Have just been through secondary school admissions for the second time.
Both our kids attended a good state primary in KuponT. Neither went through the 11+ rote learning to attempt admittance to the Tiffin schools. We are fortunate to have the option of independent schools which regularly outperform or are on a par with those schools in terms of exam results.
I do however despair at all the parents who seem to go out of their minds with the whole 11 plus thing, and I can't but think it would be better to just have these schools converted into comprehensives that would serve the local area. Those of us in the area know the criticisms these schools face (The rote learning, coaching, hot housing, the absence of certain ethnic groups at the schools, the lack of Kingston pupils attending) and, while not necessarily agreeing with each of these criticisms, isn't there enough evidence to point to the damage just the existence of these schools have in the local area?
My question is simply: what would it take to close these schools down or convert them to comprehensives? I'm not sure anybody knows (I've heard talk of a group of local people petitioning, but also heard that a ballot of school age parents living in the area is actually the trigger to commence with comprehensivisation).
Is this actually a decision for government? Would a Corbyn government close down the super selectives? Or is it down to who controls the borough?