To think State education is really poor?

Some of us aren't bothered about amassing assets though. We could have afforded the house move but we chose not to. I would rather invest my money in DDs education, this way we can also hopefully pay for her through Uni too. A house move would mean we couldn't do that.

We tried teacher-graded assessments. The people paying for grades all got A*

But a significant part of the £150k more valuable house would be capitalised. The school fees aren't. It's not simple arithmetic.

I agree. Only 7% of children use private schools. When you take out foreign pupils, boarders, forces kids etc the number is very modest meaning if even all of those were there due to appalling state provision it wouldn’t equate to that many poor state schools.

That is of little solace to those of us who are faced with a disastrous state option though.

Yes grammars need to go too.

Average fees are £15k. VAT on that will be £250 a month. I absolutely don’t believe that people paying £15k a year with such hatred of the state system won’t shuffle their direct debits and shop at lidl in order to save their delicate flowers from the horrors of state schools.

It’s not the state’s school fault it’s the Lack of funding and shortage of staff, I’m a History teacher and I have had to cover some Geography lessons recently as for the past year we haven’t been able to recruit a Geography teacher the past year even though we are an outstanding school with high staff retention rates. People just don’t want to be teachers anymore for many reasons - pay and conditions.

Totally agree with twisty. Education needs wholesale reform. Tinkering at the edges with this vat thing and grammars totally misses the point. Schools are still 19th century. Blazers and ties! Dd1 a levels are the same curriculum i did and I’m nearly 50. AI round the corner. Needs massive change the rise in mental health issues for unhappy pupils backs that up.

Yes I said it will be the fees + annual rise + 20% per year.
So we will actually pay above 20% every year
Year 1 10K fees (as an example)

• 20% VAT

Year 2 10K fees + 5% annual increase

• 20% VAT

Etc etc

We have friends in Sweden, the children there have to follow a core curriculum but most schools are run independently despite being state funded so they can go with what works for their pupils.

they also don’t sit centralised exams and are graded by their teachers

sounds a great way of doing it IMO

They didn't. They said. "We can't afford VAT as yhat will be 20% plus fee rise per year"

Read it again and maybe stop being so rude.

@opticalconclusion You went to a shit school and I'm sorry about that.

The problem with talking about. Grammar schools as a solution to what people perceive as the "one size fits all" issue is that you create a "two sizes fits all" system where "our" children go to the grammar school and "their" children go to the secondary modern. But hey, "our" children are OK......

@CurlewKate

What is a ‘proper comprehensive’? I went to a sht comprehensive. We were lucky if we had the same teacher for more than 2 terms. Kids fought. Boys set the school on fire. Sexualising girls (xxxx YOU’RE A SLAG) Etc etc etc. I was one of the few to get out alive tbf. It finished at age 16 then to do A Levels we went to an equally sht college. Not that I knew any different. I had good friends etc, but education wise no

The teachers were great, but even then 86-91, 91-93, morale and resources were rock bottom.

As I made more money (because Despite the crap some succeed) I knew I’d never send my children to such a school, if I could help it.

The day of proper comprehensives has past and it isn't coming back.
In fact the proper funding of state education has gone. I work in FE and that's even more poorly funded than secondary education.
That's why we need a cross party debate snd agreement about what education in the 21st century should look like and how we fund it.
Personally I think there should be a ring fenced education tax for all higher rate tax payers. The only sustainable way of raising money is through income tax.
Getting rid of grammars/private schools has zero impact unless education as a whole is properly funded.

@twistyizzy "The problem now is parents using tutors."

No it's not. The problem is that the exam is geared to middle class children.

I don't believe in one size fits all either. Which is why I believe in proper comprehensives.

In our area it would cost £150k+ to move to catchment of good state school Vs 75K for years 7-11 of private.
We love our village and location so to us it is a no brainer.

Oh I do understand. I was grammar educated. We all got to sit the 11+. The problem now is parents using tutors.
We will never agree on our views about education. I believe the 1 size fits all doesn't work and fails more than it supports therefore we need more choice, not less.

@twistyizzy "But they have the opportunity"

No they don t. If you think they do, you really don't understand how the system works.

Well no I’ve lived in an expensive area and sacrificed buying a house so my kids could attend great school. No luck involved. Surely you can move cheaper than 250k? I am a higher rate tax payer and you have free choice to move

But they have the opportunity

Not really. Many kids have not a hope in hell of paying the exam. That's like saying everyone has the opportunity to go to a private school, while ignoring that most people could never afford it.

Is this really a question? The amount of teacher trolling on here should give you a hint. State schools have no money and no staff. Privates do. Bingo

But they have the opportunity

Of course it is.

Not sure how to spell this out;
Every.year.we.will.have.to.pay.20%.on.top.of.the fees.

In fact this will be over 20% each year.

@twistyizzy "Except most of the country doesn't have the privilege of living in grammar areas "

Most people who live in grammar areas don't have the "privilege" of a grammar school education either!

Our state school is absolutely wonderful. My son is - at this very moment- doing a zoom GCSE revision lesson. The same teacher also delivered one on Sunday morning for two hours. Other teachers have been running lunchtime and afterschool tuition sessions for weeks.

As previous posters have said, the private sector does not deal with the majority of the problems that the public sector does.

I am very impressed by the dedication and attitude of my sons’ teachers - and very glad that I’m not spending ££££ a year for it.