Should it be mandatory to put pupils into sets of ability for most subjects?

My brother was that unusual student. An IQ over 150 and crushed by the system. At the end he literally was walking into the classroom and climbing out the window!

when my secondary school started doing mixed ability classes I started to excel in my subjects so I think that mixed ability classes do have some advantages,especially if there are good role models in the class

when my secondary school started doing mixed ability classes I started to excel in my subjects so I think that mixed ability classes do have some advantages,especially if there are good role models in the class

An IQ with over 150, but disastrous qualities in environments makes that IQ little-to-nothing. If the person can’t use their intelligence to help other people, especially in systematic educational system in UK (which is known to be tough for an average student), they will have to be removed if they choose to be a class clown due to work “being too easy”.

Here speaks the rigid authoritative voice of the British education system. If teachers had taken the effort to ask him to help other kids he wouldn't have been bored brainless. As it was, they left him in the corner to twiddle his thumbs all day!

Usually if you’re smart enough to realise the work is too easy, the subconscious thing to do would be to offer help whether it be voluntarily or involuntarily.

I guess you're not a student or a teacher, or if you are you're lucky enough to be able to open your mouth without being asked to. Because in the vast majority of classrooms it's a question of sit down, don't talk, and definitely don't leave your place unless asked to!

Here speaks the rigid authoritative voice of the British education system. If teachers had taken the effort to ask him to help other kids he wouldn't have been bored brainless. As it was, they left him in the corner to twiddle his thumbs all day!

I am guessing that if your brother struggled hugely with the rigidness of the British education system he will likewise struggle with the rigid constraint of average workplace. Unless he becomes self employed of course.

You couldn't be further from the truth!!

No, @harrysbar is correct. Jobs normally value people skills over no people skills.

How did we go from being a clown to no people skills. His present position depends largely on his huge address book!

The way you described him made him sound different to the average class clown. You made him sound non conformist and incapable of putting up with being bored which is quite a problem in the average workplace

My fault! Very intelligent but incredibly funny which meant the class was difficult to teach, (and I do feel for the teachers) but he had a huge following! However I maintain if he'd been put to use, rather than left to his own devices he would have been less disruptive. Or as this thread was originally about streaming, if this had been done early on it " might" have helped, although I suspect that even in most top streams he wouldn't really have been stretched. There's a lot to be said for being a hard working just slightly above normal intelligence level kid. Extreme differences at both ends of the spectrum are difficult to handle!

The way you described him made him sound different to the average class clown. You made him sound non conformist and incapable of putting up with being bored which is quite a problem in the average workplace