Why would anyone consider going to Rugby school better than the mixed local comp?

[Charis2]

I read this article in the standard earleir, and just thought what is this headmaster on? Why is this scholarship presented as such a huge honour for the boy, when in fact it is a way of the school paying to improve its results by taking in some of the best sixth form students without fees.

What "lifechanging" opportunities does he expect he can offer, which Hassenbrook acadamy can't?

www.standard.co.uk/news/london/needs-pic-teenage-footballer-wins-70000-scholarship-to-boarding-school-that-invented-rugby-a2953791.html

Headmaster Peter Green said he hoped Michael and other Arnold Foundation scholars would have a “ripple effect” on their communities when they return home.

He said: “We might be able to be transformative and transform their lives. Then when they go to university, and after, they can start to transform their own local communities. It’s not about parachuting someone out of that. We want to keep their association with where they are from.”

What a snob. Does he think the staff at Hassenbrook only teach poor peoples maths and physics, and the maths at Rugby is somehow a better class of maths? perhaps he thinks the laws of physics perform better there too?

I hope this lad has fun, but I don't think for a moment his life is going to be in any way better because he spent two years mixing with rich snobs rather than normal people.

Claig, you don't get to be an Eton Kings Scholar, and just miss a First in classics at Baliol if you're not very bright indeed.

Same people think that the poor are in their situations cause they don't try. There is never any acknowledgement of the fact that priviliege in this country counts for lots.

Oh and the Boris thing, I have it on VERY VERY good terms that he is not popular amongst his fellow backbenchers, not because of his grandstanding, because he's amateur in his approach. He is bright, but again, he wouldn't be in his position without the privileged opportunities he had, just look at how he got his start in journalism (oh and his dad was an MEP funny that).

I've worked in and with the City for 30 years and it is major meritocracy and has been decades. You don't last a second if you aren't bright. It is also full of comprehensive educated pupils too which is why if parents on the thread like their comps there is no problem. Ditto if you like your child's private school that's fine,.

NLCS is a lovely school, in fact one of the first in the country inthe 1880 to give an academic education to girls when many schools just taught them needlework and good manners.

State schools: City of London over £8k a pupil, Tower Hamlets £7k etc etc. Day school fees - NLCS £15k a year so yes more but plenty of day private primaries charge £10k a year which is not too out of line with London comps spending per pupil

The disparity between what's on offer at different state schools is the bigger injustice, the independent sector isn't supposed to be equal for all children, whereas the state system should be.

every child matters except those who fell foul of living near good ones. Or who for whatever reason don't fit current mainstream schools. At least the private system doesn't pretend to be fair. And parents can choose which school to invest their money in for their childs education. That's not an option for lots of people in the state sector though.

I see nobody can bear to consider where learning disability might count. Because of course only 'brightness' matters. I am not out of that world but I do see the limitations of its superficiality as well as its negative impact on wider society.

ime NLCs is not a lovely school

'Claig, you don't get to be an Eton Kings Scholar, and just miss a First in classics at Baliol if you're not very bright indeed.'

True, good point about Boris. But Cameron?

I don't know where you get your figures from Grazia but spending in London per pupil is not that high. TH may get extra per pupil through pupil premium but that has to be spent on the individual student it can't be shared around.

I worked in both education, and in commerce and I agree that there are lots of very bright hard working people in many top jobs. There are also people in well paid jobs that are suprising, people paid for consulting etc etc. It doesn't always work either way. There are though, many people who wouldn't be there if it wasn't for their privileged positions, in lots of roles in life.

Again we go back to the thing that fundamentally makes me and you different, you believe everything is down to a persons ability and effort. I believe that circumstancial factors play as big if not bigger role in outcomes.

People can move to discuss other topics if they want like diabilities but some of the best provision for the disabled in the country is in the private sector. I know one person who got to Cambridge ahd his boarding prep school specialised in helping dyslexia.

No one has said only brightness matters. In my book things like accent, ability to deal with other people and interact with them, being the one to lead a group, the one on whom to depend in a crisis are all the things the good private schools are brilliant and I pay for that as much as any fostering of my children's academic ability.

I think Grazia is saying that private schools are better (or some of them are) and they provide extra advantage and that is why she paid for them. I think that is fair enough. if people can afford it and they want it, why not? It is better than spending money of a Ferrari.

'accent'? God yes that matters.
Dyslexia is not a learning disability.

"In my book things like accent, ability to deal with other people and interact with them, being the one to lead a group, the one on whom to depend in a crisis are all the things the good private schools are brilliant and I pay for that as much as any fostering of my children's academic ability."

If these are the qualities you like then why are so many private school types chinless wonders?

Lurkedforever - what about the so called 'Red Princes' , the sons of Jack Straw, Neil Kinnock and John Prescott ( there may be others but these come to mind) who stood as MPs in the last election Do they not rely on family connections, or do you consider it is only old Etonians and other public school old boys who get parachuted into powerful and well paid positions?

Sorry, my last post should have been addressed to longtimelurker, not lurkedforever. I had lurker confusion.

There are so many SW's on here I thought I'd make a few more. Its all for fun though..

Claig- Cameron got an Exhibition to BNC and a First. It is ridiculous and dangerous to characterise these people as dim.

'Cameron got an Exhibition to BNC'

What have his painting skills got to do with it?

If he got a First, then yes he must be smarter than I thought.

Twisted.

I can only speak of my own experience but I know for certain that my dd would get the support she needed in her present school than the school she would have attended at home in the state sector.
I find the waiting lists and lack of funding in the state system absolutely appalling.

In fairness though it's almost a stand alone school. No better than any other school, but perfect for dd.

The difference is she will be assessed by their own ed psych if anything is flagged which is a huge factor for us, as we have no idea what her academic capabilities are. I have quite severe learning difficulties and a low IQ, well below average. DD is gifted but she could have my difficulties, this was suspected when she was little too.
Her school will not only help her reach her academic potential but nurture her gift. She is extremely lucky, her brothers never had any opportunities that she has.

Bertrand, yes it is dangerous to do so, but also we must recognise their privilieged positions from the start.

thewireless.co.nz/articles/the-pencilsword-on-a-plate

Longtimelurker i am aafraid to say you don't sound very pleasant on this thread.

I agree with whoever said that the real scandal is that so many comprehensives are so different in what they offer . Is it only on mums net that those opposed to private education also manage to have fantastic comps that have amazing facilities on their doorsteps?

It's such lazy thinking to characterise the tory govt as dim toffs.