To think DD1s High School (Kent) has done a fantastic job of helping DD1 achieve her potential.

[smokepole]

There are many negative comments on this site about Kent's high schools, I just want to praise DD1s . She is on course to come out with 3Bs at A Level in English/ Chemistry and Sociology . I want to thank the teachers and give them credit in helping DD1 achieve very good results for a 11+ Failure ,despite operating in challenging circumstances.

DDs2 grammar has been superb in helping her overcome problems in yr7 ( although they thought at the time, she would be better at a non selective school) and be near the top of her year group at yr 10, but grammar schools get praised all the time) I just want a much maligned school ( locally) to get some credit for really helping DD1 achieve great things . I also want to put paid to the myth that in kent if you fail the 11+ and end up at a "Modern" school you will be struggling to get a decent education.

Why is this in AIBU?

And if you're not going to name the school why bother? Are you hoping the teachers will read this and know what school you mean?

Your use of parenthesis leaves a lot to be desired. Did you go to a grammar school?

You need to name it, or it's pointless. The much maligned school won't have a clue you are defending it.

Well done to your DD

Apart from that, I have never seen any schools in Kent being spoken about negatively, in AIBU. So if people in the education section (who may have spoken negatively ) don't use this section, they may not see this.

Did you thank the teachers?

No I didn't go to a grammar school, the point of my post is to say people should not denigrate schools based on reputation. If the school was a grammar school nobody would ask me to name the school, so why because its a secondary school is it so important.

This site exists so that people, who wish to remain (Anon) either in name or what schools their DDs attend may do so. The school is not important, it can defend itself, what is important is that people are not so judgemental on a school or ready to jump on a bandwagon.

The bandwagon that on a earlier post was ready to deride children with D/E and F grades as failures .

The reason I have posted in this section, because I did not know whether there was a question to be answered . I probably posted here because I have had a Drink though.

I thought it was a grammar school your DD1 is at!

What is the point of this? I think most people have no opinion tbh. Saying that I want my DD to go to a grammar school

yeh ...thanks for sharing

It's really good to hear how well she has done and how brilliantly the school has done too. She does them, and you and herself credit and you should all be v proud of her.

I think there is more likely to be local denigration of the acjool, knowing what school gate gossip can be, than there is on MN, where IME there is more likely to be dislike of the grammar school system.

It's prob not a question that is worth asking by you, and certainly not getting worried about,, but do you think she would have done better, or worse, or the same, had she gone to the grammar? Any of those is possible. Some children thrive with extra competition, some shrivel.

You might have read a previous thread, where I mentioned DD2 as just DD .I better mention DS is year 8 at a grammar as well now so I don't confuse any more people.
DD1 is year 13 at a non selective school in the southerly part of Kent !

But you've got 2 DDs!

I prefer the comprehensive system, though I went to a secondary school in Kent in the 80s early 90s so I have not experienced that system.

I think DDs1 school was the right school for her, given that we have no true comprehensives in Kent. I think DD2 who scraped in to the grammar against her teachers expectations, eventually found she was in the right school after struggling terribly in year 7. This shows that 10 or 11 is too young to decide whether someone is academic and decide their pathway based on 3 exams on a single day.

Ds by the way is flying in year 8 of his grammar. I believe its horses for courses, some kids suit certain schools others don't.

smokepole did your daughter feel upset when she was branded a failure at the tender age of eleven? Many children find being branded as stupid at the age of eleven devestating for their confidence even if the child does go to a good school. There are no campaigns to save the secondary modern school. Many eleven plus failures remember the grim disappointment of being seperated from friends or sibblings who got into the grammar.

I am glad that your daughter has good teachers and is doing well. It also shows the stupidity of seperating children by ablity at eleven years old.

DD1 was not in the least bit upset, when she failed her 11+ and was glad to go to ( the best option) which looked poor on statistics, but has actually been very good for her. The pastoral support has been outstanding, the school advised her on the right A levels for her and have given her extra tuition that has really helped , despite being offered a sixth form place at DD2s grammar, there was never any chance that she would go. DD2 would have been the complete opposite if she had failed, I was very doubtful she should take the exam, but she begged me, I was prepared for the "Fall out" and despair of her failing. DD2 really wanted to go to the grammar , that is why when it was suggested by the school "That maybe another school, might be more appropriate for her she set out to prove the school wrong. DS passed his Kent test with a score of 138 , so is obviously in the right school, despite this I would have preferred that they were in the same school.

Yawn.

Link for the op: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary

The fact is there are is substantial number of children who are made to feel absolutely shit when they fail the eleven plus. Those adults grew up and remembered the pain of failure at eleven years old and used the ballot box to get rid of grammar schools.

If kent schools are so wonderful then why are their children not top of the league tables. (Ie. the secondary moderns not the just the grammars.) The highest achieving LEAs have children in comprehensive schools.

www.theguardian.com/education/2012/jan/20/top-local-authorities-schools-london

Sutton and Trafford have super selectives which hardly affect comprehensive schools. Most those LEAs have comprehensive schools.

Hi all, we've moved this thread to the local topic now.

Really. It seems that they have moved the thread to the Kent specific site.

I agree with most if not all of what you are saying, DDs2 grammar for instance has 32% Middle ability ,68% High ability pupils ,which is much the same as a high achieving comprehensive in other areas. The make up of students abilities is far removed from most grammar schools as are the AAB statistics at A level at just 13/6% with 2/3 facilitating subjects the average grade at A level being a poor C+.

You are quite right about 11 being to young to determine, some ones academic potential. An example being one of my nieces, who went to a Super Selective in Essex and left with 1A* 3A at A level . The point is DD was at the bottom of her very ordinary grammar in year 7 ( would not have got in to a "Normal" grammar), yet is know producing work the same quality that niece did at 15.

This goes to show that 11 has no bearing on what pupils/students are capable of achieving at 15,18 or 21 . However, by failing the 11+ some pupils could cause a chain of events that can prevent them achieving their potential. I am just glad DD1 has (Hopefully) succeeded, whereas I was failed by the said system.

I have been to see Knole Academy and Trinity School this week and was impressed by both in different ways, but especially Knole- my daughter really liked it too. Interesting that many kids who attend there have passed their Kent Test and have chosen to go there as it offers a wider range of subjects and after school activities than some of the grammars, or have actually transferred in out of a grammar school and are happier there.

I also think not traipsing across half the county (and back) to attend a grammar school every day has a lot to be said for it in terms of quality of life. I don't give two hoots about which is the "best school" on paper, in a league table of results, on 'snob value', I care about the quality of the teaching and how they help each individual pupil reach their potential, the range of subjects offered, the overall school environment, atmosphere, discipline, and how happy and engaged each pupil seems.

We are going to see the girls grammars later on this month which hopefully DD1 will have a choice off too and remain open minded- there are a lot of factors to consider. But Knole is a definite contender.