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...

She just came across as bitter.

Ps why do some people say Independant and others private?

because there is a difference between private and public schools, but both are independant

Warminster is more private than public,few full boarders,not academic,not over sporty but ok for what is ,you dont go to a school like Warminster for "connections" or indeed Oxbridge,its a perfectly decent private school,the like of which can be found all over England.
Its not Eton or St Pauls
The State head just seemed to be very chippy to me,moaning about connections,"oxbridge walk",how she couldnt hope to get speakers to her school,every State Head should know about Robert Peston and Speakers for Schools.

Sutton et al report how a private education earns you more,gets you the top jobs and a more likely route into Oxbridge.

They discuss all private schools,not just Eton.

Connections obviously play their part along with the other advantages a private education brings. Many state schools will give their pupils similar advantages but they still won't get the higher pay and jobs. It has to be down to connections.

It is wrong.

The state head had every right to be chippy. She works her butt off against the odds with her staff and her pupils are still disadvanged in the job market.

I disagree about numbers actually. Eton has 1300 pupils and does very nicely thank you.

I went to an independent school and there were 30 of us in a class in all subjects that were not streamed, until we got to the sixth form.

However - teaching 30 intelligent, well-behaved, focused girls who have already been selected on academic ability is a completely different kettle of fish to teaching 30 children of mixed ability, some with SN, some for whom English is not first language, some with challenging home lives, some whose parents simply do not value education.

I take my hat off to state teachers because I think that, other than the grammars, it's a really tough job.

What connections exactly do you think pupils at schools like Warminster have?

I've no idea I'd never heard of it. The fees are moderate for a private school, so I'd think it would attract middle class families who aren't interested in big name schools, or can't afford the really expensive ones. It seems to have army links.

Sorry Twink,that was a question for Lily.

Ask Sutton et al. They are far more knowledgable than me and clearly have concerns.

Perhaps you could explain why children from an entire group ie private schools earn more,get the better jobs and have a 50% better chance of getting into Oxbridge.

Teaching is the same from teachers who go to the same teaching training colleges and many state schools have confident pupils with involved supportive parents who behave in class and produce good results. Many state kids do extra curricular activities after school and don't sit on xboxes all day.

If it isn't the old boys network or snobbery at work what is it?

Maybe it's the reputation of the schools they attend?

rightly or wrongly some state schools are held in better regard than others.

I wonder if it's down to how they talk and present themselves too. not accents as those are regional. more the dropped ts and missed letters. or wrong ends to words. think anythink as opposed to anything.

The private school children were well spoken.

I'm pretty "common" compared to my parents.

The way my MIL talks makes me sound posh.

so its possible it's just down to how they present themselves.

I make suits and formal wear look scruffy. I can't do smart at all. no one's looking at me for a job any time soon despite the fact I have good ishgcses.

The school I went to no longer has the good reputation it did either.

Hoards of children in the state sector are well spoken and presented.

I'm sure they are.

However I also remember people taking the mock out of me for not swearing and my JL hideous skirt.

It's possible fir some that depending on where they went the confidence etc is just something that's almost "beaten" out of them before they leave.

It's not unusual around d here to hear hoards if secondary school children using foul language. In fact they almost have their own language which makes no sense to anyone over 30

it works both ways in the sense of private pupils probably not having the ability to relate to people having not faced such a mix of people.

You will get poorly presented and behaved private school children too you know. The difference is it doesn't seem to matter. The vast majority of people going for jobs state or otherwise will make an effort.

Many will work in the same places as their privately educated colleagues with the same dress code. They will still earn less. It was widely reported by the BBC and elsewhere last month.

What I mean is the kind of snobbery doesn't just apply to state versus private but she school to state school too.

If you took two students here with equal qualifications, one from a state school or grammar school and one from one of two not so great comprehensives with dodgy reputations then it's obvious who would get the job.

and it wouldn't he the kid from the failing school or the one from. The school where pupils are seen shouting on busses and leaving a mess behind.

It doesn't stop at schools either let's face it.

I've seen at interviews the faces at my employment history.

People would take one look at my current job and not see dedication over the years or think of the responsibility and experiences involved.

they would just think of something else.

that kind of attitude never stops. ever.

everything these days has a reputation and choices are made more often on that than anything else

Twink-So you have no evidence at all of these connections.There are literally hundreds of private schools like Warminster,do you really think all these schools have connections that lead to glittering careers,great universities etc,if a school feels the need to constantly mention who designed a door nearly 300 years ago rather than more recent achievements by ex pupils then it really isnt going to be the type of school with an old boys network ,connections etc,its a small private school,its just turns out nice rounded kids,not world beaters,something all schools should be aiming for.If you get this upset about schools like Warminster then you must froth at the mouth at real public schools.

Giles a state school is a state school. in 10 years time no employer will know the Ofsted credentials of any. Most people rarely apply for jobs or unis down the road.They will all be under the same bracket- state. Clearly going by the stats it's a private education that counts which is kind of unfortunate as less and less can afford to privately educate. The rich will just get richer and more exclusive.

Wurzle you need to take it up with Sutton,they clearly think otherwise.

hell I think where you live plays a part to. even before dd was at school you should see reactions to where we lived. or where my friends/family lived.

and quite frankly I think alot of these documentaries do alot of damage. People already have ideas about school/places/social status etc and 9 times out of 10 amy documentary meant to "set the record straight" has the complete opposite effect.

But people move a lot now a days. None of my family live or work anywhere near where they went to school.

Twink-you are the one who claims its snobbery,old boys networks,connections,but when asked to give examples,cant do so,you have some preconceived ideas which clearly dont fit the reality.
Schools like Warminster just produce decent rounded individuals,middle management,small town solicitors etc,they really arent running the universe.