Would you like to see the return of Grammar Schools?

[naomi24]

As an ex-Grammar School girl, I've just watched with great interest a programme on the demise of Grammar Schools and the loss of opportunity that resulted in for bright working class children.

Quote from Edwina Curry who came from a working class background but won a scholarship to a Grammar School and subsequently went on to Cambridge -

'I may be a Tory but I'm a Scouse Tory, and to have a country where only money buys a good education is deeply, deeply wrong'.

Your thoughts?

[naomi24]

Oops... Edwina Currie. That's a good start from a Grammar School girl. :o)

[NOX]

No not really, I'd like to see a comprehensive school system that actually offers a good well rounded academic, social and moral education which is available for all. If you can do it in Grammar Schools and / or private schools then you can do it with a comprehensive system- just no-one is far sighted enough to actually make that happen- we're all too busy encouraging kids to chase silly bits of paper which get easier to get by the year to meet absurd targets set which will help no-one.

[sandyRoe]

Egg on your face there, Naomi.
Were the children of the poor streaming out of their working class hovels to fill the classes of those schools?

[Buenchico]

If, upon leaving school, I had gone into any other profession than teaching I am almost certain that I would now still be singing the praises of grammar schools (such as the one which I attended).

It was only upon working within comprehensive schools that I came to see that grammar schools were fantastic as 'examination machines' but totally pathetic at pastoral care or social development. Further, I realised that, while I might have been taught academic subjects reasonably well, I had also been taught to look down upon those who only attended secondary modern schools.

The sooner we get rid of grammar schools, the better!

[missprim]

Didn't see the programme. Was it about bright children from a working class background who cannot get into Grammar Schools or something else?

[naomi24]

Nox, that's exactly the problem isn't it.

Sandy, I was.

[sandyRoe]

One swallow doesn't make a summer. I would be interested to know what percentage of grammar school children were from poor families. I wonder how many got free school dinners?

[sophie_1003]

We still have two grammar schools in our town; do they not exist anywhere else?

[sandyRoe]

They're still here in NI.

[naomi24]

Chris, I didn't look down on anyone. My best friend didn't go to my school.

missprim, no, it was about the opportunities that Grammar Schools offered to children who otherwise would not have had them.

[missprim]

Anyone care to answer my question?

[sherrardk]

Grammar schools only work if the alternative schools are any good. When we lived in Aylesbury, the grammar schools had a 100% pass rate for 5 GCSEs whereas the non-grammar school were around 18%, hardly a level playing field. As an ex-teacher I wouldn't have wanted to work in a grammar school as I feel that they are unfair. As a parent, if I still lived in Aylesbury, I would want my children to attend the grammar school. Fortunately, I now live in Hereford and our catchment school is considered outstanding by Ofsted.

[missprim]

Sorry naomi our posts crossed

[Buenchico]

In England & Wales grammar schools are only to be found in the areas coloured red, Sophie:
http://upload.wikimed...allots_in_England.png

[Psybbo]

Sandy, I was a child from a very poor family, passed 11+ and benefitted from a grammar school education

[Buenchico]

Miss P:
A synopsis:
http://www.radiotimes...et-history--episode-2

[naomi24]

I have to say, I thank my school every day of my life.

[sandyRoe]

I've a feeling that it isn't altruism that prompts middle class parents here in NI to defend grammar schools.
Nobody has answered my question. What percentage of children were from poor families, or working class ?

[naomi24]

Sandy, the programme dealt mainly with the 1960s when 25% of working class children went to Grammar School. I expect those who qualified got free school dinners.

[Psybbo]

No school dinners at the grammar school I went to and tbh I envied the tec pupils who seemed to have a more rounded relevant education (as far as jobs went)