Do private schools (primary) publish results anywhere?

[Gobbledigook]

That's it really - I'm nosey!

[Marina]

What do you mean GDG?
SATS? Secondary transfer info?
Ours doesn't do SATS at seven (one of the reasons we looked at the independent sector after hearing some local parents' experiences with KS1) and doesn't publish its KS2 results.
But it does publicise its secondary transfer info, as it is justifiably proud of the fact that it helps children of all abilities, (including some with learning disabilities) maximise their potential for secondary school.
There's no national league table, even for accredited prep/private primaries. I must admit it doesn't bother me too much. HTH

[LIZS]

no I don't think they are under any obligation to do so even if they do SAT's which many don't.

[binkie]

The ones that do do SATs (like our school) must release those results somehow, 'cos it's part of what the Sunday Times uses. Maybe it's only privately released, though, rather than published?

Have a word with ISC?

[Ameriscot2005]

ISTR that starting this year, if they opted to do Sats and had their papers externally marked, then they would go into the league tables along with everyone else.

A lot of schools will be keen to let you know that there are lots of deviations form the normal exam timetables. Higher number of foreign and transient pupils may mean they don't sit the exams the same year as the rest of their age group or may not sit them at all, and they may bring forward some exams, especially GCSEs.

Independent schools are inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (same deal as Ofsted) and you can find the reports on their website.

A key indicator for prep schools is the number of children that get into their first-choice senior schools and the number of scholarships, but you'd have to ask the school for this info.

[Gobbledigook]

Thanks everyone - I'm just being nosey!

Ds1 starts reception in September at a fantastic state primary which consistently achieves A* for English, Maths, Science at the relevant stages (and is fab in hundreds of other ways but anyway...) - the school has been like this since even I was at primary in the 70's (we live where I grew up) and the head told me that it's only ever outperformed, results wise, by 2 of the private primaries in the borough (and there are a fair few).

I didn't ask him to elaborate so I don't know really which results he was referring to and was wondering if I could see private results anywhere, just out of interest. Probably not it seems! Never mind!

[JulieF]

Dd's school don't do any SATS but the private schools that do get their results published in the papers, like everyone else.

They also regurlarly put pupils in for GCSE's a year early. These results would not show up on a governement league table as they only look at results gained in year 11.

[Anteater]

Hi Gdk
The independent school our children attend have opted to sit KS 2 SAT exams with external marking, so the school can be benchmarked if people so desired.

As Ameriscot mentioned, perhaps a more accurate indicator is probably that of how many first choice senior schools are got into...

If you are happy with your chosen state primary, thats all that matters I think.. I wish ours was better...

[happymerryberries]

dd's amd ds's pirvate primary do KS1 and KS2 sats. we are told the results, but I don't know if they are publised anywhere.

Nor sure how much emphasis I'd put on them tbh, as there are so many factors to take into account. If you are happy with the school and feel that it will suit your child, that is probably a far better indicator.

[Gobbledigook]

Anteater, hmb - I know and I'm not worried about the results really as the school he is going to has brilliant results anyway. I just had nothing to do this morning and it popped into my head and thought I'd be nosey if I could be!

I'm more than happy with the school, not just on the basis of results but also on the other fantastic things it has to offer (A grades are not everything!). Just hope it works out and meets my exacting high standards

[Gobbledigook]

JulieF - thanks for that, I was thinking of primary though

I'm pretty sure a higher proportion of the private school children get into the state grammars here than children from ds's school and I suppose that worries me a bit. But I'm sure things will all come together in the end and it's a while off yet before 11+!

AND I'm quite prepared for the fact that if I have to, I'll pay for independent schooling at secondary level.

[happymerryberries]

I must confess that if I was going to pay for one part of the kid's education I'd stump up for primary rather than secondary. And not, before I get flamed out of exsistance, because the privatly educated child is more likely to get into a grammar school. Rather, because I think that smaller class sizes are even more important in primary than in secondary.

[Anteater]

Gdg, hope your not condidering Eton, just found out what they charge!

[Anteater]

HappyMB, thats exactly what I think (plus its a shed load cheaper!)

[Gobbledigook]

Really? Hmmm, you see I'm thinking that the school ds's are going to is so good, combined with support from us, the chances are they will pass the 11+ in which case I can get away with spending no money on private education If they don't pass the 11+ THEN I'd consider private education as they'd be going to our catchment secondary over my dead body

I'm probably being incredibly naive as, of course, I have no real idea how the boys will do at 11+ but I'm just hoping they take after their Mummy It's early days I know but ds1's nursery manager has already told me 'X is exceptionally good at anything we do with numbers' - is that a good sign?

[Gobbledigook]

hmb - don't you think they need to be on a 'tighter leash' in secondary when hormones kick in?

[happymerryberries]

I have accepted that we will be paying for the whole lot. Love to have some good schooling for nowt, but it isn't on the cards where we are.

[Gobbledigook]

hmb, that must be a nightmare. We are very lucky round here that you can't really go wrong - the majority of the state schools are fantastic. I don't know if that's anything to do with the 'population' iyswim??

[happymerryberries]

I think that the stricter the better in secondary! Just ask my students who think that I am a real cow bag!

But if you put in the time and effort and good P/T ratios early you can help to set the good habits for a lifetime, IYSWIM!

Also I see how hard it is for kids to try to play catch up in secondary. If they start to fail, or realise that they are behind their peers and the hormone pixie comes to visit all at the same time, gawd help us (and them) all!

[JulieF]

I know what you mean GDG. The main reason dd is at a private school (as well as falling in love with the school) is that although we have a decent state primary here the secondary is a dive. Her current private school goes from age 3 to 18 (though to remain there after prep you do have to pass the 11plus) and we thought she stodd a better chance of getting in at secondary level if she was there from the start.

You say that a higher proprtion of pupils from private schools pass the 11 plus in your area. Is that becasue more private school pupils enter rather than results alone? Maybe parents of children in your childs school don't want a grammar school for whatever reason.

Results are not everything, but it sounds like a great school. Lucky you.

[Gobbledigook]

JulieF - I think more get in from the private schools because they tutor specifically for the 11+ whereas the state schools are not allowed to do this (this is what I've been told anyway - no experience of it yet so not sure).

Our secondary is a dive too and if I have to pay at secondary I will but I really hope I don't have to. Got 3 boys so hoping not all of them fail 11+ anyway!!!

[JulieF]

What format is the 11 plus in your area. I'm not sure what it is at dd;s school but think it is stuff taht can't be learnt as such, verbal and non verbal reasoning etc.

There are no state grammar schools in our area apart from one Catholic one, it used to be fee paying and has a fee paying prep attached but we decdied that school wasn't for us. I didn't want dd to be the only one not preparing for confirmation etc.

Its a minefield isn't it.

[Gobbledigook]

JulieF - not sure tbh but I've got friends who are sending their dds to private school and have been told they 'tutor'/'focus' on passing 11+.

We have state grammars here - and brilliant ones at that. We've got a girls school, a boys school and a mixed school. There are also a couple of catholic girls grammars (no good to me though!!).

I'm burying in my head in the sand a bit about this and just thinking it's too far off to worry about. Ds1 is only going into reception this Sept!