Many of the kids at my sons school were tutored to pass the 11+ and are now floundering in bottom sets. They're in no way above average intelligence. How many places were denied to above average intelligence kids from poorer backgrounds who weren't able to be coached through the tests.

As I said the number of free school meals kids at grammars is a good indication of how skewed the system is.

Edited by nickgusset (11 Oct 2016 4.14pm)

At primary school I was considered to be above average intelligence and was top of my class, or near to it, in most subjects. I subsequently went to a state secondary school, wasn't tutored and spent most my time mucking about with below average intelligence kids.

I now spend all day on this forum.

On that basis, I am starting to take Nick's side now

Hahahha me too. Education is something that I only really took an interest in after secondary school and in primary school. Comprehensive school was more about trying to avoid being beaten, bullied, molested or otherwise someone's victim (or correspondingly exorcising the experience of violence by being some less fortunate kids tormentor).

"One Nation Under God, has turned into One Nation Under the Influence of One Drug"
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In theory the idea of grammar schools is a good one. The problem is how it tends to get implemented as a alternative to fixing the failing secondary schools - and becoming a form of subsidised private school for the upper working and lower middle classes.

"One Nation Under God, has turned into One Nation Under the Influence of One Drug"
[Link]

I've no problem with schools for more academically able kids, but it's the socio-economic imbalance I can't abide.

I'm not talking about tutoring, I'm talking about kids of above average intelligence going to grammar school.