Schools

[joeluke]

In more sensible times long since past, children (and their siblings) went to the school nearest to where they lived and not to schools chosen by their parents based on position in 'league tables' even though they were miles away from home.

No danger of siblings not all getting places at same school then was there?

A lot of the traffic congestion around schools in the mornings and afternoons is because parents have to travel from far and wide to pick up their kids (as well as the lazy ones who live within walking distance but still choose to drive their gas-guzzling 4x4's a few hundred yards to school and back)

Couldn't see anything wrong with the old system myself?

If it ain't broken don't try to fix it

[sherrardk]

Is this in anyway aimed at me?

[cazzz1975]

also children who are catholic or c of e can often travel further to get to a suitable school.

[Barmaid]

Nonsense. My mother didnt go to the nearest secondary school. She went to one much further away because it was a grammar school. Given she left school in 1965 I am not sure how much further back "long since past" is.

It also doesnt follow that if all children go to the school nearest to their home there is no danger of siblings not getting places at the same school. If you have a school very close to housing stock which is designed for families, the nearest school WILL get full up - particularly where there are years where there are "peaks" in the birth rates.

[EcclesCake]

My perspective is a little different.

When I passed my 11 plus 30 odd years ago I and my parents had a choice of a number of schools in the local area based on my score.

We didn't choose the nearest school but the one that sat best with my interests and abilities.

The school was just within the the 3 mile radius, the cut off point for a free school bus pass. I mostly walked to school so that I could pocket the bus money for sweets and chips. Sometime my friends Mum would drop us at school on her way to work. They were a 'posh' family because they had two cars, quite unusual in the early 80's compared to now.

Quite what is wrong with wanting to choose a school to suit your child rather than going for the convenience of the one on your doorstep is beyond me.

[ummmm]

Not so. I went to a Catholic school which was miles away. My kids went/go to a Catholic school which is miles away.

[Mamyalynne]

I went to school in the sixties, walked past 2 primaries to get to mine and one secondary when older - all 3 of us attended the same schools.

[Mamyalynne]

I also went to Catholic Schools.

[rockyracoon]

I started secondary in the late 70's, all of us (3) went to different schools.

[Barmaid]

Blimey Rocky, I had no idea you were THAT old ;)!!!!

[rockyracoon]

I wish you could sticking two finger up ;)

Ed, can we have them emiticons please, I need them now :)

[Sqad]

Good point joe............

In more "sensible times" one didn't need "league tables" as the standard of grammar schools were excellent or indeed satisfactory. When one passed the 11+ one went to the "local Grammar School"....the one that was nearest OR if there were two, then you had a choice.

The Secondary Schools were "much of a muchness" and providing anybody slipping through the 11+net could be filtered back into the Grammar School scheme, then I could see no problem.

Religious schools were not about in the "old days" and hence was not a problem, but now, in my opinion, religious schools should be banned.

[sherrardk]

The majority of children attend their catchment school, ie the school which the LEA has designated as the school they would attend. This is not based upon distance but by boundaries drawn up donkeys years ago. If it is your cathcment school you are virtually guaranteed a place as are our siblings. If ou go to a school out of catchment, even if it is nearer to your home, siblings are not guaranteed a place in the future. My son goes to his catchment school but it is further away than the nearest school. If my catchment school was crap I would fight to get my children into a different school.

[Mamyalynne]

"Religious schools were not about in the "old days" and hence was not a problem"


My Father was born in 1924, he attended a Catholic School.

[Sqad]

mamy...there is always an exception.........

[Mamyalynne]

Really?? That was the only one, how splendid!

My understanding of the History of Education has been turned on its head.

[shoota]

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/tetchy

[Mamyalynne]

Moi ??

[Sqad]

mamy....I didn't say that there was "only one" I said that "there is always an exception".

I am not well versed in the "History of Education" as you may well perceive and Grammar Schools , by and large" were multi- religious" although one could go to a Catholic Public School.
Catholics who went to a multi-religious Grammar School, would go out of the hall for the morning prayers......that was the only difference.

[Wharton]

Both my parents were born in 1913 and both attended the same Roman Catholic primary school. That's 3 exceptions now :-)

[shoota]

Well you did say you indulged occasionally.......