stroudydad wrote:
cazien wrote:
Reasons given (pretty much the norm!)
- Rising demand for secondary school places. GCC has projected a need to increase numbers of secondary school places from this year onwards;
- Ribston is currently oversubscribed. Over 450 students met the qualifying standard for entry in each of the last three years (2016-455, 2017-535, 2018-570) and demand for places at Ribston Hall High School remains high; the number of appeals that have increased from 28 in 2016 to 46 in 2018 .
- A strong commitment to challenging the view held by some that grammar schools are ‘bastions of privilege’ and ‘stuffed full of middle class children’, (Sir Michael Wilshaw, ex-Chief Inspector of Schools) by ensuring fairer access for disadvantaged pupils;
- A change in our admissions policy will enable us to provide more opportunities for students to apply and be admitted into Ribston Hall High School from more disadvantaged backgrounds; this will be supported by forging strong links with primary schools in of the city of Gloucester including those in GL1.
Surely this is a very slanted view of how many actually wanted Ribston places though. If they are saying that 450 reached the standard but not addressing the fact that they set the standard at a point so as to make sure they get a full house?!
I agree - if they qualify more pupils then they will get a full house (which is obviously what they want).
Or to look at it another way...
I disagree - because more girls opted for Ribston this year (PAN=120, 1st choice =158, total choice=432), than HSFG (PAN=150, 1st choice=153, total choice=331). Considering Ribston have 30 less places than HSFG, are parents/pupils becoming disillusioned with HSFG? Contributors to this forum have stated they have chosen Ribston over HSFG.
I know everyone does not share with all schools but looking at statistics wildly, historical pecking-order would have meant = approx. top 70 girls opt for Pates, then next 150 girls for HSFG = 220, therefore by qualifying to 450 would leave 230 girls for 270+ places (150 places at SHS, 120 for Ribston and ??? for Crypt).