General Chat

I attended grammar school and enjoyed it. Yes it was a bit strict at times but i don't think that it harmed any of us. The teachers were really focused on giving each child the best education they could and there was a feeling of pride for the school. Saying that, the year i went to grammar school was the last year of the 11+ round here and my 2 sisters went to the comprehensive school and didnt do too badly either.

You can't assume that no one no where gets discipline. I suppose the question is, what is discipline? Is it the cane? If so, Grammar schools still wont be able to use that just because of their status. If people from G. schools would like to share their discipline methods with the rest of us, it would help. (But as far as I know, things are exactly the same)

Not all of Kent has Grammar schools. We do near here, in Folkestone but go a few miles west and although children there also sit 'The Kent Test' for selection, their parents have to pay travel costs as the grammar schools are not 'The nearest appropriate school'. There are situations where children don't take the test because parents wouldn't be able to pay the travel costs. Money rather than ability governs their education.

If there was none than every single person under 20 would be breaking the law 24 hours a day, every day.

I can't really comment as I never had the opportunity to go to Grammer school. I did well at the comprehensive as did a lot of my peers. I can see the sence in encouraging brighter children to acheive, but we had 'bands' at school where kids were grouped according to ability. Some kids were in a lower band for Maths, but they excelled at english so were in a higher band for that. Even if you were not academic, there was always the arts or sports so everyone seemed to find something they were good at. Seemed to work fine for us. :o) I'll be interested to see the opinions of those who attended Grammer School. I know my mum did and she enjoyed it, but was called 'posh' by the kids on the estate who didn't get in. Claire xx

I've never been to a grammar school, but no one is going to convince me that everyone is well behaved and angelic in them. Even private schools have their bad apples. Discipline goes beyond the confines of the school

I hope they never bring back Grammar schools. I had one inflicted on me for 7 years and hated every moment. I didn't do as well in my exams as I could have done, either. My son went to the comp and got 12 GCSEs (mainly A and A*) and four grade As and a C at A level. If I'd had the chance of comprehensive education I may have done that well. Gwynne

Teachers are voting on whether to call for grammar schools to be reintroduced across England. Comprehensive schools and a 'one-size- fits-all' policy do not deliver high- quality education, the Professional Association of Teachers will hear. Teacher Peter Morris says standards have fallen and discipline has worsened since the end of selective secondary education in most areas of England. The PAT's annual conference in Buxton, Derbyshire, will vote on the issue. Mr Morris said: 'We all have different strengths and weaknesses. 'Not everyone on this planet was born to be a brilliant academic. But there are some people in this country who are born to be brilliant academics. 'We must face up to the reality that children who are academically gifted should be given the same level of encouragement as those children who are slow learners.' Most 16-year-olds today would not gain good grades in the old O-levels, which were replaced in the 1980s by GCSEs, he said. Mr Morris, from Bishop Gore Comprehensive School, Swansea, said: 'Perhaps even more importantly standards of discipline have dropped with the introduction of comprehensive education. 'If a teacher spends too much time with low achievers then the high achievers become disruptive. The converse too is true.' Pupils in some parts of England - such as Kent - sit the 11-plus secondary school admission exam. Opponents say this is divisive and elitist, but supporters argue that children learn best if they are placed with others of similar ability

How terribly non P C