Separate Private Schools board please

[MrsBright]

Dear Mums Net HQ,
Please can we find somewhere else than 'Secondary School Education' for the Belgravia crowd to parade their 'St Trinians vs Eton' conversations? Its getting like the private school version of Trip Advisor.

Then the SS Education board could get back to talking about slightly more universal topics like GCSEs and bullying, that involve ALL mothers.

[ZeroSomeGameThingy]

I was all set to write a furious response - with bullet points and words like "discrimination", etc, etc....

But d'you know - I'm not sure I can be bothered. I'll still be able to read and post on topics of interest to me, wherever they are hidden.

The people who will really lose out are all those parents who don't have a clear idea of what they're looking for, or what's available. People on low or average incomes, or those who don't feel confident in dealing with educational matters, who might never click on an exclusively "Private Schools" board - and so won't find out until too late that there is a possibility, a bursary or a scholarship or specialist something-or-other that is just right for their "impossible to place" child.

[meditrina]

I wouldn't like this, as many issues apply regardless of how the school is funded.

Yes, there are a lot of private school threads right now (just as there are at this time every year when it is offers season). And the 'how do I choose between these schools' threads are not only about private schools as shown by the number of one's about state schools when it it their applications round.

Those who don't like threads about specific schools can always hide them. Or there could be a 'school reviews' topic for all sectors if you want to clear the education topics of threads about specific schools. But generally, there are too many topics and I'm not sure whether adding more is ever a good idea.

[ZeroSomeGameThingy]

Definitely meant "segregation" rather than "discrimination". Scusi.

[meditrina]

here's the thread in Secondary Education about this.

[Quinteszilla]

Can you not just hide the thread? It takes a second to click "hide".

Many people agonizing over secondary (or indeed primary education) want to discuss the full range of options, be it private, faith schools or state!

As it is now it is possible to get a vast range of opinions on all school options, rather than just pick the brains of either state or private sector. There are so many knowledgeable posters on the education and secondary education boards, able to give an opinion across the education sector as a whole so it seems odd to separate the private schools.

Surely the solution is not to oust a group of people chatting about their journey trying to find a good fit for their childs education, but for the poster who objects to this form of education to just hide the threads?

[Quinteszilla]

"Then the SS Education board could get back to talking about slightly more universal topics like GCSEs and bullying, that involve ALL mothers."

This is quite possibly one of the stupidest things I have read on MN!

Are you really saying that ONE thread about Eton/St Trinians are preventing people from talking about bullying or GSCE options?

This time of year many people are waiting to hear from school, of course there is an influx of posts about the selection process at the moment, but there are not really so many that it prevents you from talking about bullying.

Speaking of which.......

[Oneglassandpuzzled]

Hide the threads you don't like.

[Sheldonswhiteboard]

Hide threads, don't need more boards!

[MrsSteptoe]

I did a rough tally of the current board, and it looked to me as though 13 threads out of 50 on the first page were concerned with threads that arise from the current selection process for Sep-2014 entry.
It's certainly disproportionate, but I don't really see the evidence that discussion of bullying or GCSEs is being prevented.
Out of interest, if DCs are being bullied at an independent school, does that have to go on a separate board as well? Or is it just the process of selecting, applying, exams, bursaries/scholarships and interviews that the OP wants to exclude? Where do we discuss a grammar offer versus an independent school?
It's not hard to just hide the thread.

[harryhausen]

I really like the idea if a 'School Reviews' section - for all schools naturally.

I'm in a really difficult area for schools and all I can find are very biased views of the local (fairly crap) secondary school. Most parents I know go there like sheep and if I dare to ask about a different school I'm treated like a snob.

Sorry, off topic a bit.

I just don't look at the Private School threads as I don't even understand the system.

[Quinteszilla]

Good point. If your child is bullied at a private school, or a faith school, should not input or experience from outside this sector be welcome or sought?

What if you consider moving from private to state, or the other way around, whose opinion are you seeking?

[WhichNameShouldIUseForThis]

I can see why you're asking for this but I'm sorry I really don't like the idea.

[TheFutureSupremeRulersMum]

The problem with creating lots of boards is that they become very niche, then they don't get much traffic so people start posting everything in Chat.

[stealthsquiggle]

Education is education. Apart from the admissions process and the fees, what else is different exactly? Why is it any more onerous for the OP to ignore threads which relate to specific independent schools than it is for parents with no DC in state schools to ignore threads which relate to admissions, preferences, appeals, etc etc?

Utter nonsense.

[LoveSewingBee]

I think it would be a good idea to have a separate Private Schools board. It will make it much clearer to people with questions re private education and it doesn't clutter the general education thread.

It is not discriminatory whatsoever, nobody is forbidden to post, the boards are just organised in a different way.

[WhichNameShouldIUseForThis]

I am not a private school user by the way, but I'd still rather the posts about private schools stayed here. I don't think I'd want anything that reinforces the pernicious idea that private/state school parents (and pupils) are fundamentally different types (classes!) of people, and I think a separate board would (subtly) contribute to that idea.

[HavantGuard]

It's a daft idea.

[Forago]

secondary education is secondary education and many of the issues are the same whether children are in independent, grammar or state. Many people consider all three, have children in more than one type, swap between them.

So I think this is a bad idea.

[Quinteszilla]

My son is in an independent secondary.

"Belgravia" crowd does not resonate with me, and just shows the prejudices of the OP.

There are lots of parents like us who opt for independent education, who live in ex-council/modest homes (not mansions in Belgravia, ) drive normal cars (as opposed to Luxury cars), etc. For one reason or other, private school has turned out to be the best option even if it is a financial struggle. I myself had to swallow a few camels and re-evaluate my principles in the process.

[HavantGuard]

The original post fairly reeked of reverse snobbery too.

[Gunznroses]

What an idiotic thing to say! How does a thread about Eton stop you from discussing GCSEs and bullying? People post in whichever thread they want, its an open forum.

Discussions about Independent schools are exactly where they should be, under "Education". What a cheek!

[Forago]

yes that's what I thought - and there are plenty of Fathers interested in their children's education.

[HomeIsWhereTheGinIs]

OP you're an incredible snob. What right do you have to sneer at and patronise those that have nice houses and send their children to public school? Aren't they allowed to ask for the opinions of others? Showing yourself to be more than a bit chippy I'm afraid.

This kind of reverse snobbery makes me furious. If I requested a separate board where people on benefits could go to discuss budgeting so I didn't have to see conversations about issues that I don't have any experience with I would probably be banned from the site. So why is it OK for you to do this just because those that you're targeting have money? We all want what's best for our children, so surely everyone has a right to post on the SS board?

[Gunznroses]

Talk about envy, bitterness and a huge chip and a touch of stupidity all blended together, makes for a really disgusting meal. This has made me quiet furious! Reverse snobbery at its worst.