Grammar Schools - Cameron withdraws his support!

[raphael123]

Wow, it would seem Cameron is trying to change what Tories stand for, probably because he knows he won't win an election otherwise.

What are people's opinon of Grammar schools?

[Brown, Jon Brow]

Dunno. Didn't go to one :s Its just posh folk that go init :erm:



(Brown, jon brow comes into his element :cool: )

[raphael123]

lol no - it's based on your intelligence. You sit the 11+ test (at 11 obv) to see how clever you are, and all the clever kid's go to the grammar schools, which are supposedly designed for the more intellectual kids.

[Captain VXR]

My dad went to a grammar school. A bit unfair though, having the clever people segregated completely from the not so clever

[Brown, Jon Brow]

lol no - it's based on your intelligence. You sit the 11+ test (at 11 obv) to see how clever you are, and all the clever kid's go to the grammar schools, which are supposedly designed for the more intellectual kids.

Oh yes. I remember the 11+ I did to get into Lancaster Boys Royal Grammar. I did very well on the Maths paper and then failed the English one (and it was mostly deliberate ;) )I didn't put that much effort into it because my best friend was going to the local High School. :o Anyway, if I wanted to, I could of still got into Lancaster Grammar to do A-levels after my GCSE's as my High School didn't have a 6th form. But I chose Cardinal Newman College in Preston because its better :p

[tony_yeboah]

i went to skegness grammar school.

Grammar schools are a good thing to have because the people who want to learn can do so without the thick kids holding them back.

[raphael123]

i went to skegness grammar school.

Grammar schools are a good thing to have because the people who want to learn can do so without the thick kids holding them back.

Do you think it's right that a child's future is decided at 11 though?

Like Jon Brown said, he almost deliberately failed just so he could 'stay with his friend'. I know other people who failed on purpose because the uniform was purple at the grammar school etc - at 11 your simply way too immature I think.

I think streaming in secondary schools can counter the arguement that thicker kids hold up the more intellectual ones.

[Brown, Jon Brow]

I think streaming in secondary schools can counter the arguement that thicker kids hold up the more intellectual ones.

I don't think that that is much of an issue, as at most schools subjects have different sets. 1-6 at my school (set 1 for bright kids and set 6 for the 'thicker' kids) However, I don't know what state schools are like in inner city areas :s

Maybe Grammar schools aren't as special any more due to regulations they have to meet. E.g positive discrimination such a certain number of children with special needs or children from certain backgrounds (ethnicity etc) :s

[raphael123]

When was you last in school John? Last I heard, was that the last 2-3yrs most schools have been encouraged to abolish streaming, saying the self fulfilling prophecy, of putting a kid in e.g. Set 6 results in them expecting them to fail, and therefore failing. Therefore pupils are picked in classes randomly, rather than based on ability.

[Caroline]

Sreaming is actively used in both primary and secondary schools. Some feel it is a devisive tool (parents usually), others feel it is necessary to allow effective teaching. If asked I would say that non streaming would be letting the more able and at the other end of the scale, the least able down. There is no point in picking randomly to fill a class, unless to separate pupils with behaviour issues.

[GridGirl]

I never went to a grammar school mainly becuase the closest one is about 10 miles away. If I'd of had the chance I wouldn't have minded going to one if it was a better school than the one I actually ended up going to.

Hell people are actively moving house these days to get their kids in catchment areas for the best schools. Doesn't mean it has to be a grammar school, but its still a form of selection if not based on a childs academic abilities but the school's achievements in general. My old nextdoor neighbours moved to a different area about 6 months ago for that very reaosn.

[inimitablestoo]

I'm another product of the grammar school system so it doesn't always work :s