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Join the discussion on our Education forum.

Education

Private education

84 replies

GlobalTechIndustries · 30/01/2017 18:40

Following on from the private school thread, if you can afford it why would you not want a good standard of education for your children ?

OP posts:

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AnotherNewt · 30/01/2017 19:10

Different people have different views on what constitutes a 'good' education.

Being wealthy might add to the choices available to you, but doesn't mean a paid option is going to be the best one for any particular DC

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happygardening · 30/01/2017 21:55

It depends what you "want" and what you consider to be a "good standard of education". We live in a country with lots of very high achieving state schools (with places) so results weren't my reason for paying. I wanted a very broad education with a very significant part being intellectually stimulating but not related to passing exams or a defined curriculum. So unable to find it to this level in the state sector we paid. We've friends who also pay but who wouldn't pay for this, they believe rightly or wrongly they're paying for better results, or better sporting opportunities, or extensive music/art/drama opportunities. Others do think paying means less disruption and bullying and want smaller classes. We even know a couple who are paying so that their DC's can list princesses etc amongst their friends.

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Bobochic · 30/01/2017 22:00

I most definitely want our DC to be (very) well educated. However, spending more money is not always a guarantee of better education.

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Hoppinggreen · 30/01/2017 22:00

I know people who could afford to go Private but won't for a variety of try following reasons
We won't fit in
It's too elitist
I went to the local comp and it didn't do me any harm
The local school is fine
It's full of very rich people
My DD goes to a Private Secondary as did I but DH went to State and he actually thought a lot of the above things were true until he actually looked into it

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Surreyblah · 30/01/2017 22:03

Some private schools are rubbish for DC with SEN or disabilities.

Some people have ethical objections.

Want DC to be educated with DC from diverse socio economic situations.

Live near great state schools.

Would prefer to use the money for other things, eg future housing for their DC.

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Crumbs1 · 30/01/2017 22:05

Many state schools are better than many private schools.

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Brokenbiscuit · 30/01/2017 22:05

I really want my dd to have a good education. That doesn't necessarily mean that I have to go private.

Thankfully, my own education in the state sector enabled me to develop critical thinking skills and confidence in my own judgement. I pity anyone who automatically assumes that private means better. An expensive mistake!

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Evergreen777 · 30/01/2017 22:06

Because you also want exotic holidays, leisure time, an early retirement, to give to charity, or to help your kids into the housing ladder one day?

No matter how much you can afford something, there's always other things you could spend the money on.

I could afford a brand new car if I really wanted. But instead I have a 10 year old one which is not as nice. But I have money for other things that matter more to me. No reason to private education on some kind of pedestal, not when we do have state schools which are free in this country.

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Pallisers · 30/01/2017 22:07

I have children in independent schools but I certainly don't think that private education is always better than state. In some cases it may be worse. In some cases state education may be better for a particular child, even if the private is excellent. It isn't a simple matter of black and white.

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gillybeanz · 30/01/2017 22:09

Our dd found a school that suited her abilities and disabilities.
SENCO are better than any of the state options in our area.

Our state schools are rubbish and don't meet her needs.

She meets people from all over the world, walks of life, and socio economic groups.

The education is better than our state options, but not as good as the schools with academia at the fore front of education.

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BertrandRussell · 30/01/2017 22:11

"Following on from the private school thread, if you can afford it why would you not want a good standard of education for your children ?"

I do want a good education for my children. What is your point?

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BertrandRussell · 30/01/2017 22:13

Gilly- the vast majority of private schools would not meet your dd's needs. Please don't be disingenuous.

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SenoritaViva · 30/01/2017 22:16

I was privately educated. My prep school was amazing (I boarded from age 8), but my secondary (top, all girls boarding school) was just dreadful. My parents paid an absolute fortune and got totally ripped off by lazy teaching standards and I was extremely bored. It taught me to be lazy and nothing of the world.

My children have an amazing education at their state primary, I swore when I was 16 never to send my children to boarding school and I'm sticking to that. Just because you pay doesn't automatically mean it's better. Although there are amazing private schools, I'm not anti them all I think people make a blanket assumption that paying is always better.

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happygardening · 30/01/2017 22:22

Bertrand surely the whole point is that Gilly believes that the particular independent school that her DD attends does meet her SEN and that her local state options won't. I'm assuming that her DD is happy and thriving so is receiving a "good education".
My experience is different that no independent school my DS1 went too met DS1's SEN but I'm sure there are some out there that might have done. I have to say my experience is also that no state school met his SEN either.

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BertrandRussell · 30/01/2017 22:32

Happygardening, gilly is consistently disingenuous on this subject. The fact that she talks about state schools not being able to meet her dd's needs without also saying that the vast majority of private schools couldn't either and uses this as a stick to beat the state system with is, I think, extremely shabby.

But yes, of course there are children for whom very special provision should be made. I find it morally repugnant when/if that provision is only available to people who have money. But this does not apply to the vast majority of children.

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Dapplegrey1 · 30/01/2017 22:40

Many state schools are better than many private schools.
If that's the case then why object to private education. If you are getting a free education which is better than paid for one then surely all anyone would think is 'poor fools, they are paying a fortune for an inferior education to the free one'.

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happygardening · 30/01/2017 22:41

I actually believe and have discovered from personal experience and from the many PMs I've received over the years that most independent schools are pretty shit at providing special provision for children with anything more complex than mild to moderate dyslexia. But I also firmly believe and again am talking from personal experience and also from the many PMs I've received over the years that most state schools are also pretty shit at providing special provision for any children with anything more complex than mild to moderate dyslexia. The only difference is that most state schools don't even pretend they're going to do anything they just say no and in the state sector you are not paying for receiving nothing!
But maybe Gilly has actually found the exception that proves the rule.

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happygardening · 30/01/2017 22:48

Couldn't agree more Dapple if private education is generally inferior to state why do so many get their knickers in such a twist about it? What harm is it going to those in the state sector? If this really is true then the only harms is to poor suckers parents stumping up the fees, who are deluding themselves and the children who attend them. All of you sending your children to all these marvellous state schools should be sitting smug and confident in your mural high ground looking at us who pay with curiosity and wonder at our foolishness.

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BertrandRussell · 30/01/2017 23:08

Has anyone said that private education is generally inferior to state education? Certainly not me! It would be an outrage if it was, considering the funding disparity.......

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OrlandaFuriosa · 30/01/2017 23:51

Interesting on the SEN side.

Recently I've been involved in a mainstream comprehensive which has a small autism unit. The school is now getting a good reputation for teaching children who may or may not in old speak have a statement, so not just those classified. They are trying to roll out the different styles of teaching to the benefit of all.

The outcomes areinteresting, although I can't really say the relationship is causal, it may purely be correlation. However, not only are many/most children performing at or above their expected levels but there is precious little difference between pupil premium and non pupil premium pupils. The difference where there is one appears attributable to the severity of the SEN not, as far as we can see, to poverty.

The consequences are also interesting. This is a school serving a poor area but with lots of schools, state and private, where some of the private have recognisable names and there are unfilled places in the state sector. We are now seeing a more middle class intake, especially where parents decide that the private school that suited DCs1+2 won't work for DC3. It's still jolly hard work...

HG, I'd say that one of your DC's alma mater is expert in people with ASD/HFA, although whether they turn out more able to cope with life I wouldn't want to say, not having a control group...

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BertrandRussell · 31/01/2017 00:01

Our school has had an autism unit for ages. Loads of knowledge and experience built up over the years. It's unlikely to survive much longer- because funding cuts mean that people can't afford to get their kids to it. All that expertise will be lost.

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Stilitzvert · 31/01/2017 00:01

Because we are very lucky to get a truly outstanding state education on our doorstep where. My children are getting a great education, I just don't see the need to pay for it. If this school wasn't on the doorstep I would pay for it. Being able to afford education brings choice, not an absolute

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chipsnmayo · 31/01/2017 07:29

My DH was privately educated from reception and I was state educated, DH didn't go to University and only got okay GCSEs, he is currently a SAHD but before that only had a low paid job. Nothing wrong with that but private education doesn't mean automatic career success and earning heaps of £££.

My PIL offered to pay for my DCs private education which I declined, I want my dc to mix with a variety of children from different backgrounds and interests. We have a good state school near us which I think can give my dc just the same amount of opportunities, obviously I wouldn't be opposed to private education if state didn't work out but I believe in trying state first before resorting for private.

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DrDreReturns · 31/01/2017 07:40

The state schools in my neck of the woods do provide a good standard of education! There's no justification for going private where I live IMO, apart from snobbery.

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AnotherNewt · 31/01/2017 07:48

I'd be quite surprised if all private schools in an area offered only a state school with a bill attached.

It's all to do with your idea of "good". If it's utilitarian (passing 11+, getting a particular qualification, etc) then a state school where your DC is likely to achieve that is of course going to be your choice.

But if you attach importance to the educational journey, you might choose a private school which might have similar output, but a very different way of getting there. It's not really snobbery (other than to the extent that money buys you more choice, but even then wealth and snobbishness aren't synonyms).

After all, Summerhills is a fee-paying school, and is all about the journey and very little about the end results.