The top 50 state schools:The Times.Take with a pinch of salt

[Proudmumregardless]

Something completely unrelated. Some of these schools have completely ridiculous names.

[Sally-Anne]

Something completely unrelated. Some of these schools have completely ridiculous names.

The bonkers ones will all be historic, dating back hundreds of years to when some worthy endowed them to preserve his name for posterity or was just a genuine philanthropist. An example from Bucks, ca. 1624: http://www.challoners.com/c/our-school/ ... beginnings" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[BucksBornNBred]

Something completely unrelated. Some of these schools have completely ridiculous names.

The bonkers ones will all be historic, dating back hundreds of years to when some worthy endowed them to preserve his name for posterity or was just a genuine philanthropist. An example from Bucks, ca. 1624: http://www.challoners.com/c/our-school/ ... beginnings" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

+1 John Hampden (though not on any of the lists) is named after an historical figure. I went to Lady Verney which, again, was named after an historical figure. I get more annoyed by names such as Wycombe HS, Beaconsfield HS, Royal GS.

[mike1880]

If you compiled a league table of the most ferociously selective state schools it would look very much like the Times table...

[Catseye]

I did say: take with a pinch of salt.

I used to be obsessed with league tables but now I realise what is important is :

1) Is your child happy with a good friendship group

2) has sufficient competition without it being suffocated and stressed out

3) makes good progress

4) has good support academically and pastorally

5) the school has good governance with good , happy ....teachers

The rest is just window dressing, imho.

[Tinkers]

I did say: take with a pinch of salt.

I used to be obsessed with league tables but now I realise what is important is :

1) Is your child happy with a good friendship group

2) has sufficient competition without it being suffocated and stressed out

3) makes good progress

4) has good support academically and pastorally

5) the school has good governance with good , happy ....teachers

The rest is just window dressing, imho.

Absolutely and it’s important not to lose sight of these points.

In the last few years I’ve seen my DDs school go up and down the various tables. If they have gone down it’s usually due to one or two student not getting a decent result in one subject. The schools are so close that the results of one student can make a big impact to a school’s position, which is why they shouldn’t be taken as a be all and end all. Certainly not on the basis of one year’s results.