Teacher's apple is rotten to the core [economist.com]
- Published: 03 November 2011
ACROSS England hundreds of thousands of parents are in the process of choosing a state school for their child. They inspect premises on open days, quiz head teachers and staff, and, at some of the better establishments, they may also be shown round by a well-groomed star pupil who will regale them with tales of derring do. As they decide which schools to place in order of preference on the application form, they will weigh the chances of their child getting into each one. The matter is far from straightforward.
England's state schools have an absurdly complex rule book for how they may and may not choose their pupils. Apart from the 164 remaining grammar schools, none is allowed to select pupils on the basis of their outstanding academic prowess. Some schools instead select on musical ability, which is supposed to be identified using tests that potential pupils cannot be coached to pass, but which many suspect pick up those lucky ones whose parents forked out for piano lessons. Others chose pupils to represent the full spectrum of academic ability, still others do it by lottery. Professed parental piety will help win a place at a high-performing church school. In any event, paying a premium to live as close as possible to the school of your choice will improve the chances of your child being admitted.
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