Grammar Schools...... would you like to see a return?

. Henetha what makes you think you would not be treated well. in a comprehensive ?. I can assure you that there are many heads, teachers, assistants who are inspiring working in all ..
.modern day schools . ~Times have changed.
By the way Lucca thank you. .

I'm sure that is true these days, westendgirl, but back in the 40's and 50's when I was a schoolgirl the alternative to the Grammar School would probably have been the local secondary modern which had a dreadful reputation back then. (I won't name it, and I know it has improved greatly since)
So I was very relieved that I passed my 11+.

henetha

I'm sure that is true these days, westendgirl, but back in the 40's and 50's when I was a schoolgirl the alternative to the Grammar School would probably have been the local secondary modern which had a dreadful reputation back then. (I won't name it, and I know it has improved greatly since)
So I was very relieved that I passed my 11+.

BUt what about those who didn’t pass and had to go to the dreadful secondary modern ?

Exactly Lucca. If a good education for a few (who are not necessarily the "brightest" but who may have had certain advantages, such as private tuition) means a less than good education for the many, it doesn't seem a great idea to me.

Every person should be educated to their potential and have opportunities to explore their skills and abilities, without being shoved off into some sort of educational backwater.

How else are we to create a society where everyone feels they have a valuable part to play, where every individual can gain self-worth not just through the job they do but through the interests they have and the contribution they make outside of formal employment.

Surely, if 25% passed the 11+ - then that meant that 75% of children, at the age of 11 years, were made to feel 'failures'. Horrific.!!!

My eldest child got a scholarship to one of the local minor public schools, he four younger sisters and younger brother all progressed through the local Comprehensive schools. All did equally well, all went on to good Universities and achieved good degrees.

Do wish that this country would seriously look at countries like Finland and Holland - all Scandinavia to see why so many more of their children do so much better educationally that ours do.

They start formal schooling later, do not have fee-paying schools, treat all children equally - and get so much better results.

Regressing to a past 'failed' system of education cannot be a good answer. Looking around and learning from those that have far better systems is what we should be doing.

mumofmadboys

I went to a grammar school. 4 of our 5 sons went to a grammar school. However I think a well streamed comprehensive with movement as appropriate between the streams is the best idea. No child should be made to feel a failure at 11.

I agree.

Surely, if 25% passed the 11+ - then that meant that 75% of children, at the age of 11 years, were made to feel 'failures'. Horrific.!!!

Franbern the percentages varied according to grammar school provision in different areas of the country as the pass mark obviously related to number of places available. Apparently up to 35% of pupils in Kent "passed" the 11+ whereas in the Midlands the percentage was as low as 10%.
There was more provision for boys than girls, too.

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.