General Chat

Hi Fiona, I was about to say that. lol, Gwynne

Teachers study for 3 years to gain their BA/BSc, and then for another year for their QTS (Qualified Teacher Status)

I went to high school back in the fifties and hated it. Yes the discipline was strict but in the 50s so it was at secondary modern from what I heard. i always felt that i would have done better at a comprehensive had they had them then. i was always top at my junior school but bottom at High school, one of the youngest in the year and class, I just couldn't keep up with the others. If you were an under achiever the teachers didn't bother with you, they concentrated on the achievers. When the teachers didn't bother neither did I. I got 2 O levels, then as an adult at evening school I got another 3 O levels with good grades a GCSE and two A levels one of which was a grade A. Plus numerous work related certificates whcih show I was not thick. If they bring back Grammar school discipline wont improve significantly, that is to do with how we are today. Discipline shoul start in the home. Ann glos

Roxanne, All teachers are educated to degree standard. You cannot become a teacher today without a degree. Gwynne

Everybody seems to be very keen to bring back Grammar Schools; but, as I recall 80% of children went to Secondary Moderns.

I wouldn't be where I am today were it not for 7 years of grammar school, but then not everybody wants to be where I am today. Not sure I do myself really. CB >|<

I did my 11+ but because I'd only applied to 2 Grammar Schools despite getting quite a high mark (81%) I didn't get in. BEST thing that ever happened to me. I had a great time at school, got fairly decent grades (10 A*-B) and I hope that in the future my children will go on to attend a Comprehensive like I did! love becx

Like Pink I'd liek to know how can they re-introduce what is still in use?????? I know our local grammar schools are still in action as my daughter attends. I refsued point blank to even put the local comp on her list when we appiled two yrs ago. The local comp is RUBBISH. They have special classes for the less academic but nothing to help the more able. Kerry ahs always been academic and enjoys her school. we went to the tank mueseum a few yrs ago and out of four kids ( the other 3 boys) she was the only one who wanted to learn about the tanks, the war etc. She is like a sponge and loves new knowledge. For her grammar school is best Would still like to know where her academic skill/interest came from though???? Cos it certainly wasn't me LOL

I'm glad you've mentioned the practical skills, Bob. I've always thought the Government should raise the profile of the 'manual' professions. I'm sure, given the opportunity, there's a lot of youngsters who would excel in this area and end up being a very valuable asset to society. Not all of us are cut out for an academic career. As we all know good plumbers/builders/electricians are worth their weight.....

I want to know what happed to the technical schools,nobody mentions them. They were neither comp or grammar. Most of us left at the age of 15-16 and started as apprentices in one of the trades. Architects, Electricians,Plumbers,Heating engineers, Draughsman,tool makers etc. etc.

I certainly don't think that the local non-Grammar schools offer substandard education. I have several friends whose children have gone on to pass degrees after attending them. It's more often about pace of learning rather than level.

I'm not very keen on the grammar school idea - it's all very well to say that above a certain grade bright kids can have a 'special' education but what about those that fall below - why should they have a sub standard education? I also think 11 is a funny age to be deciding these things. I improved in some subjects in the last couple of years and was then moved into the top groups for those. Don't really get the issue about discipline either - why would it be better in grammar schools? And if there's a way of improving discipline why hasn't it been used in comprehensives?

Your own school pool?... very posh. The nearest I got to that was a tidal creek for geography walks.

We used to swim in our school holidays at our School Pool as the teachers used to volunteer to attend a day each and supervise us!! Best part of school me thinks!! :O)

The lad next door is due to start secondry in sep. This week he is at a week long summer school (at his new school)for those who need a boost...all free. Apparently they are going swimming in the school pool today. Elaine x

I saw yesterday that Ruth Kelly wants to introduce individual Catch Up classes for those children, 'falling behind' What does she mean? Behind others in their class? Their year group? Expected achievement level? and how is each school going to afford INDIVIDUAL lessons, and when?

I'm confused as there are still Grammar Schools out there.... I went to langley Grammar (I hated it and under achieved) and I went past there on Monday night and its still going!! So how can the re-introduce what is already around??????

My son has another year in primary school before he goes to secondry school. He is a very bright lad, and has come top in every subject he is in. He is in a mixed ability class, and the under achievers in the class have not pulled him back in his learning. Even though the kids learn the same work, they are in different groups within the class, so where the top group may have 20 spellings, the ones who struggle will have five spellings. What is a fact though, is that the teachers are not allowed to go beyond the set work for the whole class, leaving over achievers often bored and frustrated. I was told a couple of years ago that all the teacher could do was involve him more during the lesson such as helping her do various classroom jobs once his work had been done (to stop him getting bored) Its not the teachers fault, but the system they must follow. I'm not sure what his future secondry school does with over/under achievers. I dont think Grammer schools will work and address the disipline problem at all. As said before you get bad apples whether they are in grammer schools and are intelligent or in a lower state schools and of lower inteligence. There is higher education such as college and uni for those who want to further their education. Maybe if the government make it an easier ride for students regarding hefty loans etc, then more young people would have a chance. Elaine x

I went to a grammar school which was very old-fashioned. I was very unhappy there, and apart from history and English, my two favourite subjects, I disliked the lessons. The history and English teachers I had were excellent, but I don't think the others were. My journey involved two buses and took over an hour. Theschool was very strapped for cash. My brother went to a secondary modern school which was 5 minutes' walk from our home. It had a language lab and a swimming pool and seemed much more progressive. But I don't think the answer is either grammar or comprehensive education - I think it is having smaller classes. And I am not sure how you 'hold back' a child that wants to learn any more than you can push forward a child that doesn't understand. All you can do is to help each child achieve his or her potential. nell

I went to Grammar school (1957 to 1964) and discipline simply wasn't an issue. Bad behaviour was punished but on the whole we knew we were there to learn and respected our teachers. The comprehensive theory is great, but I don't think it can be flexible enough to cope with the enormous range of abilities present in children, particularly in a smaller school. I have a friend who is a secondary comprehensive teacher and he has found discipline to be bad, aggravated by the fact that in the location a substantial proportion of the pupils do not have English as a first language and therefore are largely incapable of understanding the lessons even where they are willing to try to learn.