is there a stereotype of grammar school boys?

You just answered my question with another question.

What does age have to do with anything?

Do you think it's a meritocracy to allow children to sit exams when they're 16?

Still think you're a tiny bit jealous though

At one school in Kingston some of the current teachers offer this coaching to those who can afford to pay and on the open evening there were various people handing out cards offering specific coaching. We met people there whose children were having coaching and weren't due to go for 2 years.

The school is concerned about the number of children who get in because of the coaching but are unable to sustain the level of work. Many drop out after an unhappy experience.

I'll declare an interest here, our own daughter passed the cut off but didn't score high enough to get in. For a short time we regretted not coaching her but her school has worked out really well for her.

reductio ad absurdum

I don't think you understand what the term ''meritocracy'' means

Not really.

While I can't say i'm extremely happy at my school I think I would dislike the local private school more.

Why exactly? Too much guilt or something....

Disagreement over whether something is, or is not, a meritocracy =/= misunderstanding the term.

How would you determine who gets in to the grammar schools then?
By shaking a magic ball?

I'll say this again.

Grammar schools admit their students based on academic performance, not money. They generally have very intelligent students from all backgrounds. Private schools admit their students based on wealth. They then offer these kids a very good education leading to better than average performance in exams etc. Obviously you get different ability ranges in private schools, so you get a lot of very clever people, as you would in a comprehensive.

I disagree that students do not go to private school because they 'do not make the grade'. I appreciate a lot of private schools have high standards but from personal experience grammar schools surpass these standards, with limited funding.

And if you think i'm being biased i'll let you know that I have attended by grammar and private school and 'ordinary' schools.

No, i'm an independent learner and I find the 'spoon-feed' nature of private schools would hinder my progress.

And, yes, even if I did want to go to a private school I wouldn't want to drag my family into financial problems to get me there.

I respect you and I don't like the way that other person looked down on grammar school kids, but you are wrong when you say private schools admit students based on wealth. Most of them do have entry requirements, and many of them require you to be extremely bright otherwise they won't let you in, even if you are very rich.

I'm saying that your achievements aren't achievements.

However who knows how well you would have done if you hadn't had all of the benefits that a good private school gives you.

I went to a prep school for two years and it gave me a lot of benefits. I sometimes feel guilty that I was given that advantage but I didn't have a say in the decision. I was 8-10 at the time and the decision was made for me.

I suspect you took no part in determining what school you went to as well so you're not to blame for having the advantages you have.

That's such crap..so all the time I put in studying then...all for nothing...I'll remember that tommorrow and just lie in bed

I love how people like you are so morally superior...if you ever ran into trouble, your parents would send you back to the private system in a heart-beat...you're no different from me really...except I don't go around telling people their achievements aren't vaild...

I've never been spoon-fed in my life...allowed to develop and think for myself and given help when I found something too tough yes...but never spoon-fed.

The private school person could only do what was expected of them, i.e. get good grades, and they did so (regardless of the type of school they went to)

My friends who go to private school would say otherwise.

I don't know about your own experience as every school will be different

My school doesn't really care if you fail so I feel more free to educate myself as I please.

No, i'm an independent learner and I find the 'spoon-feed' nature of private schools would hinder my progress.

And, yes, even if I did want to go to a private school I wouldn't want to drag my family into financial problems to get me there.

That's hardly a ringing endorsement

...define what you mean exactly by spoon-feeding.

Because, to import a way of speaking you enjoy:

Good teaching =/= spoon feeding

I don't understand your argument.

Could you re-iterate those points?