Save our Grammar Schools from the proposed changes
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lakings1900
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2017 8:14 pm
Re: Save our Grammar Schools from the proposed changes
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Oh dear looks like the petition has backfired.
“However, this threatens to displace those families who have come to assume a grammar school place as their right. There’s bound to be a backlash.”
Oh dear looks like the petition has backfired.
“However, this threatens to displace those families who have come to assume a grammar school place as their right. There’s bound to be a backlash.”
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Silent House
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Fri Dec 08, 2017 12:11 pm
Re: Save our Grammar Schools from the proposed changes
Hopefully these proposed changes will enable grammar schools to select on both academic ability and perhaps more importantly academic potential.
Let us be honest. Birmingham has become a hot house for the private tutoring market with young children from 5 upwards receiving tuition for grammar school entry. Is it any wonder than mental health concerns are becoming such a feature amongst our young people when we see the sometimes-ruthless competitive attitude of some parents?
No doubt we all have met teachers at the grammar schools (and some of the high end independent schools) who state that pupils over tutored to pass the entrance exams often struggle afterwards particularly in year 8 and year 9.
We all want the best for our children but as a society we must consider the common good. Catchment areas should widen access and engender a greater sense of community. For some lucky families it might also see house prices rise.
I think the proposals are a good thing and should enhance social mobility. Selective schools are designed to be divisive, but the notion of a catchment makes sense particularly if one considers just how many grammar schools there are in Birmingham and the surrounding area.
KES Stratford already operates a catchment area system as do the other Warwickshire grammar schools.
It could be argued that not having catchment areas to start with is the true anomaly here.
Let us be honest. Birmingham has become a hot house for the private tutoring market with young children from 5 upwards receiving tuition for grammar school entry. Is it any wonder than mental health concerns are becoming such a feature amongst our young people when we see the sometimes-ruthless competitive attitude of some parents?
No doubt we all have met teachers at the grammar schools (and some of the high end independent schools) who state that pupils over tutored to pass the entrance exams often struggle afterwards particularly in year 8 and year 9.
We all want the best for our children but as a society we must consider the common good. Catchment areas should widen access and engender a greater sense of community. For some lucky families it might also see house prices rise.
I think the proposals are a good thing and should enhance social mobility. Selective schools are designed to be divisive, but the notion of a catchment makes sense particularly if one considers just how many grammar schools there are in Birmingham and the surrounding area.
KES Stratford already operates a catchment area system as do the other Warwickshire grammar schools.
It could be argued that not having catchment areas to start with is the true anomaly here.
Re: Save our Grammar Schools from the proposed changes
Just out of interest how do they know which students have been "over tutored"? What is the threshold for over-tutored? Just curious to know as I have come across people saying this too.Silent House wrote:
No doubt we all have met teachers at the grammar schools (and some of the high end independent schools) who state that pupils over tutored to pass the entrance exams often struggle afterwards particularly in year 8 and year 9.
Re: Save our Grammar Schools from the proposed changes
This probably just depends on the child. A very bright able child could be tutored for 2 years, score highly and not struggle because they have the ability anyway. However, another child could be tutored for 2 years, struggle slightly through it but score highly enough to secure a place. However, once the work starts to become harder in Y8 they find it difficult because they don’t have the ability.bridge wrote:Just out of interest how do they know which students have been "over tutored"? What is the threshold for over-tutored? Just curious to know as I have come across people saying this too.Silent House wrote:
No doubt we all have met teachers at the grammar schools (and some of the high end independent schools) who state that pupils over tutored to pass the entrance exams often struggle afterwards particularly in year 8 and year 9.
Children need to have the desire and inclination to learn. They need to be able to understand that sometimes it will be difficult and it involves extra work and more focus in those areas and not to give up.
Personally speaking, I would say that anything over a year of tutoring is overkill, and even then anything more than a couple of hours a week with an actual tutor should be enough (there would be additional work at home on top).
