Incredible shananigans to get kids in chosen schools?

What made me look, DJ? As I said, the sweeping statement that no one here (in Switzerland) sends their children to a private school and the implication that education is exclusively a UK problem which doesn't exist elsewhere in N Europe plus that UK parents are up to "dodgy dealing".

I agree, Eloethan. When we sent our sons to the local schools, there were no league tables or anything like them. We moved around quite a lot when they were at school, but always sent them to the local one.
It's completely wrong in my opinion that parents have now been made to look for the "best" school to send their children to.

I really don't think it's acceptable for parents to do whatever it takes to get their children into a school of their choice. I think part of educating children is teaching them to be honest and to try not to see themselves and their families as more important or deserving than anyone else.

How weird, Alea. Why did you check?

Sends their children etc Oops again.

In her post granjura implies that independent schools do not feature in Switzerland
no one here ends their children to private school
And yet the quickest ever Google search brought up the names of at least 20 independent schools including one of the most expensive schools in the world (I believe) Le Rosey.
These are not just for expats as the following quote, also from my Google search states;

Thoroughly Swiss and completely cosmopolitan
Switzerland’s private schools cater for nearly 100, 000 pupils from across Switzerland, as well as welcoming pupils from more than hundred other countries

Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose?

Posts crossed- as we saw in the programme, if parents from outside the area cheat, with a finite number of places available- then it means someone else does not get the place. Dreadful business, truly.

Excellent comments by thatbags and Durhamjen, thank you.

More 'influential' parents opting out of some schools do leave some schools to sink- sadly. And divided schools create a divided society- which, in the long run, is NOT in the interest of one's childrens' and GCs future, and society at large.

Which is clearly addressed by many northern European countries and here in Switzerland. No-one here send their children to private school, and the more influential parents ensure that the local schools are excellent, with excellent facilities- not just for their children, but for the benefit of all. The children of all sorts of people being at school together create a respect and understanding that lasts for life and a much more cohesive and children can see from a young age that they can access success via hard work.

The first meaning of 'shenanigans' in the online dictionary is 'secret or dishonest activity or manoeuvring', which I presumed what what the OP meant.

There again, it's all very well to ask what can be done to resolve the situation, but another to ask GN members for their 'worst experiences' of such practices, which isn't going to be helpful.

I agree, Iam64. Shenanigans are pranks and I wouldn't have described the plans we were considering, should DD2 not get a place at a decent school, a prank. It was far too stressful a time.

When we moved here in 1975 we were led to believe the primary schools were excellent. We had moved from a remote rural location in Norfolk with a first rate local school so it came as a shock to discover the educational expectations in East Cambs couldn't have been lower.

The youngest was still a baby but the two older ones only lasted two terms at the village primary. We removed them when I went into their classroom to collect one of them for a medical appointment and found the teacher eating chocolates and reading Womans Own admidst chaos.

With the help of our vicar we got them into an excellent CofE school in the next village but the head left after a couple of years and we were once again floundering with the school now under threat of closure.

We were not prepared to risk any of this during their secondary school years and would have gone to any lengths to prevent them going to the school in our catchment area which is still below standard even after thirty years.

I'm with the majority of posters who accept that most parents will do the best they can to give their children the best shot at a school that meets their needs/provides what their parents feel is best for them.

I found the tone of the OP a bit unpleasant, implying that parents in the UK are less honest or principled than those in other countries. I was a younger and more idealistic parent when my first child was born. On reflection I feel her education and also her social life was nothing like as positive as the one her younger sisters experienced. Oldest daughter went to a dire inner city primary school and it took her a couple of years to catch up when we moved back into a less deprived area.

I empathise with the suggestion faith schools be abolished, but I'm pleased my own children went to the faith high school. Now they're having children of their own, they all plan to send them to their old high school for the reasons given by TriciaF above (i.e. calm atmosphere etc)

Of course lucky girl is right, all schools should offer equally good opportunities, they don't though do they.

I do agree that in the short term you have to do the best for your children as they only get one crack at it - but in the long term more should be done to support schools and teachers so that all schools become good schools. At the moment that is not happening - we have teachers battling against micro-management from above, endless changes of policy and reams of paperwork, all of which detract from the central desire to provide a good education. I really do take my hat off to teachers - they do an amazing job against the odds. How much better it would all be if support rather than investigation and mistrust were the order of the day.

Our third child went to a church school - it was the best around. She got in because of our musical contributions to local churches, not because of our beliefs. I had no conscience over that - I wanted the best for her, as all parents do.

By 'we' I mean successive governments. The Labour government is as guilty as the Conservative one on this issue.

I don't have a problem with that view, nonnie. Parents have to make the best use, as they see it, of the system that is in place at the time when they use the system. What is wrong is that they should be forced into extraordinary measures such as 'joining' a church. Change does take time but we're not doing the best we can to change things for the better.

We moved into the right catchment area for the vest schools and paid a premium price for the house. I don't see anything wrong with choosing to spend our money on that rather than something else.

It is all very well having principles about making all schools good schools but that takes time and when it us your own child you don't want to take a risk. Ask Diane Abott

OK - here are the solutions:

1. Get rid of faith schools completely then all this nonsense of going to church to get a place at school for your child would stop in an instant.

2. Make ALL schools good schools so parents would not have to go through all this stuff to get a good education for their children, and the councils could save money on employing snoopers.

The system brands as criminals parents who are only trying to do the best for their children, when they are forced into it by the lack of good schools in their area.

It is all a bit of a mess. I feel for the parents and of course for the children.

And no, what you said isn't racism. It may be otherwise prejudiced but it's not racism.

And a good 'work ethic'.

None of the three primary schools my kids went to (Edinburgh, nr Oxford, Argyll) were religious schools. They all had very good discipline.

My job involved visiting a big range of schools, in fact I must have visited all the schools in Hull at one time.
What was noticeable was that in the "religious " (C of E and RC) schools there was a calmer, more workcentred atmosphere ie the discipline was better. We had hardly any behavioural referrals from them.
You might call that a kind of racism, but it was a fact.

Only caught the end of the programme so probably very biased and unfair reaction to it. Like you, Durhamjen, I wondered about racism for the poor parent who had such strong connections with the school and church but didn't get a place. I was pleased for the other family but felt they were a little smug when I saw the school cap and champagne.

I can sympathise with parents wanting to do the best for their children. We need to make all schools places where children can get a good education. I know it is not all about money, but I feel that if the money that is being thrown at the free schools was put into decreasing class sizes, particularly in primary, that would help.

You are talking about high school Stansgran. The programme was about primary school, and parents trying to rent a flat to get their child into a better school.
They had to have people going round checking at night to find out where the families really lived.
I agree with bags. If everyone went to their local school, the parents would ensure that the schools improved.
That is the same for secondary education.
That's why I think all schools should be community schools, but that's another thread.

Here in Durham if you live next to the main school Durham Johnson you may not get your child in as they are expected to take quotas from the outlying villages. It doesn't work in London either as the nearest school to a friends grandchild is oversubscribed.

There is that, stansgran and gillt, but the other side of that coin could be that if parents all sent their kids to the school, or one of the schools, most local to them, those schools would improve because they would have more pushy (in a good sense) parents wanting the best for their kids. If the more middle-class parents always 'opt out' of what would be their natural local school, they skew the intake and leave the schools they avoid at a disadvantage.

50+ years ago I went to the primary school shown, in Hammersmith. It only took 30 pupils each year, way back then. The 4 junior classes were vertically grouped, that is mixed age classes according to ability. It was brilliant then, a lovely caring atmosphere, with a formal emphasis on English and Maths.
If I remember correctly, almost 100% passes in the 11+.

I was very lucky, it was a great start in education. A pity all schools are not small like this one, I think that is its success.

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