David Price: I was scarred by being classified as 'thick', as future generations will be
Comment
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.I was lucky, in 1965, to get a place in my local grammar school.
When you come from Jarrow, trust me, that's a big deal. I had passed the 11-plus exam, but my pride at being classified as "bright" was soon dismantled. Within three years, I had been demoted to the bottom set. As my school prided itself on its O-level results, I was told that I could only take six, and would have to take three CSEs. My confidence plummeted.
Whatever Mr Gove chooses to call his "second-stream" qualifications, future students will surely have the same response that I had: as a qualification I knew they were useless, and I couldn't help thinking that meant that I must be too. I remember doing woodwork but I can't even remember the other two. I failed all three. I passed all six O-levels, but by this time I'd had enough of education.
I was half-decent at music, and managed to make a living at it for 15 years after leaving school, thus avoiding the "shipyards or pits" choice for those "non-academic" students living in 1960s Jarrow. At the age of 28, I nervously stepped back into formal education, getting a place on a performing arts degree.
I got first-class honours, and, to my surprise, began a career in education. Eventually I became director of learning for the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. I have since led two school projects which have succeeded in re-engaging learners weary of the exam-factory culture. Both initiatives have attracted attention from around the world which was part of the reason behind the OBE for services to education that I received in 2009.
Not bad for a "thick" CSE student. But, despite this recognition, I still feel like one day someone will tap me on the shoulder and say, "We've found you out, time to go back to the yards" – such is the legacy of the CSE scarring.
Our minister seems to think we'd be better served by a system which sorts kids according to their academic potential at the age of 14. It didn't work for me, and it definitely won't work in an era of high youth unemployment. I was lucky in that I found my way back. But millions of others didn't, and millions of future kids will have their life chances diminished if these proposals see the light of day.
David Price is an education consultant.
Twitter: @davidpriceobe
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments