Went to Qe Boys Barnet, AMA

[Terrberr]

A tube passenger saw my Qe bag and wanted to ask about the school. It hit me that something like this might be helpful.

I finished A levels about 4 years ago and went to Oxbridge. I’ve recently started working at an investment bank.

@nyv “maintain a narrow demographic” says it all!

So the British were OK to colonialise and exploit eg India and encourage a terrible partition and were happy to let Indian doctors slog away on the NHS and run corner shops 24/7, but when suddenly their children with the same very strong work ethic rise above and make it to the elite class of bankers, then “people” start criticising etc and trying to keep them down.

when suddenly their children with the same very strong work ethic rise above and make it to the elite class of bankers, then “people” start criticising etc and trying to keep them down.

Nobody's criticizing this, students with strong work ethic can flourish at literally any other school.

And about that 'narrow demographic'—oh, it's not just about ethnicity. It's also about being one of the country's state schools with the absolute lowest FSM%. So, congratulations on that exclusivity badge.

But sure, let’s applaud a school for most selective its intake for no discernible benefit to education or society. Oh wait, actually, there might be negative impacts.

The FSM statistics does not tell you much, there are plenty of people from immigrant backgrounds who prefer to work 24/7 rather than claim FSM. The demographic at the top London grammar schools is not rich, rich, far from it. Do you actually have personal experience of having a child attend this type of school?

Apparently with more experience than someone who dismiss criticism as mere 'envy,' seem to overlook the obvious.

A large tuition center in NW London charging over £4,000 a year, running weekend courses and online tutoring from year 3, claiming to send the biggest cohort to QE every year. Unsurprisingly, it attracts a narrow demographic with similar views, far far from the not so rich family you see it.

£4000 a year does not prove your point. Plenty of people spend that kind of money on holidays, eating out and frivolities. Just because some families of certain cultures spend it on education you cannot just assume they are “rich”. Some will be driving Ubers at night to be able to afford that.

Do not twist my word or change the subject here.

We’re talking about a specific group of middle-class parents who are far from the FSM% spectrum, who are obsessed with league tables, selective schools, and rankings. They believe in starting tutoring early and push their boys into the school to get them into even more Darwinism selective later on.

On the other hand, many other people and teachers disagree with this survival-of-the-fittest style of education. They don’t see the point of it, and they definitely don’t celebrate these kinds of schools. The criticism a matter of principle, not jealousy.

So it is just the Times etc does celebrates this school as the top state school in the country? And all those top grades at A level and GCSE, the kids never worked for them, “statistical inevitability” you called it? That is trite, everyone has to work for top grades and you should respect the work ethic of both the parents and the boys.
And secondly, we clearly have very different definition of “middle-class”.

And finally, regarding the Oxbridge statistics and huge amount of offers there, do you also believe a tutoring centre in NW is to blame… You cannot get into Oxbridge if you do not have the brain power and knowledge and critical mind to do that, and these kids are very intrinsically bright, it is a school for gifted boys.

Just because some people with more average kids give it a go and tutor and then inevitably do not get in, does not mean that those in this school are not very clever.

Lord above: you've left this academic hot house and they still didn't manage to teach you when to use "whose" and "who's".

"statistical inevitability” you called it?

Absolutely, everything you've mentioned is unrelated to the essence of the school itself; it's solely a matter of 'selectivity.' A school can easily claim a times top ranking by cherry-picking students who achieve high scores, which is hardly an achievement worth celebrating and contributes no real value.

@nyv - your posts perfectly illustrate everything that is wrong with this country and why we are in structural decline.

of course, the downfall of an entire nation can now be traced back to... my posts. When faced with facts, some people choose to dismiss. It’s like trying to have a conversation with a brick wall—except the wall might actually listen better.

In any event, hothouse is a compound word!

Otherwise it’s just a warm house. Glad to hear a state school still has the heating on…

Actually @nyv, lots of the boys are happy, across most of the London superselective grammars.

It is in some of the other state schools that we are encountering the “another brick in a wall” effect.

Not exactly a warm one to be the most selective school in the country for 11+ admissions, only to later chop a third of students at sixth form just to secure the ranking.

Superselective schools have little to do with happiness, brickwall.

@Araminta1003 also an Oxbridge graduate so... One doesn't have to attend a highly selective hothouse like QE Boys.

Half of Munsnet attended Oxbridge: it's nothing particularly special on here.

You cannot have it both ways @Piglet89 - Oxbridge is also a hothouse!

And correcting other people’s typos when you did the same again, “Munsnet” is not funny. Mansnet - Freudian slip because a young man posted?

What percentage of your peer group went into public service?

“Not exactly a warm one to be the most selective school in the country for 11+ admissions, only to later chop a third of students at sixth form just to secure the ranking.”

The flip side of the argument is to give other pupils a chance to attend such a school, others who have worked very hard for their GCSEs across different types of school.

Public service? It really has become MN bingo!

During Covid, Financial Services were recognised as a public service worthy of key worker places. They represent the key industry in the UK funding the civil service and pretty much the whole country.

@Araminta1003 chill out! You criticise me for correcting a grammatical mistake and then do exactly the same to me, thereby lowering yourself to my level (if that's your objection).

Why are you so invested? Bloody hell!

Because I don’t like people ganging up on some young man who was just trying to be helpful! It’s bitchy and ideological.