Does This Seem A Little Patronising?

[Titehead]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-22204507

[Sqad]

Dear oh! dear.....yes, a letter of "well done poor boy"....what a load of nonsense.

[Sharingan]

Oh my goodness what a cringeworthy idea. People will be mortified to receive them because it will imply they are poor. Who thought that up?

[Sqad]

No congratulations for the "rich boys " then.....that wouldn't do, would it?

[Sharingan]

It's just the most ridiculous idea ever and what a waste of money.

[anotheoldgit]

Maybe it would be better to grant them free entrance into universality, if they must congratulate them.

[jim360]

I imagine some people won't pick up on the story so might not be as mortified as Sharingan thinks. But still a silly idea. Yet more rubbish from the current Tory Government.

[sandyRoe]

What about the other side of the coin? Should those children of the wealthy,who have had fortunes spent on their education and yet still haven't been able to secure a place in Uni, be sent missives telling them they really are the cream of the crop, thick and rich?

[jim360]

No.

[Sharingan]

lol I'd love to see Sandy's cream of the crop letters sent out to the Eaton boys who can't spell their own name but will end up running the country anyway xxx

[Gromit]

Sounds like this has been twisted.

The Primary function of the letter is to explain what choices the students' results give them. If it starts 'congratulations on you 7 A levels..' then that is just being polite. It is a mystery why EVERY student will not get the letter though. To assume the poorer students are unaware what their results can get them is odd.

And how is the head teacher supposed to know who is a less well off among a class of pupils. Are they going to ask to see proof of the family's income/

On reflection, it sounds like yet another ill thought out Government Policy. Probably U-Turned by next Friday.

[Old_Geezer]

Positive feedback is no bad thing but I don't see the point of not doing the same for all. As for encouraging good pupils to go to university, then that is a career master's/mistress' job isn't it ? To advise on the next best step ? What is this need to post congratulations ?

That said I thought university was just a rite of passage these days, but I guess the desire not to fund it properly and pay for those who shine, but tell all they need to go get a loan, tends to spike the system working well. Still never mind. I believe it's true that if they don't get a well paid job as a result and use the loan to have the time of their life for a while, then they don't have to pay it back. Only those that were suitable for university and achieve get that burden.

[Sqad]

or even Shari's letter spelling Eton correctly..........;-)

[Sharingan]

Thhhwwwww fair enough Sqad xx

[jim360]

Sometimes poorer students aren't always told of all their options by the school. Universities are keen to get students from all backgrounds but some poorer schools have turned Access teams away. So the idea of letting them know is a good one in principle. But that should happen anyway, and a letter isn't the best medium.

Don't be too harsh on "Eaton" [sic] boys, some people who get a good education do surprisingly turn out to be quite capable and even intelligent.

[Sqad]

Shari.........;-)

[horseshoes]

I'm not defending it because I don't know the whole story, but perhaps it's aimed at pupils who get little or no praise for anything at home, and who may not have enough confidence to think of going to university. Just a thought.

[Sharingan]

Actually it almost proves my point, they don't even know how to spell ' Eaton' and they go there...lol xx

[sandyRoe]

When I mentioned 'rich and thick' I had no particular Old Etonian red-headed prince in mind

[emmie]

i rather tend to agree with horseshoes. As to Harry, what makes you think he is thick, they don't just stick you in the military get you into flying helicopters and say there you are get on with it, lot's of studying to do, if he didn't pass muster he wouldn't be there i am pretty sure.

[Goodsoulette]

The world may end, I found myself agreeing with AOG.