The people who have everything also run everything.

Perhaps the way to even things out would be to stop money being passed at death to the next generation, i.e. everyone starts on a level playing field. Money from estates could be re-distributed annually across the population so that everyone gets an equal share. Just saying.

28 different languages in one school is crazy, no wonder our schools are having a difficult time!
Do schools in all other countries cater to this I wonder, or is it just the UK?

MawBroon...watch it! Quoting Latin phrases is considered elite on GN.?

I was replying to maggiemaybe' s post where she said there was a class of 7-8 year olds with 28 different languages spoken between them.

It stands to reason that this would/could be problematic, to the overall teaching and learning capabilities in that class.

I know from experience that children pick up languages easily, but surely they would need to have a fairly decent understanding of the language the syllabus is being taught in.

True Cabbie. Sounds ok to me.

Shall we keep it civil?

Not all of us who have had a good education go into well-paid jobs. Not all nurses, teachers ( and others) aspire to reach the top of their profession, or become one of The Powers that Be, as they would be removed from the very people they try to help.

Who was that aimed at less?

I was waiting to observe who would be the first to make a disparaging remark to my comment.

Oh, so you are beyond criticism?

What were you hoping for Glammy57 - applause for being so caring? Your post regarding how virtuous you are compared to others did you no favours, sadly.

Dunno about grannygravy but I think the best way for kids to learn English is to mix with English speaking kids.

Extra language lessons would be good too of course.

working hard....is an option for all.

making your way.....is easier for some than others.

Clear now?

Do you think children who do not speak English should not be admitted to schools in this country GrannyGravy?

Well, like it or not, GrannyGravy, children in this country are entitled to an education.

Would you really want to deny them that?

The idea of working hard and making your way is not a reality for many people&

Well, you'll definitely have to explain that one!!!

Please tell us why working hard is not a reality for a person born into less than privileged circumstances.

Many people have done it in the past lessismore, but I agree it shouldn't happen in this day and age.

Social mobility is not at an all time low. It may be lower than it has been at various times in the past, but the reson for this has more to do with money than social prejudice.

I went to a northern university in the early 1960s and I would have said that most of the students in the science and engineering departments had good northern working class backgrounds. This was thanks to the 11+, grammar schools and free university education with maintenance grants.

No, I am not campaigning for the return of grammar schools. Those were the days before coaching, when every child took the exam from the same level.

But, we need to make life easier for less advantaged children, either by making a degree less expensive, or returning to the other great way of entry into the professions in the 1960s and that is by making it possible for them to enter the professions from every educational level from O levels to degrees. The lower your exam achievements the longer the on the job (and paid) training and an extra layer of exams.

I have one friend, who started her solicitors training at 20, with minimal O levels and reached the highest levels of her profession where she was surrounded by Oxbridge graduates. Another followed a similar path into Chartered Accountancy. Whether they could do it today, having to go back to college for A levels, 3 years of university, all without fiancial support, only loans, instead of working while studying and having no need for debt, I am not sure

My last post was in response to lessismore's.

Day6 - I was waiting to observe who would be the first to make a disparaging remark to my comment. Well done, you may take the prize! ?

Hard to study if your stomach is rumbling.

There are other avenues to education. Evening classes, OU.

Maggiemaybe I worked in a school in mainland EU, if the children couldn't speak the language of that country they were not admitted.

The state school system here is set up to teach in English, perhaps we are over generous in our admissions system.

I worked in a primary school in an area of very high deprivation. The children spoke 28 different languages, we would have asylum seeker and refugee children along with EU Roma children arrive without warning and have to be immediately absorbed into classes when they were perhaps 7 or 8 years old and had never been to a school before. Three or four families would be living in one small house. Does anyone seriously think that many of these children are going to pull themselves out of this situation without a heck of a lot of help?

When the Labour government was in power, we were given funding to open a Sure Start facility at the school. It was open year round from 8 till 6 five days a week, fully staffed, offered English language tuition, parenting classes, health advice, outreach services for the most vulnerable children and adults, breakfasts for children who didn't get them, toddler groups led by qualified staff, and much more. It made a huge difference to the families in the area and, had it continued, would have continued to level the playing field a little for the children coming into our school, some of whom were extremely bright and could go far, given a chance.

Of course, like most Sure Start centres, its funding was slashed in the name of austerity. The facilities are still there but I have just checked and it is now open just 12 hours a week, term-time only, with one activity a day. What a waste, in so many ways.

Numerous people give of their time and their money to charities and raising money for charities, they do not have to go round shouting it from roof tops to prove they are caring and decent people.

I also think some people mature at different rates and cba at 14 but possibly could do well at 20.

I think some people ( from whatever background) grab every opportunity they see, they work hard at school and whether or not they go to Uni or straight to work they learn as they go and strive for promotion.

Others frankly can't be a***d!!!

Mr G and I have many people in our social circle who always vote Conservative and do not care about the plight of the less privileged.

Well, that's damning all who vote differently from you, presumably, as being uncaring.

Poor people vote for the Conservative party too. One of the biggest aberrations of our time is the way in which the Labour party has become the home of the wealthy middle classes who like to think they have a social conscience as they sit in their NIMBY enclaves.

I only know of two other couples, in our income bracket, who are willing to “give back to society”.

That sounds dreadfully self-righteously moralistic and superior. You are judging all the rest by your own 'virtuous' standards.

Most people, (not all) no matter their income, do care about others for whom life is a struggle. Shock, horror - Conservative voters do too! They are not going to wear sackcloth and ashes to prove it.