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Original poster

To think State education is really poor?

814 replies

Boswelian · 17/11/2023 19:55

We sent our eldest to a taster day at a private school. He was agog. His school don't allow playing on the grass when it's wet. The private school change them into waterproofs and wellies for break. PE 3x a week. Sport every day. Dedicated specialist teaching in art, DT, languages, sciences etc. 16 in a class instead of 30. The difference in the quality of life between the two school has really blown my mind. The state school is "outstanding". The private school reckon DS is 2 years behind their curriculum. We've been told in state that he's meeting expectations. How is this remotely acceptable?

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llamarammma · 18/05/2024 09:28

IMustDoMoreExercise · 18/05/2024 09:25

Yes, I was so hopful when Tony Blair said "Education, education, education" and then totally wasted the opportunity.

But at least his son made millions from his mistakes, so it was all alright in the end.

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Not sure how that is relevant to the last 14 years?

IMustDoMoreExercise · 18/05/2024 09:25

llamarammma · 18/05/2024 09:19

I think Labour focused on Education - it was far more SEN friendly and the curriculum was accessible (in my subject). You also tend to find that greater community/health investment tends to trickle down into the classroom 🙂

And Labour haven't been in control of anything for the past 14 years ... and look where we are now. It's sad.

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Yes, I was so hopful when Tony Blair said "Education, education, education" and then totally wasted the opportunity.

But at least his son made millions from his mistakes, so it was all alright in the end.

llamarammma · 18/05/2024 09:19

IMustDoMoreExercise · 17/05/2024 07:49

Well it was Labour who decided that everyone and their dog should go to university which was a total waste of money. That money could have been spent on schools.

My sister worked in Education for a quango during the last Labour government in Enfield and instead of putting money into helping disadvantaged kids, she was running holiday clubs for middle class kids who had never been on a bus before. The waste was unbelievable.

That is where all the money went. On unnecessary waste.

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I think Labour focused on Education - it was far more SEN friendly and the curriculum was accessible (in my subject). You also tend to find that greater community/health investment tends to trickle down into the classroom 🙂

And Labour haven't been in control of anything for the past 14 years ... and look where we are now. It's sad.

TheaBrandt · 18/05/2024 09:15

What’s with all the shit car competition?! Is having a shit car a moral virtue?!

The super rich are at the private schools though you can’t deny it! That said it’s quite fun when your kid befriends them and can use their pool etc

twistyizzy · 18/05/2024 08:42

JustWingItLifeEyelinerEverything · 17/05/2024 23:37

That sounds nice. So refreshing as compared to the private schools here in London

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Yep and that's the point, most private schools are like DDs ie not super selective and serving local cohorts. Outside of London there are few DC from ultra wealthy families.

JustWingItLifeEyelinerEverything · 17/05/2024 23:37

twistyizzy · 17/05/2024 19:47

Depends on the school. Everyone buses to DDs school because it is rural.
Mostly a farming cohort with 1 or 2 oil parents from Scotland. The majority are just normal people and the car park ranges from fiestas through to Range Rovers. Money just isn't talked about and according to DD there is no bullying/bragging about how much money mum and dad have got.

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That sounds nice. So refreshing as compared to the private schools here in London

SabrinaThwaite · 17/05/2024 21:28

TBF, the bacon sarnies were always the reason why Friday morning meetings at my work were so well attended.

Moglet4 · 17/05/2024 21:09

HumourM3 · 17/05/2024 19:21

😂😂😂😂🙄😂😂😂
Handholding is not what you get in the state system with multiple classes of 30 and tired stressed out teachers handling underfunding, poverty, SEN and Ofsted.

The handholding happens in the private sector with the classes below 15, old boys club, money, parents paying teachers fees, prep classes…..

I suspect this is why those from private schools and the same marks as state kids do less well at uni. They don’t cope so well with having limited support, large classes and no contacts.

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Kindly, you are clueless. Hand holding is exactly what goes on in the state sector. It’s often the only way for brighter kids to reach their potential and for weaker kids to pass. Pizzas and bacon sarnies ordered in to encourage them to turn up (a very effective method actually), being physically collected at the end of the day to attend extra sessions, taken off timetable for whole days to run workshops, extra sessions before school and at lunchtime, huge amounts of planning to have modelled questions for every grade for just about every question we can think of that might come up in the exam, Easter sessions, the list goes on. I can only speak authoritatively for one core subject but this is going on in many, many schools ( for me personally in London annd Manchester) And yes, we do it for classes of 31. It’s this sort on input that caused us all to breathe a massive sigh of relief when coursework was abolished. In the private and grammar schools I’ve worked in, this level of intervention is entirely unnecessary and so does not happen.

SabrinaThwaite · 17/05/2024 21:02

Papyrophile · 17/05/2024 20:29

Tyres are important. Spectacularly missing the point. But check them regardless,

Well quite.

Spend £700k on your kids’ education but drive them around in a death trap.

Papyrophile · 17/05/2024 20:45

@CurlewKate and @opticalconclusion it's the sanctimonious "we know better" from any direction that peeves me, but I am too old to care any more.

opticalconclusion · 17/05/2024 20:41

CurlewKate · 17/05/2024 19:59

@opticalconclusion "So many bitter judgmental posters on this thread.

Judging schools, children and adults that they know nothing about. "

Yep. Judging and whisking their children away from the great unwashed.

Indeed. God it’s awful when we smell them.

Papyrophile · 17/05/2024 20:39

I have a diesel Golf estate, on a 2008 plate with 160,000 miles on the clock. It's economical at 35 mpg locally,in a hilly area. It gets 45 mpg on the motorway, and I really don't care that it has scratches on every corner and that one door doesn't lock at all. It is the last car anyone would steal. And where I live, it looks totally fine.

Papyrophile · 17/05/2024 20:29

Tyres are important. Spectacularly missing the point. But check them regardless,

PhotoLop · 17/05/2024 20:25

My dc is predicted 9s at GCSE in a 'good' state secondary. Very happy with that. The teachers are generally great, I support at home too and encourage learning.

HumourM3 · 17/05/2024 20:20

Charlie2121 · 17/05/2024 20:19

Self awareness is not your strong suit I suspect.

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🙄

Charlie2121 · 17/05/2024 20:19

HumourM3 · 17/05/2024 20:03

Not seeing any unsubstantiated comments from me. Maybe you need to look at your own.

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Self awareness is not your strong suit I suspect.

SabrinaThwaite · 17/05/2024 20:04

twistyizzy · 17/05/2024 20:01

The odd Forrester.
I myself drive a 10 Yr old Kia. Does that count? It has a bashed in door if that helps?

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Nope. Needs to be a 25 year old Audi that you bought from the auctions, service yourself and use retreads because who needs to spend money on tyres?

HumourM3 · 17/05/2024 20:03

Charlie2121 · 17/05/2024 20:02

Where did I mention disagreement? I’m talking about unsubstantiated comments. I’m sure you don’t need me to explain the difference.

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Not seeing any unsubstantiated comments from me. Maybe you need to look at your own.

Charlie2121 · 17/05/2024 20:02

HumourM3 · 17/05/2024 19:58

Somebody disagreeing with you isn’t nonsense.

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Where did I mention disagreement? I’m talking about unsubstantiated comments. I’m sure you don’t need me to explain the difference.

twistyizzy · 17/05/2024 20:01

CurlewKate · 17/05/2024 19:54

@twistyizzy
"The majority are just normal people and the car park ranges from fiestas through to Range Rovers."

No beaten up old Volvos?

The odd Forrester.
I myself drive a 10 Yr old Kia. Does that count? It has a bashed in door if that helps?

CurlewKate · 17/05/2024 19:59

@opticalconclusion "So many bitter judgmental posters on this thread.

Judging schools, children and adults that they know nothing about. "

Yep. Judging and whisking their children away from the great unwashed.

HumourM3 · 17/05/2024 19:58

Charlie2121 · 17/05/2024 19:56

I’m just about the least supercilious person imaginable.

I do though call out nonsense and unsubstantiated comments as they add nothing to any debate. If someone is a repeat offender it’s not unreasonable to point this out.

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Somebody disagreeing with you isn’t nonsense.

Charlie2121 · 17/05/2024 19:56

JimmyGrimble · 17/05/2024 19:44

Jeez. Not a good look. Sneering and supercilious.

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I’m just about the least supercilious person imaginable.

I do though call out nonsense and unsubstantiated comments as they add nothing to any debate. If someone is a repeat offender it’s not unreasonable to point this out.

EasternStandard · 17/05/2024 19:56

CurlewKate · 17/05/2024 19:53

The non middle class kids in a grammar school can get a hard time too. Particularly as there are so very, very few of them.

They’ll be fewer soon

opticalconclusion · 17/05/2024 19:55

So many bitter judgmental posters on this thread.

Judging schools, children and adults that they know nothing about.

Sad really.

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