Grammar schools - science vs arts

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HappyRobot
Posts: 227
Joined: Sun Mar 25, 2012 12:02 am

Grammar schools - science vs arts

Post by HappyRobot »

Are any of the Brum grammars geared more to science than the others, or are they all super sciency?

Is there any point sending an arts loving child to a grammar?
DC17C
Posts: 1197
Joined: Wed Oct 12, 2011 9:34 pm

Re: Grammar schools - science vs arts

Post by DC17C »

How do you know they won't love science too? I thought my dd was very arty and creative when younger but at 14 she is also really enjoying science and looks like she is more likely to do something to do with science or computing at "a"level and beyond.
HappyRobot
Posts: 227
Joined: Sun Mar 25, 2012 12:02 am

Re: Grammar schools - science vs arts

Post by HappyRobot »

Yes I don't believe anything much can be decided at 10/11, but asked if any schools were more geared to science, while others to arts.
yoyo123
Posts: 8099
Joined: Mon Jun 18, 2007 3:32 pm
Location: East Kent

Re: Grammar schools - science vs arts

Post by yoyo123 »

Please don't pigeon hole so early.

Some of the best musicians I know are maths graduates...it is about pattern and order.

I wish we could go back to renaissance (wo)man.

Embrace everything in life.

I hate the 2 cultures thing, they are not mutually exclusive ! ..to borrow a statistics
phrase.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VnbiVw_1FNs" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
HappyRobot
Posts: 227
Joined: Sun Mar 25, 2012 12:02 am

Re: Grammar schools - science vs arts

Post by HappyRobot »

Fab response yoyo...
Until a Brum grammar school parent responds, I am guessing that grammars are just As good at arts as sciences, but would love some personal experience.
DC17C
Posts: 1197
Joined: Wed Oct 12, 2011 9:34 pm

Re: Grammar schools - science vs arts

Post by DC17C »

I suppose I do understand the question though as my dd enjoyed art, drama and dance when she was younger and we did end up choosing a school that had more dance and drama in its curriculum. DD has still been encouraged to develop her science, maths and technology subjects and seems to do well alround- I think the balance is good.
I'd visit all the potential schools to get a feel for what is on offer and get a feel for the school- and look at the websites at the emphasis on the available subjects.
muminbrum
Posts: 362
Joined: Mon Oct 22, 2012 12:14 pm

Re: Grammar schools - science vs arts

Post by muminbrum »

Only based on Open Evening experience but Art at CHB seemed an afterthought. Not much work on display and no teacher in the room on either occasion that I've been in there. DS1 isn't particularly keen on Art but there always seems to be lots on display when I'm at KEFW. KEA and BV also seemed to have good facilities/impressive work about the place. I had a chat with a nice Art teacher at KEA who was saying a lot of the parents refuse to let their boys do Art at GCSE.
solimum
Posts: 1420
Joined: Wed May 09, 2007 3:09 pm
Location: Solihull, West Midlands

Re: Grammar schools - science vs arts

Post by solimum »

My son was at CHB for sixth form and did mostly science A levels but also music, which was jointly organised with the girls school. The music department was very active and he got involved in orchestra , choirs and other ensembles, and made some good musical friends at both schools. (He went on to do a Maths degree and now a PHD but is still heavily involved in music). It may be true that many of the parents of grammar school pupils discourage the academic study of arts subjects but there is still plenty going on

Edited to add - at least one of his A level music classmates went on to a music degree
Turtlegirl
Posts: 521
Joined: Mon Mar 14, 2011 1:54 pm

Re: Grammar schools - science vs arts

Post by Turtlegirl »

When you look at the university destinations and A level results tables you'll see the relative popularity/strengths of sciences vs arts at different schools. I certainly have the impression that sciences & maths are generally preferred as options at grammar schools, possibly influenced by parents who value vocational subjects above those without an obvious career path.

My daughter at KEVIHS loves science anyway, so she has naturally enjoyed the strength of the teaching of those subjects. She is also keen on sport and has taken all the opportunities to play that the school gives, which are many. They also lay on a musical production every year and a couple of concerts a year. You might have to push more to do those subjects though. At QMGS they have recently started to revive the music by giving free group woodwind/brass lessons to all Year 7 students. The improvement in the music was obvious at the last open day I attended, having visited a couple of years previously when the scheme had just started.

Opportunity to learn modern languages seemed a bit patchy at some of the boys grammar schools when I last looked at the options. And if you think your child might enjoy classics, only KE5W teaches Latin (and the indies).
quasimodo
Posts: 3854
Joined: Sun Sep 07, 2014 2:47 pm

Re: Grammar schools - science vs arts

Post by quasimodo »

Turtlegirl wrote: only KE5W teaches Latin (and the indies).
WGHS also teach Latin to all girls from year 8 and they have the option of doing it at GCSE.This was one of many reasons for choosing the school for my youngest.

When employers organisations are critical of the early specialisations of children in the subjects they are taught it seems to me you should be trying to do both in as wide a curriculum as possible for as long as possible.It shouldn't be Arts versus Science.One of the main criticisms of A levels is that they bring a too early specialisation and you are enquiring about specialisation for children at 11.
In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.

Abraham Lincoln
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