State school success stories to inspire academically average DS and his friends

[Dulwichmamma]

State school success stories to inspire academically average DS and his friends

DS is in Y8 at a large London comp in Southwark/Dulwich area. The school does lots to raise aspiration and push the pupils to realise their full potential. I have no complaints. There are considerable numbers of pupils from broken homes, exposure to drugs, mental health issues etc but many middle of the road families too. Quite a few kids go on to uni at the end of their time at the school.

DS has been put me on the spot, though, by asking me if any successful people had been to his school. I went to the alumni list on Wikipedia and found zero (exempting professional footballers!)
I would like to compile a list of 20 or so celebrities/successful people who attended local comprehensive schools, if only to go back to DS and his friends to inspire them.

I’m also considering contacting the school to see if they couldn’t reach out to any successful ex-pupils to go back to the school to give a talk to the youngsters. Is this something any other schools do?

(Strictly no grammar school pupils)

Current list

Lord Sugar – Entrepreneur, Brooke House Comprehensive, London
Matthew Wright – Journalist, talkshow host, John Fisher School, Surrey
John and William Seaward – Actors/’The InBetweeners’, John Fisher School, Surrey
Jude Law – Actor, Kidbrooke Comp, London
Stella McCartney – Fashion designer, Bexhill Comp, Sussex
Robbie Williams – Popstar, St Margarets Catholic School, Stoke-on-Trent
Andy McNab – ex-SAS, author, Kingsdale Comp, Dulwich
Hayley Atwell – Actress, London Oratory School
Safety Fire – Rock band, London Oratory School
Ed Milliband – Former Leader of HM Opposition, Haverstock Comp, London
Oona King – Labour Politician, Haverstock Comp, London
Dominic Cooper – Thomas Tallis School, Kidbrooke
Kate Tempest – Thomas Tallis School, Kidbrooke

I’m sure I’ve read that Paul and Linda McCartney chose to send their children to state schools deliberately

That's their story - they probably couldn't afford the fees.

Dh went to a local comp - a bit average really and he was a bit average in Year 7. Nought special, according to MIL, who wasn't at all pushy - but by sixth year he really stood out and one of the teachers coached him for his entrance exams to Cambridge and he was the first pupil that school to go! He's had a very successful career working for quite a few blue chip and advising the Gov, he has the ears of CEOs - he now runs his own business - he tests at an IQ level of 94.

Jamie Bell, very successful actor, went to Northfield School in Billingham.

I always thought Paul McCartney was just a tight bugger!

However the youngest McCartney, Beatrice, is apparently at a private school.

Stella McCartney's a bad example because she moans about having been sent to a state school and how miserable she was. Her kids attend a very smart SW London Indy.

Stella McCartney's kids don't need a "hand-up" from school; she just wants 'the best', or maybe she was bullied and wants her kids in a closeted environment with kids/parents from similar backgrounds

Kate Mosse (author not model) went to Chichester High School for Girls - my old school.
Tim Peake went to Chichester High School for Boys next door.

These schools are now combined but def state!

According to his son, Paul McCartney wanted his children to have a "normal upbringing" as he himself have done.

www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/going-out/music/paul-mccartneys-son-james-life-1957231

It's not really surprising that his children should choose private for their own kids though is it? They presumably have unlimited cash and can choose any school they like - if you're comparing even the best comprehensive in the land to a top-of-the-range private school then clearly the latter will offer vastly better facilities and smaller classes. I live near one of the top public schools and DD has made quite a lot of use of the sporting facilities - they are literally jaw-dropping!

If you're talking about that small group of people for whom money is no object then realistically state schools are unlikely to be their choice, no matter how good they are.

Good thread - but your initial list is heaving with schools in wealthy areas that simply won't have this issues that your DS's school has. For authenticity remove all the people from your list who attended places like London Oratory, anywhere selective on religious observance and anywhere in a posh area. There is a genuinely brilliant comprehensive in my city which you only have a chance of getting into if you can afford a £600,000 home. I'm sure their alumni list is glittering and the social issues they have to deal with are massively less.

Ps realise that in London price terms £600k is perfectly normal, so edit to something like "where rents and house prices are 4 times what they are outside the catchment area"

Helen Mirren went to a catholic girls school in Southend-on-sea which is now selective by 11 plus so not exactly a comp but not private

I also don’t get how a school can be in Southwark/Dulwich area. They are so far from each other. If you child is “academically average” maybe it’s better to concentrate on improving grades, because the examples of “celebrities from comps” can give a false idea of success without effort. I think the only way to do well after a comp for an average non-musical and non-sporty child is to work hard on their grades and aim for “red brick” university. I would take him to see aspirational places, museums, NT properties, go to open house events in London, etc etc to broaden his horizons instead of concentrating on celebs.

@Violinboymum Dulwich lies mainly within the London Borough of Southwark.

Wow Zinnia I never knew that! In my mind Southwark is closer to London Bridge, have not realised Dulwich Is also a part of it.

It's a surprisingly big Borough! 

We’re not famous but my DH and I both went to comps and have higher degrees from Oxbridge. My comp had such a bad rep they knocked it down and the new build has a diff name. However, 2 airline pilots and a steampunk author from my era,

My son’s primary and local comp had an artist Ronald Searle.

Great idea!