Giving a talk to State 6th Formers Next Month on Success

[motiv8ionalguru]

Fellow Mumsnetters,

I am to be the keynote speaker at South London state 6th form federation school next month. My speech, which will take approximately 45 minutes - 1 hour, will focus on high state school achievers in their 30's. The idea being that the students can visualise where they might be in 10 years from now. This institution has an unenviable reputation for drugs and crime, poor results and low aspiration. My address will (hopefully) illustrate what is possible 10 years from now. I am still penning the draft, though I have come up with the following individuals (from South London) who have achieved a lot in the 10 or so years since leaving their respective state schools. Could you help me identify any other pupils?

Euan Blair (London Oratory - now a high-flyer in the world of banking)
Paul Sackey (John Fisher School - England and Stade Francais rugby player)
Will Seaward (John Fisher - comedian and actor performing at Edin. Fringe)
Hayley Attwell (London Oratory - actress)
Johnny Lee Miller (Tiffin - actor)
Safety Fire (London Oratory - a band)
Oritse (London Oratory - JLS a rap group)
Rafe Spall (Haberdashery School - actor and son of Tim Spall)

Kind regards,

D.

I get it!

The OP is Xenia under a name change. That explains it

Xenia is still here. This isn't her current name. And she's intelligent, even if you don't agree with her views. She would never say "quite literally your oyster". Never.

It is very kind of you to give up your time and try to help these kids but I'm not at all sure that the message will get through in the best way.
Did your brief mention this state school focus? I'm concerned that the kids will go into this talk thinking that most of the country is eductated in the state sector and leave thinking it's some big disability but don't worry- they can overcome it because the world is their oyster. I think it could backfire.
Can you focus on a diverse range of successful former students? The vast majority of your audience will not be going on X Factor and be put into the new JLS.

What do you mean by successful? I'm not household name famous, but I am successful in that I am well qualified, employed in my chosen field, happy and solvent.
Why don't you look at the wiki pages/websites for various schools and see who is on their famous alumni lists. Euan Blair and Rafe Spall had a bit of head start!

My old school - Pimlico - has a number of professional footballers on their alumni list.

I want these kids to know that they can be whatever they want to be.

This just isn't true though. There are many hard-working, enthusiastic students who want to do medicine, veterinary medicine or dentistry, but can't quite get the high grades required. I don't think it's right to tell kids this, whatever school they go to.

Xena warrior princess

"what you snobbishly call bog standard comps"

That isn't being snobbish. It is reality. OK, let's call it an average comprehensive school then.

Your children go to independent schools - Old Palace/Croydon High, Trinity/Whitgift? So how much do you know about the reality of state schools these days?

Clearly not very much given the state school examples!

True, I don't know why you'd bring private school into it at all.

Any kid in a comp like this and from this sort of background isn't going to know anyone at private. Private school won't be on their radar.

So why bring it up, when all they'll get from it is "you know how hard it all looks after school? Well guess what - there are a million privately educated kids out there who will statistically do better than you!"

Can't you keep your focus on how to get on in life and achieve, without making it a public/private debate?

Is this a joke?

Jo Brand is from Wandsworth.
Really need some down with the kids types, though, some famous you-tuber, pop artist or somebody on EastEnders.

I think Jessie J went to a state school in North London.

Jamal Edwards - has a broadcasting company which he started on YouTube with his videos of free styling London rappers, filmed on a video camera which he got for Christmas. Now a multi millionaire.

Gerard Jones - founded a football school at uni and became Arsenal's youngest ever director of football.

Helen Sharman, state school educated at a bog standard comprehensive with an intake from a large council estate and was the first British woman in space.

David Beckham - son of a hair dresser and kitchen fitter, again from an ordinary comprehensive.

"Bog standard comprehensive" is not being a snob. It's a fact, reality, call it what you will. The vast majority of children have access to ordinary, not all that special, comprehensives. They certainly don't have access to an education which is masquerading as a state education (because it's free at the point of delivery) but which in fact is hugely selective and gives them a massive advantage in life.

I think the OP wishes she hadn't posted on here now.

I went to a secondary in N Ldn late 90s/early 00s. There is an organisation called Future First which gets successful alumni from state schools to go back. Can you get in contact with them for examples? They use a broad scope eg doctors, entrepreneurs, actors etc

Im very proud to have known two girls who grew up in council housing on free school meals who did medicine. And another girl who made her own clothes, set up a market stall in chapel market and now has her own online fashion range and employees etc. Can the school or future first offer anything like that?

Failing that Wikipedia sometimes has examples of alumni!

Maggie adarin pocock?

Bunbaker-I'm glad she did as if she goes in and does what she suggests she will be a laughing stock at best. Drayton manor in Ealing has a lot of successful former students but not sure comparing school in a leafy suburb (although without issues) is the same as a deprived school in South London. Op you need to focus on getting grades or experience in a field you are interested in and working hard, etcetera. Not sure celebs are the way to go at all-focus on 'normal' people-fame is not always an indicator of success.

I'd start with a list of local businesses. Then phone up and see if any of the Chairpersons/CFO etc are state educated. My boss is minted and hasn't got a GCSE to his name. Bloke can graft though.

My friends father is chairman of the local football club. State educated.

I know two doctors who are state educated.

I'd rather listen to any one of these people talk to kids about what state education did for them/can do for you than a person that thinks London oratory and Tiffin are regular comps.

Fuck me what planet are you on OP. Anyone else want to go to this talk to see just how far she can bomb?

OP
Hand back your fee and get somebody who has the foggiest to make the speech

by starting your list with the over entitled son of a war criminal you show that you have no idea of how to pitch to an audience

It's not difficult. I'm a bit concerned that someone who's been asked to speak in this way couldn't come up with better examples.

Op I've just read tft. Your patronising obsession with the perceived superiority of private school educated people over state school people is not coming across well. What were the credentials on which you got this gig? Where did you go to school? (We understand your kids are 'indie' and you are basing your knowledge of south london state schools on who they play at sports )

Not sure OP will be back at this point - hopefully because they're actually doing some research!

To give some honest advice OP. I wouldn't focus on what they don't have. But what they do have. I have gone back to my secondary school with Future First and they are very careful to focus young people's attention on the fact that they are living in London and the priviledge that entails.

Eg, you want to do art do you? Well you had better know the National Gallery like the back of your hand and attend every free lecture they run then.

You want to get into fashion? Aren't you lucky your parents live in commutable distance of Central Saint Martins (and many other fashion colleges) so you can live at home to help you afford it?

Medicine? It's a long expensive course so be nice to your parents so you can live at home and save a bit of money. And well done for living in an area with such complex health demographics which you can learn about better by working in the local pharmacy than someone who lives in Whiteandrichshire.

Etc, etc.

In fact a lot of the old friends I had who have been sucessful most notably in fashion, acting and dance lived at home for a long time as they had access to so much, in a way that people outside of London obviously don't have so easily. Can you focus on that instead of focusing on the sucess of overpriviledged oiks in the banking sector?

If the OP has been selected to be the key note speaker ten they must be expecting something more personally inspiring than what she proposes talking about.

I'd be tempted to base my speech around the Terry Pratchett quote "If you trust in yourself and believe in your dreams and follow your star, you’ll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren’t so lazy." Illustrated by examples of people they know.