soul- yes, maybe it was or even is a 'great school'- but only for those on the inside. You can afford to be 'great' if you hand pick who can and can't get in; and these days, parents have to opt into the 11+ therefore the DDs at the school not only are 'clever enough', they also have committed, dedicated and focused parents (that's before anyone states: "You can't equate clever with well-behaved"...). You'd want to know why a school wasn't great with that sort of intake! Win win.
Inclusion, by its very nature, causes exclusion. You don't see many people campaigning for the retention of SMs, do you?
I am opposed to GS because of this fact alone. I do not see why the vast majority of DC can't be educated alongside each other, but rigorously streamed in academic subjects. And maybe I'd be less anti-GS if GSs contained the truly, genuinely able, maybe some hyper-bright DC (as vouched for by independent teachers, Heads of primaries, a long record of high achievement, not an exam on one day) who just wouldn't be able to cut the mustard in a comp, the most academic 2-3% (in the same way as we have other specialised schools for those with SENs at the 'other end' of the spectrum); but not those with just the most committed parents, usually with deep pockets to pay for 7 years of Prep school, tutors etc. and who have a private alternative lined up.
I'm not sure that GS were created for these people but in many cases, that's what they've become.
Rant over.