LoniceraJaponica
Good question, long story short.
In reply, combination of native parents&son and poor school.
School has never been rated good. We had no headteacher from Xmas year 7 to Easter year 11. That one left this summer.
DS1 had between summer term year 9 to sitting his GCSE'S 14 different English teachers, 9 maths and 13 science teachers. Plus 6 geography and 5 history teachers.
No head of science until year 12.
Sixth form had always got lower students to do 4 and brighter ones to do 5 AS's and then drop to 3 and 4 A levels, it didnt change for new A levels.
As he lost one AS he carried on doing History, Geography and World Development A levels to get into Uni, but Criminology was meant to be a AS. But as he was getting an A in it, the school entered him to do the full thing. but didnt tell him, so not to stress him so he ended up with 4.
Dont want to derail, but even in our firmly MC county, out of our nearest 5 schools 3 are in SM, ours included, one rated RI after 5 years in SM and one good after years of RI.
Until DS1 year all managed to average 40% or less for 5 good gcse's including English and Maths. I think people on mumsnet dont have a clue what lots of northern state educated kids have to beat us to progress.
Finally Ds1 was non verbal to 6 and predicted E in year 7. Its a miracle he has B/C at all, let alone 3 AS and 4 "poor" A levels. Not every child can make Oxbridge/RG but surely even kids like Ds deserve a chance to experience what private, grammar and top comprehensive kids take as their birth rights.