Unofficial Christ's Hospital Forum

Given that CH admits students on the basis of academic potential and need, I would be interested to hear what you thought need meant in the 21st Century. We can make a judgement about the academic potential of a student based on exam results and primary SATs results. Need is a far more subjective element.

Given that need is not what is was when the school was founded (or perhaps it is?), how would you define need to a potential parent?

I guess limited disposable income is a start. Reverting to the original Charter, being a part of a single parent family is a pretty good criterion.

Ian.

I would be intrigued to know, (given your position), if members of C.H. aadmin visit this site, and if so, any feed-back generated.

(Try to avoid Doctors Pond and the Gallows being erected behind the pavillion !)

Need is a tricky concept, and I'd personally be wary of going too much down the line of single parents. There needs to be a balance in the school.

I guess a general definition of need would be where a child's health and/or development would be impaired (think that's also what's in the Children's Act 1989?). I'm not a lawyer so I could be way out.

Need:
*financial
*protection/safety
*child health (I was presented, but I was told I was helped due to having spent alot of my childhood in hospital)
*risk of exclusion (from family or school)
*disabled (does the school cater for disabled children?)

I personally think the school doesn't need to worry about need in the sense of SEN, mental health or youth offending etc. That would not really be appropriate for CH, and should be sorted out by the local social services for the child.

CH should help children who are academically bright, and who would otherwise have their development hindered by not being at the school. You've got to keep the academic with the notion of need.

CH should help children who are academically bright

But where does that leave the socialist egalitarian society...?

Lamma looker wrote:

CH should help children who are academically bright

But where does that leave the socialist egalitarian society...?

Does CH have a commitment to accept anyone then? Might as well become a state school for all, that would solve the funding crisis.

There has to be a means to assess pupils before they enter CH, and I see nothing wrong with that.

According to the original Charter, probably yes. However, I actually do agree with you about selection of the brightest and best. It's just that elitism seems to be a non-PC dirty word these days.

In response to JR - I am not sure who reads this site. I think that some staff do read it, but they may not comment publicly. As for the CH Admin ( I assume by this you mean the Foundation) who knows? I only found out about this Forum by default.

When I comment, I do so personally. My views do not, necessarily, find favour in the Foundation. However, my intention is to provoke discussion rather than antagonise my employer!

Quite honestly I find it refreshing to have a member of staff prepared to join in the discussions here. It's a shame not more do.

Apparently need was discussed at a recent boarding schools conference for 2 days and they couldn't get a consensus...

how many boarding schools does it take to change a light bulb ... and similar sentiments

eloisec wrote:Quite honestly I find it refreshing to have a member of staff prepared to join in the discussions here. It's a shame not more do.

Hear, Hear! Definitely good to have someone who's at the sharp-end at the school, directly contributing to the education of children - most of the rest of us are doing it by proxy, through money/time etc. Keep posting Ian, and see if you can encourage more to read/contribute?

J

PS - had to look up whether it's "Here Here" or "Hear Hear" - Quote:- The correct term is, "hear, hear!" It is an abbreviation for "hear, all ye good people, hear what this brilliant and eloquent speaker has to say!" Found on http://www.Google.co.uk - check out the St. Patrick's day theme on there today!

to be sure, to be sure

Ian Stannard wrote:In response to JR - I am not sure who reads this site. I think that some staff do read it, but they may not comment publicly. As for the CH Admin ( I assume by this you mean the Foundation) who knows? I only found out about this Forum by default.

When I comment, I do so personally. My views do not, necessarily, find favour in the Foundation. However, my intention is to provoke discussion rather than antagonise my employer!

Thanks for your response, Ian, and I DO understand your position. I don't find it at all strange that other people in authority at the school fail to discuss comments made on hear, (Sorry JT. Couldn't resist it !)

I fear we could be getting near to the reasonably new term of 'Whistle Blowers'.

On the topic of what need is - well won't this have to be assessed on a yr to yr basis. I mean, it's fair enough to say the school should only take kids from single parent families or whose parents earn less than £x p/a but I'm pretty sure there will be considerable variation in applicants each year. I think that, given the academic standard of the school, there should be some minimum score on entrance exams, but perhaps need can be reviewed after scores have been tabulated. For instance, a child who gets 80% on the exam but who has a single parent on income support is surely more worthy of a place than one who gets 98% but whose Daddy runs a bank and Mummy has family money. Then you don't bias against income in the first round of assessments which should, in hoonesty, be ability based, but can help the needy first. I know there would be a grey area at the grade cut off but these things can be assessed if needs be. Sound like a good idea, or is that what they do anyway?