School Swap - anyone watching?

[annandale]

OK I'll be honest, i'm not actually watching it myself because I don't think I'd be able to sleep afterwards but would love to know what anyone thinks of it...

I think you have a very different definition of 'lazy' than me.

There is very little crowd control at either of my DC's schools and yet the teachers are committed and inspiring, ensuring the pupils fullfill their potential and go way beyond the curriculum.

I disagree! When you work in a private school the fact that you don't really have any challenging behaviour to manage means that you can really focus on your teaching and improve it all of the time. There are children with challenging behaviour in independent schools too though.

They both have different challenges a bit like teaching infants or juniors. If one was much easier than the other nearly all teachers would be clamouring to do that one!

That's part of the problem with comprehensive education. It seems no longer to be an expectation, in many schools, that children are compliant, and it is expected that teachers will have to deal with unwanted behaviour before they begin teaching. I would even go as far as to say that that many parents are secretly proud of their child's disregard for confomity, as if it shows how much 'personality' and 'individuality' they have.

My experience of compliant children is that teachers can teach far more effectively and that children learn a lot more without anyone getting stressed or overworked.

Anyone watched the second episode?

The end made me a little teary - hope things work out well for Brett.

It did me too. I very much hope his family let him go to the private school. He was so happy there!

The state head got on my nerves. She banged on about how unfair the system was too much and how dedicated she was and the next minute it announced she was retiring at what, 55? Max. Seems like she bailed out as soon as she could.

I hope Brett goes but I don't hold out much hope, that would make a great TV show though!

How come Brett was offered a place? Did I miss something?

Agree about the Head of state school bailing out.

Turning round a school like Bemrose which was failing must be all consuming. It would be hard to maintain that level of dedication without starting to burn out. I thought both heads came across very well, although I think the private head is somewhat cosseted and naive.

Poor Brett just didn't seem to have any support or encouragement at home. I was worried about the ethics of showing the state pupils this different world without the chance to access it. I think the girl will be fine as her family are so pro education and she is so determined. I hope Brett gets to take his opportunity and run with it.

I imagine they could see the potential in him and that's why they offered him the place. I just hope his family lets him take it - I think Brett would take it in a heartbeat.

Halfway through the program DH and I were saying they should give Brett a scholarship and then they did! Problem is though that even if fully funded wouldn't he need money for uniform, equipment, trips etc? So his family may still not be able to afford it?

Set us off on a discussion though as we could afford to send them private and DH would like to but I refuse to.

The cynic in me says that Brett was offered a place as a publicity stunt.

I'm just watching now.

They look like fish out of water. The head looks like he's trying to encourage and make them.feel welcome. they just need to believe in themselves.

I'm a bit about the singing idiot who's taunting them. way to make the state kids more nervous.

It makes me my dc can't have that choice between state and private. not saying I'd pick that particular school but the general idea of what's out there does make me wish I could send them

I thought it was lovely that Brett was offered a place. I hope his parents allowed him to take it.

Oh I do hope he took the place. The look on his face when he realised the week was over and what he was going back to was heart breaking.

very at the head of the state school it's as if she's just given up after realising she can't bring any if what she's seen to her school.

I hope the deputy head taking over continue s with the systems we saw last week as there did appear to he alot of stuff aimed at helping and calming and supporting the more challenging children

According to Mark Mortimer's twitter his parents are still deciding. If it were me I'd grab it with both hands and not let go! :( All I can remember is Brett saying in episode one that there was no point in him doing homework because it would be rubbish and it would be a waste of the teachers time to mark it. That poor lad had no self-confidence at all, but he was so different after just one week. Imagine what he could achieve if he went there...

imagine the pressure on his parents right now though.

they'd be unable to support him.at home, would stick.out a mile on parents visit/meetings and the potential costs if having him attend....

on the flip side he could be the one. The family member who got out and did well.

I say that not to be nasty but because I know I would look like I didn't belong there amongst the drs and lawyers and CEOs etc .

It's so different even down to the way people talk.

I know Giles - it all seems so easy to us from behind our screens. I think the school would offer support with things like uniforms as well? So hopefully that wouldn't be too big an issue. I do hope they can make it work for him.

It seems unlikely this is going to happen for Brett. It's the start of term next week and if his parents still haven't made a decision, I can't see them suddenly deciding he can go and being ready for boarding school in one weeks time.

Also, I remember Brett saying he has never been made to do homework so I don't think his parents have the same attitude towards education that the Warninster parents will have.

I really hope they do all they can to allow this to happen for Brett. I can't see him being able to fully forgive his parents if they stand in his way.

I think it shows how much as regards the better jobs the old boy network does actually work.

They highlighted the confidence,the higher level they start with and the support. All are things prevalent in state grammar schools but grammar students are just as under represented in Oxbridge and top jobs.

The state head highlighted how teaching is the same in both sectors. A few extra curricular clubs are no excuse as regards kids having a quality and thus the better jobs. It's high time something was done about it. I don't get why companies can't be held to account in the same way they are if racism or sexism happen within the job market. It's wrong and just shrugging our arms and saying it's just the way it is is weak. So much untapped potential going to waste.The frankly lazy private girl aimlessly saying oh I might go into teaching. Just why should she get better jobs than the hard working Syrian girl?

I also felt not enough was made of the battles teachers and kids have in the state sector in comparison to private. It was kind of just glossed over. Producing results and teaching children from poverty with Eng as a second Lang,or those with Sen or behavioural problems on limited resources is a world away from teaching in a private boarding school which frankly is a walk in the park by comparison.

I liked the state head a lot. A lot of good state heads retire early as it is exhausting and challenging. Hosting dinner parties and strolling across the quad to your with the job Georgian house doesn't quite compare.

The music/singing teacher was a self inflated knob.

I think it would be (is?) a great shame if Brett's parents don't let him go. He wants to go and it could totally transform his life.

I understand the worries they would have- he would be half way across the country, away from home, in a completely alien environment. His life and theirs are so far removed from the other pupils, can he ever fit in when his classmates know he is "poor" and doesn't go to Polo, go skiing, live in a big house etc.

BUT- if it didn't work out there, he could always return home. This is a life changing experience he is being offered. One that HE wants to take up. It would be so sad if worries about what ifs stopped the trying. And that is the difference between the state and public sectors- the public school children are given the attitude of "try".

And just to add- his parents agreed for him to go on the programme and have this experience in the first place.

I agree with most of what you said lily

they seemed to show the state school as over run with disinterested "naughty" kids disrupting lessons and portrayed quasim in a way that made him loom as if he could barely strong a sentence together.

I liked how they showed all the extras in place to help the kids. boxing and meetings etc.

but instead of using the opportunity to tell us what she deals with she just kept saying how it was so unfair and it's " who you know not what you know"

I felt sorry for Nazh it was almost as if she was trying to convince herself that state was better for her when in fact she's so hard working and got such a sensible and determined head on her shoulders I think she'd thrive in a private school with resources she can I my dream.of right now.

I think secretly shed love to go and reach her potential with like minded students.

and Brett, well he don't stand a chance really bless him.

I'm sure it was all for the camera and fumed with an agenda but the state school came over as chaotic and with uninspiring classes and it looked as if any kid trying to concentrate was in the minority as the classes looked pretty disrupted.

I think the head did the best with what she had and I loved how everyone at the school was hands on and wanted to help the children. but would I want my kid going there? no.

Both watching programmes hasn't really changed my opinion that a huge part of the private school's success is down to numbers.
370-odd pupils in the secondary school is a very easy number to manage and facilitate; to get to know them, their backgrounds and their strengths, to spot potential and plug knowledge and skill gaps.

With over 1000 pupils in many state schools, occasions like whole school assemblies and hymn practice are impossible, sadly. With thirty in each class, it is inevitable that some pupils will be overlooked. Plus money, resources and time are stretched too thin.

I thought what Nazh said about the private school being a bubble, and not reflective of the real world which is 'full of disappointment' was very insightful for one so young.