School memories

My old school is celebrating 50 years in existence. Because of this the local newsletter published a short piece with some ex pupils recollections. A lot didn't exactly tally with my own experience and recollection so I sent in a letter and now been invited to write more for a local history website.

The school was form by the amalgamation of two existing schools opening in September 1975. I'd done one year at the old school moving then to the new one.

I found it funny how some "recollections" were just simply wrong in my memory. Anyways I've written my few hundred words and submitted it to the editor. But in the post truth world it seemed to me they wanted to paint the school in a particular (negative) light so I'll be intrigued to see if all my words make it to the website as an alternative view or editorial bias takes over.

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FreddieUK · 70-79, M

You were obviously at secondary school during the great comprehensive revolution, ironically brought about under the Thatcher Conservative administration. My old schools disappeared into that kind of amalgamation and one is now a well respected comprehensive and the other a housing estate LOL.

It's great that you've been invited to write for a history website which shows that you have an engaging writing technique. I've avoided my old school Facebook group (I've never subscribed to that anyway) but I'm told that there's quite a difference between the happy memories of those who were there when it was a comprehensive school just before it closed and those who were there when I was.

OldBrit · 61-69, M

@FreddieUK 1975 was before "The Blessed Margaret" as our Economics teacher always referred to her came to power. The intention was part of Kent's rear guard action to retain selective secondary education by having grammar pupils and high school pupils at the same school but with totally different curriculums. Ie I did Latin etc my brother metalwork.

Sadly it worked and the stupid divisive system still persists today where I live.

FreddieUK · 70-79, M

@OldBrit Memory played me up thanks for correcting me. I was confusing the fact that more schools became comprehensive under the Thatcher government than previously. I went into teaching wanting to teach in comprehensive schools having experienced the bipartite system and I could wax lyrical probably with you on its failures. The very thing you describe I wrote about disapprovingly in a few academic papers.

OldBrit · 61-69, M

@FreddieUK my wife taught year 6 for 20 years and hated watching children fail the test and essentially being written off at 11. It's a dumb system

FreddieUK · 70-79, M

@OldBrit That word 'fail' is too heavy at that age. i know from personal experience.

OldBrit · 61-69, M

@FreddieUK but that's exactly how it's portrayed to them.

FreddieUK · 70-79, M

@OldBrit My recollection is that the kind of school that you describe with the division of the 'grammar' pupils from 'the others' within the same building we used to call Bilateral Schools. They weren't many of them and I think you're the first person I've heard from who actually experienced them.

OldBrit · 61-69, M

@FreddieUK yep Bilateral Comprehensive I believe. Very few about.

My son went 25 years later. Didn't pass 11plus but it worked for him. He ended up with PhD 😁