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I've never understood why people try insisting that a child needs to be in 'a good school'.

I went to a school that was considered 'substandard' and walked out of it with very good GCSEs. As did several other students. You know how we did this? By listening in class, doing the work assigned and TRYING.

I hate to break this to people, but the reason why children do poorly at school tends to be because they don't try, they don't have the correct support at home (schools tend to have plenty of support, but students don't tend to use it because they aren't willing to put that extra effort in without being pushed or forced into it) or (god forbid a parent actually admit this) their child just isn't intullectually gifted.

Parents need to accept that they also have a responsibility to their children's education.

My parents taught me to read and write before I even stepped into a classroom. And they both worked full time, so it's not like they had time to spare. When I struggled with coursework or homework, my parents sat down with me and helped me to understand (back in the day before the internet became the most valuable reference tool ever created)-teaching themselves at the same time if they didn't know HOW to help. My parents paid attention to what I was doing at school and god help me if they thought I wasn't listening in class or if my teacher's thought I wasn't trying hard enough-that would involve no TV/books/playtime until I'd done some extra assignments.

Children will get nothing out of education without putting in some honest effort of their own. And until people accept that their children need to WORK to learn, instead of knowledge being dropped into their heads by some magically gifted school with good OFSTED reports, then things will never improve.

I really enjoyed 'The Big School Lottery' & although I am neither parent, child or teacher I found it really interesting & very balanced.
I have only come on this blog to highlight 2 observations I have made.
The 1st one is negative, not about the programme, but about a school.
I do apologise but I have looked & cannot find the name of the school.

It was the school that had the policeman permanetly stationed there. It really needs to look at it's self with a new outlook as it will continue to fail.
To me that is very scary, but obviously deemed neccessary. Ok with that. But & it's a BIG BUT.
How dare the male form tutor lecture the pupils on their 1st day about the importance of giving the correct impression with the way that they are to wear their uniform & that they must be very smart at all times, whilst wearing a pair of jogger shorts & a tracksuit top.
Whilst I fully agree & support the ethos behind the message, I cannot believe that neither the teacher or his collegues thought about his own personal dress code. This may seem a very minor point, but it spoke volumes to me & I wouldn't expect any pupil to respect anything that he said. You have to live by the rule you make - or to put it a better way - Lead by Example!

And secondly - I just like to say how wonderful the parents of Moshai were. I think they had fantastic values & the way that his father described his son developing from a seed to a plant who was just starting to develop his own colour, were the words of a truely great father.
I apologise for jumping on your blog, but if possible please pass onto the relevant people.
Kind regards
Sarah SX

Hi,
Incredible documentary.The struggle,hard work and emotional journey of 6 families in pursuit to attain and secure a place for their childrens in a good school.The joy and compromises all woven into the fine fabric.
FANTASTIC it has been pleasure watching,a good one from bbc.
I agree to the views of sarah sx,its true. The teacher is a role model and how can a teacher wearing shabby shorts teach the students to wear proper uniform..?I think the head teacher & the chair of governors should show tutors what decipline means,and the only way to do this is to show them THE WAY OUT.
and POLICE PERMANENTLY IN THE SCHOOL...? i wouldnt comment...leave it to all good parents to say their views....
All parents in the documentary were an example of true Good British Families, Agreeing again to the views of sarah mohsins father and mother both were so real,truely great parents.His formulae of success..so much truth simplified in few words.
Dad telling the child "Success doesnt grow on trees,neither it is avilable on a supermarket,but slowly and surely it is achieved by hard work...so true....think....it is 100% true.
Britain needs more of these families.´óÏó´«Ã½ please can we watch some more of Mohsins family on telly.if possible please pass onto the relevant people in ´óÏó´«Ã½.
The love and interigrity working in harmony making Mohsins family a family worth watching.

I found this series really enjoyable especially seeing the way the system put all the student information together and then allocated places. Having chosen out of catchment for all my children it can be a stressful time although I live in an area where even the catchment school is ok.
I don't if systems are different elsewhere or if this is universal but I was under the impression there was no point in putting another good school second on the list as you would be unlikely to get it if you didn't want them as first choice. I chose only the school I wanted and the catchment school as back up.
I noticed in the last programme that the young boy who didn't get a place at his chosen school didn't appear. It would have been nice to have known what happened even if it was only that they chose not to appear.
With regards to the teacher in the tracksuit I thought I heard it mentioned that he was a PE teacher in which case it may be unpractical for him to take registration and then be expected to change into PE kit when he should be supervising.
I enjoyed the watching Khan family with Saffiyas father tutoring her himself which shows you don't have to be wealthy and pay a fortune to give your children an advantage.

In response to ET(sudden urge to say 'Phone Home!', sorry couldn't help it LOL), I completely understand their arguement. But consider these points first -
1. It was the students 1st day at a New school which was by all the rules & regulations were trying to create an impression of High standards.
2. As the form tutor pointed out - 1st impression count !!???
3. There was a film crew there filming him for a series that was going to be broadcasted nationally, & apart from the Head of Year, was the only member of teaching staff to represent the school.
4. Didn't we all have to get changed for PE????

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