Bits of news on the grammar school issue

[HPFA]

Two snippets of news

schoolsweek.co.uk/film-company-targets-grammar-teachers-in-recruitment-video/?utm_content=bufferb7668&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Unclear exactly why grammar teachers are being targeted to tempt people into teaching. Perhaps to tempt recruits by suggesting they can have a nice career only teaching the easy kids.

And another piece of news:

www.tes.com/news/school-news/breaking-news/exclusive-church-england-not-interested-opening-new-grammar-schools

This is perhaps hardly surprising. Since faith schools are already so heavily criticised for being socially exclusive it would hardly do the C of E's image much good to open up schools explicitly targeting the already advantaged. Still welcome news to those of us on the pro-comprehensive side.

Noble
From the Schools Week article you linked to;

Unusually, the National Association of Schoolmasters and Union of Women Teachers said it did not oppose grammar schools, which it recognised as an “important part of the schools network”, but said it had raised concerns about plans to expand selection as it distracted from other issues.

“We are not looking at any deals around funding or anything else,” a spokesperson told Schools Week.

[Helmet fixed firmly in place]. Does one operate as a parent or as a force for social equality and mobility? I see my DS's friends making choices about uni and shiver at their employment prospects. Many are clever, but choosing subjects that are not going to make them employable, or even able to deal with the debt burden they will incur to study. Surely, this is setting them up to fail and they could be better much better advised?

I do think Clav was right though that there didn't seem a lot of hard evidence behind the original article. And I can hardly see it as likely that the NUT would start supporting grammar schools!

A piece of important news you missed out -

At least 50 of the (current) selective schools say they will give poorer pupils some priority for the first time in next year's admissions process;

www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/grammar-schools-admission-policies-poor-pupils-change-prioritise-liverpool-blue-coat-a7659636.html

there didn't seem a lot of hard evidence behind the original article.

That's why I merely posted it for info instead of starting a new thread 'Desperate government tries to bribe unions for support over failed grammar plans'

Excellent Clavinova to see some good come from this debate.

Is parachuting a couple of lucky poor kids in really the answer?

Yes - here's the edited article from TES;

www.tes.com/news/school-news/breaking-news/exclusive-more-third-grammar-schools-change-admissions-policies

My 'yes' was to Noble.

comprehensivefuture.org.uk/do-grammar-school-admission-policies-that-prioritise-poor-pupils-really-make-a-difference/

Fiona Millar is disqualified from opposing selection in so many ways however....

interesting
Fiona Miller though Who is in a class of her own when it comes to exclusion from comment!

I was going to post her Guardian article....

Perhaps its time to reveal that Bert Noble and I are all one person!Although how my C in Maths O-Level allows me to talk knowledgeably about Further Maths at A-Level is something of a mystery.

Now would I have allowed Bert to once beat me in a debate on the Religion thread with a killer point on a Celestial Teapot....

Anti grammar campaign groups Kent Education Network and Local Equal Excellent have already been discredited for 'embellishing' their claims and evidence - who knows which of their stats are correct and which are made up?

Bert Noble and I are all one person!

That can't be true, I'd have never given a grammar thread such a timid title

If you'd seen me struggling to understand error intervals earlier today you'd have yet more evidence....

I had a sneaking suspicion that this www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/2901945-DfE-finds-that-higher-parental-incomes-buy-better-educational-outcomes? Was intended to bolster grammar school proposals. I think Theresa May was hoping to show that grammars where stuffed with ordinary working families and was doing marvellously with them.

'In grammar schools, the consultation shows that 36% of places are taken by children from families with below-average incomes but not receiving free meals, compared with 53% of places taken by families with above-average incomes.
In non-selective secondary schools, there are 35% of pupils from these "ordinary" families, and 32% from more affluent families, a much lower proportion than in grammars.'

www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-39577516

Bad luck Theresa.

Here's the pertinent graph from the consulation that shows even the highest attaining non-selective schools have fewer affluent families than grammars. The majority of pupils in selective schools come from affluent families.

The 'importance' or relevance of Fiona Millar's articles or opinions can be summed up by the begging bowl appeal by the GUARDIAN !

Nobody but people on this website read the tripe coming out of the Guardian or Millar's desperate attempts to influence the already converted !

Here's the pertinent graph from the consulation that shows even the highest attaining non-selective schools have fewer affluent families than grammars. The majority of pupils in selective schools come from affluent families.

All that means is the highest tax payers are getting 'quite' rightly access to the best schools for their children !

These families have paid via taxation, why should they not have greater representation in the better schools.

Also above average, below average incomes does not determine where affluence or advantage begin there is no magic line to be crossed in ether direction . The designation of above or below average incomes and is no more than a marker ,it is certainly not definitive.

Flyingwithwings has finally jumped the shark.

Of course Ms Millar and hubby Alastair Campbell sent their own children to comprehensive schools. It didn't do the kids any harm at all - one of them already writes for The Guardian in her spare time aged 20. It's amazing how comprehensive schooling opens so many doors....

For those like me that had no idea what 'jumping the shark' means.

/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jumping_the_shark.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jumping_the_shark

This thread is descending into parody.......