To think State education is really poor?

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

No beaten up old Volvos?

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.

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.

Okaaaay. You’re paying for handholding, don’t try and tell is all it’s the state sector that have their hands held. Look at the title of the thread. 😂😂😂😂

Jeez. Not a good look. Sneering and supercilious.

That's really strange because scholarships are awarded on academic ability and only attract a small fee reduction ie 5-10%. They are viewed with pride as a high status thing.

For bursaries no-one will be told who is on a bursary.

The chip on your shoulder appears to have grown into a full sack of spuds!

This post is ridiculous.

It is a Kirsty Allsopp's "drop the gym membership, Netflix subscription and lattes and of course you can afford a house" type of comment.

The vast majority of people in this country could not afford private education regardless of the sacrifices they make. How can you not know that?

The other kids from what I’ve been told. They certainly don’t have many lasting friends from school. I don’t know how they knew but kids aren’t stupid. When you come in on the bus instead of being driven, haven’t been skiing in half term and your mum is a nurse I’m sure they put two and two together.

😂😂😂😂🙄😂😂😂
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.

Some kids from really poor state school do get the grades, yes, often because teachers like me have sat with them through every break time and holiday to ensure they do. That’s not necessary with private kids for a number of reasons. And no, I don’t mean those state school kids don’t deserve them because they damn well do but they’ve actually often had a lot more hand-holding. There are not a lot of debating opportunities in the state sector (with the noticeable exception of grammar schools, some of which have jaw-droppingLy good setups for it). Extra-curricular activities in general are a lot more limited in the state sector and there are virtually no opportunities to pursue it in lessons. With regard to debating, I was actually thinking more of Law but it also does help with verbal communication for doctors too. There’s really no more point in replying to you though, because you have a very black and white view, when in reality the world, including eduction, comes in shades of grey. It’s also apparent that you haven’t spent any significant amount of time actually teaching at opposite ends of education.

Reminded by whom?

In my experience nobody has any idea who is paying what towards fees. The only ones that doesn’t apply to is military children as everyone knows how their places are funded.

I didn’t. Many people don’t prioritise education in this country. The notion of sacrificing something to allow prioritisation of education is anathema to many.

I know someone who was “the scholarship kid” at private school. It was unbearable. They were constantly reminded that their parents could really afford the fees/trips etc. fuck off would I want my kids in that sort of environment, on either side of that.

The process for enacting the policy is a different thing. The point I was making is that it is obvious that the policy will go ahead.

Take it however you want. VAT policy will be decided in court.

Errr… because Gove rewrote the NC and now it’s a huge, unwieldy thing with far too much to cover (we have to in State). It’s totally unfit for purpose.

I think you mean 'Because most people cannot afford them'?

Because most people refuse to pay for them.

Countries with better education funding tax lower earners way more than we do in the IK.

Wouldn’t it be nice if these things were available in the state sector. Aren’t these things basic schooling? Why can’t every child have these things l?

I'll take that as you don't have any counter argument to what I said.

The point is that there is a state provision. Whether you personally consider it to be decent is wholly irrelevant to this. A decision to reject that provision and opt to pay for something you consider to be much better is clearly a luxury (note dictionary definition: something expensive that is pleasant to have but is not necessary)

Not all luxury items are subject to VAT granted but some obviously are and Labour has decided that this one will be. It all seems quite straightforward.

OK yes dear

I know all about Greece. Greece is a different country with different economic and socio-economic characteristics. This is the UK and if the UK Government decides that VAT will be payable on private school fees, it will. From what was said yesterday in Labour's pre-manifesto seven steps communication, VAT is going to happen.

I'm sure loads of people have said this already but it's an incredibly mixed bag. My daughter's at an excellent state school. It's an inner city school, very diverse with over 50% of pupils from a deprived background. Also a high % of pupils with English as a second language - but still it's great! The exam results are higher than average, the behaviour is good. We couldn't be happier with the education she's getting.
A neighbouring school has a similar demographic but performs nowhere near as well.
I myself went to a failing comprehensive. It was so bad that it almost closed several times when I was there. But still, I have loads of friends who got excellent exam results, went on to get 1st class degrees and have very good careers. I'm sure people imagine they went to the best private school, but quite the opposite. I