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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

The Politics of Grammar Schools

705 replies

GiftedPhoenix · 30/11/2014 10:08

I thought some mumsnet readers would be interested in my latest post, which is about grammar schools, especially their record in admitting high-attaining children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

giftedphoenix.wordpress.com/2014/11/27/the-politics-of-selection-grammar-schools-and-disadvantage/

The selection issue has been bubbling away in the media and this looks set to continue next week, as the Conservatives come under increased pressure from within their own party to include a commitment to new grammar schools in the Tory Election manifesto.

I wanted to explore what progress our remaining 163 grammar schools are making towards 'fair access', so providing a benchmark against which to judge political claims that they might be engines of social mobility. I'm not concerned with research on their historical record in this respect, but with evidence of recent reform.

OP posts:

portico · 07/12/2014 20:44

What is MC TalkinPeace. I don't think you and I will move in our positions on this debate. I purposely set out my stall to put both dc into grammar school to enable them to get to the best university possible and therefore also the best career possible. They are not self motivated enough to do well in a comprehensive. I have seen that from their state private school. It has been a mix of their abilities and my pushiness that has enabled dc1 to get in. It is doubtful whether dc2 will get in. I will therefore put dc2 into an independent school in the next town. I do not feel guilty for paying travel costs for dc1. I am a parent, and I will gladly make the sacrifices. It's a no brainer to me. Whilst I feel sorry for those who cannot afford to do the same, beyond feeling sorry for them there is nothing that I can, or want, to do to help them.

TalkinPeace · 07/12/2014 20:46

portico · 07/12/2014 20:46

I meant to say state primary school

RabbitOfNegativeEuphoria · 07/12/2014 20:47

Or, perhaps it's the fact that LEAs allow super selectives to exist,allow kids to qualify for them, but then place barriers between some kids (but not all) and actually taking up the places they have won that is odious.

LePetitMarseillais · 07/12/2014 20:51

Our grammar wants more poorer local kids there who would need little transport so busing in out of catchment kids is unlikely to be a priority.

Can't believe Talkin doesn't find kids being prevented to choose the comp they want "odious".

TalkinPeace · 07/12/2014 20:57

Lepetit
DD is at 6th form college 15 miles from here : the annual bus pass is £667
that is affordable

£1800 per year is stealth selection by wealth = odious

to get to my nearest comp = walking = £0
to get to DSs comp = cycling = £0
to get to the other schools in the area = cycling = £0

we parents can choose to drive or use the bus or use the cycle route and sheds

LePetitMarseillais · 07/12/2014 20:58

from choosing

LePetitMarseillais · 07/12/2014 21:01

For the life of God- yes YOU can,others can't.

It is a big problem and widely reported.The poor are squeezed out of the better schools the comps being a far bigger proportion.

YOUR set up does not speak for all-far from it.

smokepole · 07/12/2014 21:02

Hakyult. Were you educated in a Modern school (like me) since you know all about the antics that pupils got up to !.

Talkin . I see from the other thread , you are in favour of "Ultra Selective" schools , ones that select on the basis of 16th Century Ancestry or 35k Per year!.

Interestingly though, I might have been in the same boarding house as your family member if my dad had not decided that "public School" was Not for likes of us . Traders from East Kent !.

TalkinPeace · 07/12/2014 21:07

smoke
Not "in favour of" - try "was sent to at age 4"
Private school was part of my parents' divorce settlement

I have accepted, learned from and moved beyond my own schooling in my choices for my DCs
and my views linked to DHs STEM work

Marni23 · 07/12/2014 21:11

DD is at 6th form college 15 miles from here : the annual bus pass is £667
that is affordable

Affordable to you, yes. There are many parents in this country for whom it would not be affordable.

portico · 07/12/2014 21:13

Just so you know. Some kids live walking distance to the school. Some come from no income or low income families. Some, dare I say are just comfortably well off. I do not consider that my partner and I are well off. But, I will not take the provision offered by sub standard comps. Yesterday, I visited two sits of cousins. Family one has children in grammar school. Oldest dc was an alumni a decade ago. Family two has two dc in top ten grammar schools. Both families dc are in catchment grammars. My nephew is conisidered to be in a top state comp, and doing quite well in Y9. He was alarmed that my dc and other cousins in Y8 had better grades compared to his Y9. And he was surprised at what had been covered so far in Y7 and Y8 in the four grammars in question, that my dc and cousins are in.

TalkinPeace, please know this - a wide monetary demographic have dc at my DC's grammar school.

smokepole · 07/12/2014 21:34

Dear Mumsnet

My daughter is 11 years old and has just passed her 11+ and has been accepted at either Tonbridge or Weald of Kent Grammars she has also passed the CE exam for Benenden / St Swithuns .

Which of these "Selective" Schools should I send my daughter to or should I send her to the local Comp in (paddock wood) ?

portico · 07/12/2014 21:43

Hi Smokepole

I googled it and came up with Mascalls Comp. If it is that one, then run a mile. I was not impressed with performance tables. In relation to ofsted, I never taken any notice. I mean, what value can they get from a very broad brush two day audit.

EvilTwins · 07/12/2014 21:49

Wow, portico, great extensive research you've done there.

How lovely to be able to afford such choice.

EvilTwins · 07/12/2014 21:50

And how ironic that you claim that OFSTED can't do much in 2 days yet you can advise someone to "run a mile" after a quick google.

smokepole · 07/12/2014 21:53

Unless I have a fourth child , that was taken from me from birth in the middle of the night it is to late for me. DD1 19 Leicester Uni DD2 16 Yr11 Ds 13 Yr9 is my lot. Portico. Mascalls is regarded as one of Kent's "highest performing Comprehensives" Paddock Wood is a Fully Comprehensive area of Kent !

portico · 07/12/2014 22:06

I based my analysis on a review of the ks4 results from their performance tables.

EvilTwins · 07/12/2014 22:09

You've made yourself look like a fool. Well done.

EvilTwins · 07/12/2014 22:09

"analysis"

As I said...

EvilTwins · 07/12/2014 22:10

That was to portico, in case there was any doubt.

portico · 07/12/2014 22:13

Evil

82% getting 5 GCSEs A to C. Suppose it's a matter of perspective. Not aright to me. But if alright to you........

portico · 07/12/2014 22:16

Evil

I suppose the optimist in you may have been looking at the 97% gaining 5 GCSEs at A to G.

EvilTwins · 07/12/2014 22:18

Sorry, I don't understand. Am I supposed to think 82% is shockingly bad?

FFS, Portico, what planet do you live on?

EvilTwins · 07/12/2014 22:19

You are aware of national averages?

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