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Original poster

To think people have the wrong idea about the reason parents use private schools?

261 replies

ewloan · 06/08/2024 19:57

I have found this from threads and in real life, whenever private school comes up there’s this attitude that it’s about ‘buying results’ or ‘if your child is academic they will do well anywhere.’

Do people not realise that most people who send their kids to private school actually don’t need to be thinking about exam results as the main factor? These are people who often own businesses and have huge family wealth so their child’s exam results are not the be all and end all. The main reason people use private schools is for the entirely different experience for the child, for them to enjoy school and learning in small classes with lots of amenities and focus on their development. Why do people seem to think the main reason is to ‘buy an exam result’?

OP posts:
Original poster
ewloan · 06/08/2024 20:13

Greally · 06/08/2024 20:12

I’m not worried. Maybe don’t make assumptions about posters.

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@Greally you mean in the exact way you did with your first post? 🤦🏼‍♀️

OP posts:
Greally · 06/08/2024 20:12

ewloan · 06/08/2024 20:11

@Greally this isn’t a VAT post. Happy to pay whatever where education is concerned so don’t worry yourself!

Show quote history

I’m not worried. Maybe don’t make assumptions about posters.

FlamingWheelieBinofDespair · 06/08/2024 20:12

I speak as someone who’d like her daughter to go to private school - I couldn’t care less why other parents send their kids there. I know why I want to, and that’s all that matters.

Greally · 06/08/2024 20:12

HooverIsAlwaysBroken · 06/08/2024 20:10

OP with all respect, I don’t think people care. They see a perceived privilege and want to at a minimum tax it (get money out of those CFs and for some make the entire business model unsustainable.

this is emotional not logical and you as a person is irrelevant.

Can you explain why it’s emotional and not logical? What else should not have VAT that does, that’s based on emotion and logic? Lots of things are small generators of tax revenue, does that mean they shouldn’t be taxed?

Original poster
ewloan · 06/08/2024 20:11

Greally · 06/08/2024 20:09

The reasons are irrelevant.

Pay the VAT.

@Greally this isn’t a VAT post. Happy to pay whatever where education is concerned so don’t worry yourself!

OP posts:
tetheredgoat · 06/08/2024 20:10

itsgettingweird · 06/08/2024 20:08

I've literally NEVER thought that!

I know quite a number of people who use independent education. All for different reasons.

But never to buy a result!

There's been some nuts threads about private schools but this one is chocolate covered peanuts 😂

pointless exercise then ; may as well have sent them on the bus to the local comp ?

HooverIsAlwaysBroken · 06/08/2024 20:10

OP with all respect, I don’t think people care. They see a perceived privilege and want to at a minimum tax it (get money out of those CFs and for some make the entire business model unsustainable.

this is emotional not logical and you as a person is irrelevant.

BlueBobble · 06/08/2024 20:09

Connections, and confidence.

Oh and segregation.

HTH.

Greally · 06/08/2024 20:09

The reasons are irrelevant.

Pay the VAT.

itsgettingweird · 06/08/2024 20:08

I've literally NEVER thought that!

I know quite a number of people who use independent education. All for different reasons.

But never to buy a result!

There's been some nuts threads about private schools but this one is chocolate covered peanuts 😂

exprecis · 06/08/2024 20:07

My parents have always been clear that they sent me to private school for the exam results.

I know lots of parents who send their children to private school and they all do it for exam results.

Only on Mumsnet have I seen people claim to do it for extra curriculars

Popp1ngCandy · 06/08/2024 20:07

ewloan · 06/08/2024 20:05

@Popp1ngCandy what part of my post is rubbish? Surely you can appreciate a smaller class size is likely to mean a more thorough education for a child as they have more focus?

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It’s quality of teaching that counts.

Its a moot point .Parents pay to get the best grades to get into the best unis and to get the best jobs .

SonicTheHodgeheg · 06/08/2024 20:06

My siblings and I went to private school because of the results. They wanted to increase our chances of top exam results. Only one of us is super sporty and enjoyed the extra sports that his school provided.

Many posters on here are open about the fact that their kids are taking 11+/13+ for top (academic) schools because they want the exam results and connections. There are some parents who pick a private school for smaller classes/SEN but there are lots of schools that won’t close even with the VAT increase because of their track records of top grades.

Imaginaryhairstyle · 06/08/2024 20:06

I don’t assume it’s to buy exam results; I assume it’s to buy social privilege/ segregation.

I went to a private school and it wasn’t enjoyable! lol. How many people actually enjoy being teenagers?!

It was a lot of hot housing and telling us we were special, and everyone had an eating disorder. There was a lot of dodgy behaviour in the boarding houses too. There is no way I would want that for my child. I assume those who do either a) turn a blind eye to the bad bits in favour of the social privilege b) didnt go to private school themselves and don’t know what it’s really like

Original poster
ewloan · 06/08/2024 20:05

tetheredgoat · 06/08/2024 20:05

OP you sure touched a nerve here !

@tetheredgoat I can see… and not sure how or why!

OP posts:
tetheredgoat · 06/08/2024 20:05

OP you sure touched a nerve here !

Original poster
ewloan · 06/08/2024 20:05

Popp1ngCandy · 06/08/2024 20:03

Rubbish!

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@Popp1ngCandy what part of my post is rubbish? Surely you can appreciate a smaller class size is likely to mean a more thorough education for a child as they have more focus?

OP posts:
PrincessofWells · 06/08/2024 20:04

Actually some people send their children to private school for the pastoral care and often because the values that the school displays are similar to theirs. I couldn't find that anywhere in my local state schools.

Popp1ngCandy · 06/08/2024 20:03

ewloan · 06/08/2024 20:03

@Popp1ngCandy the exam results are often a direct link with the smaller classes, so kids are actually being educated properly. It’s not, ime, the reason for choosing the school

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Rubbish!

Comedycook · 06/08/2024 20:03

ewloan · 06/08/2024 20:02

@Comedycook and @greenwoodentablelegs why on earth click on the thread if you’re not interested? Odd.

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I was wondering if it was going to be a reason I had never heard before....

It wasn't

Original poster
ewloan · 06/08/2024 20:03

Popp1ngCandy · 06/08/2024 20:02

Because the privately educated. Re unfairly represented in the top jobs and unis. So clearly exam results matter to them a lot.

Show quote history

@Popp1ngCandy the exam results are often a direct link with the smaller classes, so kids are actually being educated properly. It’s not, ime, the reason for choosing the school

OP posts:
SouthLondonMum22 · 06/08/2024 20:02

Then why do (incredibly long) private school threads exist on here that seem to focus on which schools have the best results, tutoring and how easy/hard it is to get in to these schools?

tetheredgoat · 06/08/2024 20:02

they mostly want their children mixing with other poshos be that aspirational, snobby,
precious or what
parents comcerned about exam results tend to send children to single sex schools
which are Independent, common entrance, school interview and formal entrance exam

GreenWheat · 06/08/2024 20:02

I venture to suggest that different people choose different schools for different reasons. I still think the main reason is to avoid mixing with people from disadvantaged backgrounds, but of course nobody is willing to say that's their reason.

Popp1ngCandy · 06/08/2024 20:02

ewloan · 06/08/2024 19:57

I have found this from threads and in real life, whenever private school comes up there’s this attitude that it’s about ‘buying results’ or ‘if your child is academic they will do well anywhere.’

Do people not realise that most people who send their kids to private school actually don’t need to be thinking about exam results as the main factor? These are people who often own businesses and have huge family wealth so their child’s exam results are not the be all and end all. The main reason people use private schools is for the entirely different experience for the child, for them to enjoy school and learning in small classes with lots of amenities and focus on their development. Why do people seem to think the main reason is to ‘buy an exam result’?

Because the privately educated. Re unfairly represented in the top jobs and unis. So clearly exam results matter to them a lot.

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