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Education

Immigration - a positive!

(49 Posts)
MartavTaurus Thu 13-Aug-26 13:05:11

The A level results are out today, with London racing ahead with A* and A grades.

It occurred to me that immigration, of the best kind, might play an important role here. Parents from migrant families often have higher ambitions for their children's education, and many of these reside in the capital. So, London, having become more and more diverse, has actually contributed to educational standards rising.
Win, win all round. Congratulations. πŸ‘ πŸ‘

Fallingstar Thu 13-Aug-26 13:12:35

It has been said that a much higher number of children from aspirational immigrant backgrounds go on to become doctors/consultants/surgeons.
And to become academics and civil engineers etc.
A much needed workforce in the UK I would think.

Sarnia Thu 13-Aug-26 17:01:18

Fallingstar

It has been said that a much higher number of children from aspirational immigrant backgrounds go on to become doctors/consultants/surgeons.
And to become academics and civil engineers etc.
A much needed workforce in the UK I would think.

I agree. Sadly these statistics rarely make the headlines.

Maremia Thu 13-Aug-26 17:46:05

Hang on a moment. Time soon for the 'Ah, but.... ' posts.
Good news, thanks, MartavTaurus.

GrannyGravy13 Thu 13-Aug-26 18:01:19

Well done all students πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘

I read that the Michaela School , London had exceptionally good results with over 70% of students achieving 3A/A*’s.

A good example of how adherence to its strict rules can bring excellent benefits to its students.

Cossy Thu 13-Aug-26 18:05:27

Well done all students, irrespective of ethnicity, but special well done to anyone whose first language isn’t English!

MartavTaurus Thu 13-Aug-26 18:10:53

GrannyGravy13

Well done all students πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘

I read that the Michaela School , London had exceptionally good results with over 70% of students achieving 3A/A*’s.

A good example of how adherence to its strict rules can bring excellent benefits to its students.

πŸ‘

MartavTaurus Thu 13-Aug-26 18:14:21

Cossy

Well done all students, irrespective of ethnicity, but special well done to anyone whose first language isn’t English!

Indeed. πŸ‘

This year the boys have outshone the girls! I think the focus on results for the next step has encouraged this for those more academically minded.

MartavTaurus Thu 13-Aug-26 18:18:15

GrannyGravy13

Well done all students πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘

I read that the Michaela School , London had exceptionally good results with over 70% of students achieving 3A/A*’s.

A good example of how adherence to its strict rules can bring excellent benefits to its students.

And yet a year over two ago we were being told on here how rubbish Michaela teaching was! (By those who thought they know!)

Tuliptree Thu 13-Aug-26 18:19:23

GrannyGravy13

Well done all students πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘

I read that the Michaela School , London had exceptionally good results with over 70% of students achieving 3A/A*’s.

A good example of how adherence to its strict rules can bring excellent benefits to its students.

You simply can’t extrapolate that conclusion from that evidence. Correlation is not causation

eazybee Thu 13-Aug-26 18:37:01

Ah, the 'Yes but.' However, Michaela has been proved repeatedly to work.

I am more concerned about the poor white children, usually boys, for whom there is no extra provision unless they have genuine special needs.
Ethnic minorities receive a tremendous amount of support, and with migrants bringing their families , with no English, the need is met throughout the age range, not just at primary level.
Many, ( not all) migrants do seize the opportunities offered by free education;many poor white families do not. This has been identified but still not addressed

Tuliptree Thu 13-Aug-26 18:45:59

To judge a school’s A level success, you have to first of all look at its selection criteria. Michaela has incredibly high grade criteria for entrance to the 6th form including an 8!at GCSE for the individual subjects you want to study. Given that, it would be surprising if their A level results were not excellent. To really compare that school with others, you would have to compare the results at other schools of the grade 8 students with the Michaela grade 8 students. We haven’t got that info and M basically cherry picks and then pats itself on the back .

AGAA4 Thu 13-Aug-26 20:11:59

Of course they will do well at A level if they have at least a grade 8 in their GCSEs.
Children who have achieved those grades usually do well whatever school they have attended.

Tuliptree Thu 13-Aug-26 20:34:38

Exactly - there’s strong research evidence which shows a grade 8 is a very strong predictor of an A or A* at A level. So Michaela students get what they should because they’re carefully selected not because the school is strict. My grandsons delightful local comprehensive gets the same results for its grade 8 students but also welcomes and educates a wide range of abilities in the 6th form.

petra Thu 13-Aug-26 20:44:37

GrannyGravy13

Well done all students πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘

I read that the Michaela School , London had exceptionally good results with over 70% of students achieving 3A/A*’s.

A good example of how adherence to its strict rules can bring excellent benefits to its students.

If only all schools could have a Kathrine Birbalsingh.

GrannyGravy13 Thu 13-Aug-26 20:49:47

If only petra I have a lot of respect for her

MartavTaurus Thu 13-Aug-26 20:55:37

Well as a Head, I'd be blowing my own trumpet and patting myself on the back.
My hard working pupils, however they came to me, achieve top grades, Russell Group successes, Oxbridge entrants, medical school acceptances ... fulfilled children, happy parents ..... that would make me shout with pride from the rooftops.
I've taught A Level, it's a big step up from GCSE, a totally different ball game, not a walk in the park, and only with excellent teaching and mentoring do most children achieve A*.

Redrobin51 Thu 13-Aug-26 20:56:20

Where would our NHS be without them.

MartavTaurus Thu 13-Aug-26 21:16:56

London schools are considered a great success story. You have to look back to pre-2003 to see how far they have come and how their results have improved.
It was the Blair government that launched the initiative to transform schools in the capital. I can't remember the exact amount given to these failing schools, but I think it was tens of millions?

nanna8 Fri 14-Aug-26 02:26:51

Chinese students do very, very well at our schools and universities because they are so focussed and work very hard. Not to mention that many seem to be of above average intelligence. Most round here go to the expensive private schools and I am sure that helps,too.
Years ago, 1960s , London kids did very,very well, too. About 42% went to grammar schools and many on to uni - compared with the rest of the country. Another group were the Welsh , who also did very well - everyone respected and praised the Welsh education system. Good teachers ?

MartavTaurus Fri 14-Aug-26 06:34:37

Good teachers definitely nanna8. Yet there are good teachers across the entire UK, not just in London, so other reasons must come into play.

I'm beginning to think that the quest for high grades comes directly from the pupils themselves, heavily backed by their parents. Immigrant families appear to have higher hopes and expectations. I guess it's to do with their viewing education as a vehicle for upward social mobility.

Calendargirl Fri 14-Aug-26 06:43:03

Our local grammar school used to be just that, local.

Then it altered when parents were given more choice about where to send their children.

Being a grammar, the children had to pass the entrance exam still, of course, but then they started coming from many miles away, often the children of doctors, teachers, and other professionals.

It’s noticeable when the A and GCSE results are published in the local paper, plus photos, how many different ethnic groups now feature, and how successful they are.

Very different to when I attended 60 or so years ago.

DaisyAnneReturns Fri 14-Aug-26 07:45:56

GrannyGravy13

Well done all students πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘

I read that the Michaela School , London had exceptionally good results with over 70% of students achieving 3A/A*’s.

A good example of how adherence to its strict rules can bring excellent benefits to its students.

Good pattern spotting but you seem to have missed the class on "correlation does not imply causation" lesson GrannyGravy13.

DaisyAnneReturns Fri 14-Aug-26 07:48:05

Tuliptree

To judge a school’s A level success, you have to first of all look at its selection criteria. Michaela has incredibly high grade criteria for entrance to the 6th form including an 8!at GCSE for the individual subjects you want to study. Given that, it would be surprising if their A level results were not excellent. To really compare that school with others, you would have to compare the results at other schools of the grade 8 students with the Michaela grade 8 students. We haven’t got that info and M basically cherry picks and then pats itself on the back .

Thank you for helping to fill the information gap "Tuliptree".

25Avalon Fri 14-Aug-26 07:48:25

I agree with all Tuliptree says. Horses for courses.