Comprehensives...love em or lump em'?

[tonyee]

Don't know much about state schools or comprehensives (the school near us is one), we have two kids in private school now...times are a little tough. Thinking of going that route, live in ken/chelsea area. Not sure if we go for it or tighten the belt (maybe beg some grandparents to cover costs for a while??). My two children are really happy at their school and are doing very well. Anyone who has been down this path or just has advice???? THANKS!!

Well I went to a comp and did very well. My children are at state schools and very happy and are doing very well. I do believe lots of people have been done this path.

I have taught lots of children who have come from independent school. They all settled in really well and felt the education they got was just as good. It onviously depends on youe local school.

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I just don't anything abt them as we moved here from another country..just heard a debate today on lbc radio saying comps were not ideal...I have no idea! Did u go toschool in London?

Depends where you live. I wouldn't touch one with a bargepole, but we don't live near any decent ones. Even then, I would think twice (cue brickbats).

All that said, look at the OFSTED reports (not that they're worth a huge amount, but they will give you an idea) and ask current parents what they think. Above all, visit for yourself on a normal school day (not an open day) and get a feeling for what that actual school is like. That will tell you more than anyone on MN can!

Stupid question (from a foreigner): is a "comprehensive" the same as any state secondary school that is not a grammar school? I live in Norfolk, and we only have "High School"s around here for state secondary schools (and belatedly, "Academies").
TIA.

Well I don't understand the whole picture but in a nutshell there is no selection criteria, i.e. comprehensives open to all and as I understand it, the teaching is geared to the 'average student' so it can be a bit unchallenging in general I have heard for those that are brighter (probably depending on the school, some must have AP classes etc I would imagine).
There is much discussion now by the powers that be in the UK govt. about this not being ideal. France, Germany etc have much better state schools as they do it differently, selection according to achievement comes into play and striving to be your best is encouraged. It's about more than just gearing it to the 'average' student so (it has been said) 'no one feels left out or bad about themselves'.

Well, ime most state secondaries (and primaries for that matter) set for different subjects, so if you are good at maths you are not going to end up being taught together with children who struggle with the subject. You come together with your class for tutoring and for certain less heavy subjects.

Ha!
In my town you can see the difference between the 20-somethings who have been to the comprehansives and which ones have been to the local private school....

the comprehensive graduates have mostly got jobs, their own businesses, cars, a life!

The Private school casualties seem to spend their days off their tits in the local ne'er-do-well hostelry, selling drugs and wailing about stuff.

it is confusing when you come from abroad (to get the system)

yes comprehensives just normal non selective secondary schools (not grammar schools which are selective on ability)

academies are also state schools which have a sponsor (like businesses or a university etc.) and non selective too and follow the same admissions criteria as comps

some comps and academies have specialist status (like in sport or art or science for example)

you need to go and look at the school OP, it's the only way you can really tell what it's like (and ask questions etc.)

and secondary schools stream here - so children are taught in similar ability classes for subjects like maths

also, you need to check you would get a place with the council because there's no guarantee that you would unless it's undersubscribed. There may be a waiting list for the years your dcs are going into.

comps stream the classes so they don't teach to the average

I did very well
at comp - they stream classes according to ability for almost every subject so the brighter kids are not pulled back.

Just like the private system, there are good and bad schools and you need to visit and see for yourself. Be open minded and decide on what you see and hear at the school, not on the prejudices of some people on here.

Brills, thanks for the scoop! I will go look. I guess I am less worried about the academics and more worried about them getting their arses kicked.

However I had to deal with some rough kids in my day and it was probably good (however my sister mucked right in with the worst of them, became a drug addict and got pregnant at 17 and then ran off leaving all responsibility to my parents- extreme case I guess!).

Going to visit the school. Fullmoonfiend comments are pretty scary- why are those private school kids like that? Are they spoiled and lazy? At our kids' school there are definitely privileged kids but the school rides everyone like a bull to 'be their best'. They go on to get into great schools.

Tonyee, if you're unfamilar with the system, you may well also be unfamiliar with the various rude/prejudiced comments that private schools provoke.

Believe it or not, private and state schools alike produce happy, well motivated, stable adults - and also ones who bum around unable to hold down any kind of job or life. I really shouldn't have to say that only private school pupils fall into the 'druggie loser' category. Fullmoonfiend's comment is downright silly.

In fact, it's so silly that is has driven me mad.

I do of course mean 'not only private school pupils'!!

tonyee - it seems to be as you suggest - because they are spoiled and lazy (with too much disposable income) and nothing to inspire them to ambition. No need for ambition if ma and pa will support you and throw money at you.
It is not a sought-after private school, it is the knee-jerk alternative which well-to-do parents turn to if their children don't get into the ''best'' state school.

I wish my DC could go to a comprehensive, but living in Kent the so-called 'comprehensives' are actually secondary moderns. I get very annoyed when I see Kent described as a 'grammar school' county, because actually the majority of children will go to secondary moderns.

Only a year and a half until DC1 sits the Kent Test. Dreading it already.

twinkster, it was just an observation in my town, to do with one particular school - not meant to suggest anything as generalised as you think.
It's certainly not a scientific study, but my opinion is no more silly any more than your opinion that you wouldn't touch a comprehensive school with a bargepole....
I am not the prejudiced one here, having not been to a comprehensive school myself. but my children do.

I am certainly glad we are in a county without grammars.

Please don't assume all schools set by abilty. Our local school sets only for maths. Everything else is mixed ability and, being in London, it is a very wide mix!

fullmoonfiend, I did say I wouldn't touch one with a bargepole - but qualified it by saying in the same post that this is because of where we live.

I still suggest the OP visit for herself. That is the only way to find out what any particular school is really like, and if it's right for your particular child.

ok, Twinks, and i was saying I wouldn't touch our local private school with a bargepole...so
there you go OP, we can catagrically agree that you need to put on some comfy shoes and a politely interested smile, and go out ehre and have a looksee for yourself!

A comprehensive that just teaches to the average level of ability is a bad comprehensive, there are bad comprehensives of coure, but there are also fantastic ones. All schools should cater to the ability range within them, stretching the brightest and supporting the weakest. I was very happy with my comprehensive education and am very happy I do not live in a grammar school area so that my DCs can also got to a proper comprehensive.