issue by just talking at a policy level.

If you have any other thoughts please let us know, and feel free to post me directly.

[HelenMumsnet]

Morning!

Just to let you know that John Humphrys' doc on Education is being shown on BBC2 tonight at 9pm and, we're promised, will feature this webchat with y'all.

[edam]

I heard him on Today this morning - interesting discussion. He interviewed a tutor and pointed out there's a shadow education system for children whose parents can't afford to go private but can afford tutors.

[fabsoopergroovy]

I've booked a seat.

[MollieO]

I'm staggered at the purported statistic that half of school children in London have private tutors.

[psammyad]

I'm more staggered, that (living in London) I don't know a single child with a private tutor.

I don't disbelieve the statistic, but it makes me realise how utterly separated my life must be, from the type of parent who does this. (Or who would admit to it).

Can't work out if that's a good or bad thing!.

[MumInBeds]

The only parents I know in London with private tutors have them in addition to private schools not instead of them. Many private schools are very competitive and if you want your child to pass the tests to stay in the school you often have to get extra help.

Obviously this is my very limited experience of knowing half a dozen London families though.

[senua]

"the purported statistic that half of school children in London have private tutors"

The statistic was from the lady who ran the tutoring business so of course she is going to cherry-pick data. However, IIRC, she actually said half of families, not half of children.

So did Mr Humphreys come to the same conclusion as OFSTED the other day? - that it is poor teaching that is letting the children down. He showed a couple of examples where inspirational Heads achieved good results despite the deprivation of their catchment area.
It's what we keep saying on MN. There would be no problem with sharp-elbowed MC parents if all schools were good, because then there would be nothing to be sharp-elbowed about.

[OliviaMumsnet]

BBC iPlayer link to catch up

[psammyad]

I used to be sceptical about 'superheads' being brought in, but I was lucky enough to see the difference at Primary School level, that bringing in an excellent Head made.

So I wonder - and the programme seemed to make this point as well - if it is poor leadership as much as poor teaching that is letting children down?

Our new Head worked with mostly the same teachers as before, some good, some mediocre, but in spite of that the overall quality of learning improved hugely.

Of course I'd love all teachers to be brilliant, (not to mention have a basic command of grammar) but a mediocre teacher who is well managed may be better value than a good teacher who is overworked, & badly led.

[MollieO]

I saw our catchment primary go from Ofsted outstanding to special measures. The only change in staff was the head - the old one retired and the new one (external appointment) couldn't cope.

[hotspot]

I was surprised that, given the BBC's choice of "priviledged school" being Wellington College, there was no reference to the Academies which wealthy schools like Wellington have opened specifically to bridge the "divide" to which Humphries was at pains to illustrate last night. Being part-Government, part-privately funded, these schools would have kids enjoy the benefits of its sponsor school - their facilites, their ethos and their experience - but without the fees.

I suspect their ommission was because the programme was entitled "Unequal Opportunities" and presented by someone with a chip on his shoulder for not getting any A levels.

I agree with MumInBeds by the way. I can add at least another half a dozen to your estimate.