1. Vocabulary: Look up in a dictionary: zeal (l.3), astute parents (ll.6/7), endowment (l.48)
2. Explain the following terms in your own words: selection (l.6), grant-maintained (l.10), GCSE (l.21), Oxbridge (l.53), children “with special needs” (l.43)
3. Understanding the text:
a. Describe the types of school you find in the Birmingham area.
b. Summarize all the information the author gives us about Birmingham’s ‘model’ comprehensive schools and compare them with the two King Edward’s schools.
c. What conclusions can you draw from the exam results given?
d. Try to find reasons why parents don’t want to send their children to Hands-worth Wood Boys.
e. Inform your class on Bordersley Green Comprehensive
http://www.qca.org.uk/news/press/20011129.asp
and King Edward’s School, Birmingham http://www.kes.bham.sch.uk/admissions/index.html

King Edward's
Private, selective, boys 11 - 18
New design centre
New language and computer labs
Covered swimming pool
Fees 4,914 pounds
Teacher-pupil ratio 1:12
Pupils gaining 5 GCSEs at grades A-C 100%

Bordesley Green
State comprehensive, girls 11 - 16
Lots of concrete, windows and draughts
Funding per pupil 2,231 pounds
Teacher-pupil ratio 1:16
Pupils gaining 5 GSCEs at grades A-C 36