OK guys, a bit of help here please

fc123

carolt wrote: »

Ah, the old days...

PN, we have a girly thread going if you're interested - only of interest to those wishing to discuss tweed in the context of the economy (oh, and pretty men).

fc - did I hear you right? Do you seriously not think the Tories will get in?

I thought it was a foregone conclusion.

I don't think they will.

The next election could have the lowest turnout ever...even I only still vote as a duty to E Pankhirst and her crew...as I feel very disenfranchised form the whole set up. And I if I (yes, FC123 who chews over stuff ) feels disenfranchised, how many others do to?

Labour could skate back in by default.

fc123

carolt wrote: »

Ah, the old days...

PN, we have a girly thread going if you're interested - only of interest to those wishing to discuss tweed in the context of the economy (oh, and pretty men).

fc - did I hear you right? Do you seriously not think the Tories will get in?

I thought it was a foregone conclusion.

Nope PN, we don;t .....it is a serious thread requiring lengthy research and telly viewing into the decline and , eventual death of one of the UK's heritage industries.
There is a bit of maverick man totty chat in the middle of it but I may have to issue penalties for misconduct during the thread at some point.

I wonder if FF will fall across it?

michaels

The term time traffic in St A is already close to gridlock - the thought that kids would go to anything other than the closest school by default sounds like the craziest, least environmentally sound idea I have ever heard - and that doesn't even count the wasted time for kids spent travelling - might be fairer but probably the most loony idea in practice I have ever heard - just the sort of thing the politics of envy crowd would bring it...

Apologies to all the well rounded, grounded independent school alumni but I think most public schools try to teach their pupils that they are a race apart (and above) the plebs from state schools and I would never send my children to one. I went to the local secondary (I think it had become a comp by then) and it never did me any harm.

carolt

fc123 wrote: »

I don't think they will.

The next election could have the lowest turnout ever...even I only still vote as a duty to E Pankhirst and her crew...as I feel very disenfranchised form the whole set up. And I if I (yes, FC123 who chews over stuff ) feels disenfranchised, how many others do to?

Labour could skate back in by default.

What a terrifying thought.

Almost as terrifying as the Tories getting in.

Maybe I should emigrate. Oh, for a half-way decent alternative.

fc123

michaels wrote: »

The term time traffic in St A is already close to gridlock - the thought that kids would go to anything other than the closest school by default sounds like the craziest, least environmentally sound idea I have ever heard - and that doesn't even count the wasted time for kids spent travelling - might be fairer but probably the most loony idea in practice I have ever heard - just the sort of thing the politics of envy crowd would bring it...

Apologies to all the well rounded, grounded independent school alumni but I think most public schools try to teach their pupils that they are a race apart (and above) the plebs from state schools and I would never send my children to one. I went to the local secondary (I think it had become a comp by then) and it never did me any harm.

That's a bit unfair MS?
My 2 don't think they are a race apart at all. They do notice that we don't have the material trappings that others have (a bit of an understatement in DD's case at the mo ) but, apart from that, no snobbery (inverted or otherwise) is apparent.
I do admit that neither say 'innit' anymore...but that was a Sarf London fing and may not apply anywhere else.

Private schools have just a varied mix of pupils as state...the good states that rely on nice catchments perhaps have less variety?

silvercar

The term time traffic in St A is already close to gridlock - the thought that kids would go to anything other than the closest school by default sounds like the craziest, least environmentally sound idea I have ever heard - and that doesn't even count the wasted time for kids spent travelling - might be fairer but probably the most loony idea in practice I have ever heard - just the sort of thing the politics of envy crowd would bring it...

I agree. Though Hertfordshire LEA is very good at providing coach services to schools. I can't see St Albans schools becoming a lottery like Brighton. For a start Herts. accepts that people can have a preference for and against single sex schools, so choosing (or objecting to being given) STAGS wouldn't fit in with a lottery system.

I would be wary of catchment areas shrinking as the credit crunch pushes those that would have chosen one of the many good private schools in the area towards the decent state schools.

Do the St Albans schools take some of their intake on selection?

carolt

michaels wrote: »

The term time traffic in St A is already close to gridlock - the thought that kids would go to anything other than the closest school by default sounds like the craziest, least environmentally sound idea I have ever heard - and that doesn't even count the wasted time for kids spent travelling - might be fairer but probably the most loony idea in practice I have ever heard - just the sort of thing the politics of envy crowd would bring it...

Apologies to all the well rounded, grounded independent school alumni but I think most public schools try to teach their pupils that they are a race apart (and above) the plebs from state schools and I would never send my children to one. I went to the local secondary (I think it had become a comp by then) and it never did me any harm.

Re your first point, apparently friends in St Albans tell me that schools in the St Albans consortium, whatever that is (about 3 schools, I think, in different locations around the city? - am I right on this?) currently share facilities and are bussed around from lesson to lesson all day long. So maybe that's where the traffic's coming from? Sounds like madness to me. Don't know the details - but at least travelling to 1 school rather than lots seems better to me.

Re the second point, I was referring to grammar or semi-selective rather than independent - I'm an ex-grammar school girl myself and loved it. I wouldn't send my kids to private school even if I could afford it (I can't) as I dislike it, personally. But grammar's a different matter. My eldest is pretty bright and needs something stretching - a comp with a good 'fast stream' would do us too.

Have you looked at the semi-selectives? The friends mentioned above are looking at Dame Alice Owen, for example - it is co-ed. Actually, on second thoughts, they don't live in central St Albans - don't know if there is a catchment area covering all of the city? Might be worth looking into?

lostinrates

fc123 wrote: »

That's a bit unfair MS?
My 2 don't think they are a race apart at all. They do notice that we don't have the material trappings that others have (a bit of an understatement in DD's case at the mo ) but, apart from that, no snobbery (inverted or otherwise) is apparent.
I do admit that neither say 'innit' anymore...but that was a Sarf London fing and may not apply anywhere else.

Private schools have just a varied mix of pupils as state...the good states that rely on nice catchments perhaps have less variety?

Do I come across as if I think I'm a race apart?

FWIW, I think its horses for courses with schools. My bias, in UK, would be fee paying. But I think its something that, as it stands is a horses for courses choice, I wouldn't judge anyone for either choice.


I did read with urprise some one was saying they couldn't afford a £35 book for a truggling child, and I felt frustrated with that, the worth of education, state or private, i immence: tate education i such a prcious thing: I do think people should be aware how much each child is ''gifted'' and that it should be vlued more.

EDIT: my splling is getting worse again. I don't know why, had feels quite good tonight. But I'm too lay to go back and edit.

fc123

carolt wrote: »

What a terrifying thought.

Almost as terrifying as the Tories getting in.

Maybe I should emigrate. Oh, for a half-way decent alternative.

Don't fret about it. A poster here called Man at Home (not about much anymore) once posted a wise thing.
He said that you live your life or invest within the constraints of circumstamces at the time....I think he was reffering to whether one invests in stocks or property and pointed out that different decades benefitted diff investments.

Same with politics........different man at the helm, same old s*** every day and for Mr and Mrs Ordinary Getting On With Life a change of party doesn't show up much change for ages and ages.

michaels

lostinrates wrote: »

TBH, thats superb commute times, took us as long/longer (including walking to station) from Hampstead. How much is your season ticket?

Annual season is only 3280 for all zones - 2400 ish for train only no underground.

I currently live 5 mins walk from the station so for example a few years ago when I was doing something in the ITN building it was about 35 mins door to door and more recently some work on the South Bank just near the Oxo tower took about 45-50 mins including walking across Blackfriars Bridge, very pleasant in the summer.