Are grammar schools definitely better?

Idk if I should go to a grammar school or stay in a state school.
I've gotten advice from multiple people including teachers, parents, friends and career advisors, but they all say different things:

- It doesn't matter which schools you go to. As long as you work hard, you will succeed anywhere.
- Grammar schools are better funded so everyone gets more resources.
- Grammar schools favour the best students only. If you are average or below, they will provide you less resource and help.
- Grammar schools have better access to programmes and routes to better universities
- It's difficult to make new friends if you change sixth form

Tbf, I am leaning towards going to a grammar school sixth form because if I didn't like it, I can easily just leave and go to a lower ranked school. But if I chose to go to a lower ranked school and regret it, grammar schools will definitely not take me.

Anyone who's changed from a state secondary to a grammar sixth form can share their experience?

Reply 1

Phelena

Grammar schools are "generally" much better than comprehensives and colleges, but it does depend on the school itself. Make sure to check and compare past A-Level results for each school, they should have them on their website. You should also be able to find out where students at these schools went to university, if they have a number of Oxbridge goers they'll definitely be talking about it on their website.

In general, the "favouring best students only" statement is definitely a lie, grammar schools would rather have grade B students than grade D ones, as they all count towards the average.

Lastly, "As long as you work hard, you will succeed anywhere" is nice to believe, but severely misleading. Having better peers, teachers, and resources, wherever you find them, is guaranteed to help you.

Reply 2

iive

Original post

by fleance_the_king

Idk if I should go to a grammar school or stay in a state school.
I've gotten advice from multiple people including teachers, parents, friends and career advisors, but they all say different things:
- It doesn't matter which schools you go to. As long as you work hard, you will succeed anywhere.
- Grammar schools are better funded so everyone gets more resources.
- Grammar schools favour the best students only. If you are average or below, they will provide you less resource and help.
- Grammar schools have better access to programmes and routes to better universities
- It's difficult to make new friends if you change sixth form
Tbf, I am leaning towards going to a grammar school sixth form because if I didn't like it, I can easily just leave and go to a lower ranked school. But if I chose to go to a lower ranked school and regret it, grammar schools will definitely not take me.
Anyone who's changed from a state secondary to a grammar sixth form can share their experience?

Hello, I can give you my experience since I moved from a comprehensive school to grammar for sixth form.

One thing I will say regardless is that do you need to really like at least element of the school you're moving to, whether that be the teaching elements, access to extracurriculars, etc. or you'll just be winding yourself up and that will affect how well you do

Comparing the two I would say:

•

I definitely had more access to different events/clubs at my grammar school because they were more promoted/invested in compared to my old school (that's something my old school seems to be working on now, so that's more down to individual schools and whether they have initiative or not)

•

There are some programmes that ask for students from non-academically selective schools only so keep that in mind (regardless of if you went to a comprehensive school for GCSEs)

•

I wouldnt say the teaching at my grammar school was automatically better than my comprehensive (that's not a discredit to either school, I just had good teachers in both/had a good relationship with my teachers) but my classes definitely felt more tight knit and closer and we help each other out, and we were all striving to do well which may not necessarily be the case with a comprehensives (just because grammar schools tend to have more students that are more focused on academics)

•

The "competitive" atmosphere of grammar schools is what you make of it, my advice is just to focus on you and try not to get yourself swept up in competition, you are genuinely only in a race with yourself past self and your goal should be to improve not just achieve a certain score

•

My entire friendship group are internals 💀 I get what people say about it being difficult to make friends because some internal students have a superiority complex that has no justifiable basis in reality but on the flip side you'll find your people and other lovely people as well at any place you go to (be sociable!)

•

I do think hard work does play a part in success, and as you'll see if you go to a grammar just because someone has an associated "prestige" about them doesn't mean they're necessarily hard working but like Phelena said resources definitely help. I felt I had improved a lot because I had friends and teachers who pushed me and encouraged me to get involved in different challenges and clubs

•

Everyone has their strengths and you realise this early one. Of course, there are people who are considered "smarter" than average but they're definitely not favoured or at least that's the case with my school. They focus on everyone and those of us who get the content faster might just seek out a teacher later or figure stuff out on our own. I felt that was more of a problem with my old comprehensive school than now but that might just have been my experience

Something to consider though is that I go to an all girls grammar which I cant lie I think has 100% made my experience better and what I've said may not be completely applicable to mixed schools. I think it's worth reaching out to students who attend the school :undefined:

you're looking at and finding out what their experiences have been like if you haven't already and to get a feel of the place

Let me know if you have any other questions, schools what you make of it and you'll be surprised how quickly those 2 years go by so make sure you enjoy them!

Reply 3

JSinghaaa

Original post

by fleance_the_king

Idk if I should go to a grammar school or stay in a state school.
I've gotten advice from multiple people including teachers, parents, friends and career advisors, but they all say different things:
- It doesn't matter which schools you go to. As long as you work hard, you will succeed anywhere.
- Grammar schools are better funded so everyone gets more resources.
- Grammar schools favour the best students only. If you are average or below, they will provide you less resource and help.
- Grammar schools have better access to programmes and routes to better universities
- It's difficult to make new friends if you change sixth form
Tbf, I am leaning towards going to a grammar school sixth form because if I didn't like it, I can easily just leave and go to a lower ranked school. But if I chose to go to a lower ranked school and regret it, grammar schools will definitely not take me.
Anyone who's changed from a state secondary to a grammar sixth form can share their experience?