Politics

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Doctor K
Doctor K
Oct 2015
11:20am, 15 Oct 2015
3,632 posts
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Doctor K
It's no big deal really. The Tories of course introduced comprehensive education in the early 70s when Margaret Thatcher was Education Secretary. The school I went to then was a Grammar School and became comprehensive when I had been there 3 years. It wasn't that great -more average really all round.
Cheg
Cheg
Oct 2015
11:46am, 15 Oct 2015
646 posts
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Cheg
I like Grammar Schools.
DeeGee
DeeGee
Oct 2015
12:12pm, 15 Oct 2015
16,730 posts
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DeeGee
I'm an ex Grammar Schoolboy from that very county.

My views on selection sit uneasily with my comprehensive school colleagues.
Bazoaxe
Bazoaxe
Oct 2015
12:14pm, 15 Oct 2015
9,156 posts
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Bazoaxe
bbc.co.uk

Great picture
simbil
simbil
Oct 2015
12:31pm, 15 Oct 2015
6,930 posts
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simbil
Is a meritocracy fairer than any other system that offers better opportunities for a select few?

Genuine question, I'm in two minds about it and how that relates to grammar schools.

On one hand, I think great - promising students have a better chance to reach their potential and it's really important to make the most of our nation's talent.

On the other hand, I think why not have those specialist resources for the struggling students instead to see if they can at least reach a reasonable basic level. The good students will probably do well anyway but may have to wait until further education to shine.

Of course in an ideal world you would have the resources to do both, plus ordinary schools to teach the majority average students.
Chrisull
Chrisull
Oct 2015
12:36pm, 15 Oct 2015
8,046 posts
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Chrisull
Grammar schools don't do anything for social mobility, here's why:

theguardian.com

(says the ex-grammar school boy). Not outraged by it, just indifferent.
Cheg
Cheg
Oct 2015
12:39pm, 15 Oct 2015
647 posts
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Cheg
People that don't like Grammar Schools, are they ok with setting of students?
Too Much Water
Too Much Water
Oct 2015
12:49pm, 15 Oct 2015
5,257 posts
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Too Much Water
We had 5 prime ministers in a row who went to grammar schools from 1964-1997

None since. Coincidence?

It was bitter Labour Party politicians who can't stand success which caused the grammar schools to be destroyed

It's good news and hopefully more can be created to offer parents choice. Notably a Grammar school in every town was a UKIP policy
Shadowless Formless Legs
Shadowless Formless Legs
Oct 2015
12:50pm, 15 Oct 2015
204 posts
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Shadowless Formless Legs
I'm also an ex-grammar school boy, but can't see the argument that 'locking some children out in the cold' (to paraphrase the guardian article) is worse than 'locking all of the children out in the cold'.

Unless we want to reduce the quality of education to the lowest common denominator.

Also, arguably the purpose of schools is to provide education rather than social mobility.
DeeGee
DeeGee
Oct 2015
1:03pm, 15 Oct 2015
16,732 posts
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DeeGee
I'm at a massive, massive "comprehensive" school. We set, and band, all our children from the outset based on the outcome of tests taken at the end of their primary school.

The different bands have access to different curricula, take different options at age 13. Before year 9 students can move between bands if their performance merits it. After year 9 it's a no as options have been taken.

The top band are probably the upper-performing 20% of the cohort - therefore would be bound for a grammar school if such an option was available.

They don't perform as highly as the kids in the Grammar Schools in the next county, though.

The kids at the bottom end do better than in two-tier, the kids in the middle do no worse, but our best kids just don't do as well.

And surely producing the top scientists, doctors, engineers and such like is an important consideration for society as a whole. It's what they do in Germany, and they aren't doing too badly, are they?

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