AIBU to think Private School isn’t worth the expense?

No experience of Bristol schools but currently work in a large secondary. Have had two DC go through state (albeit Grammar schools) and have two at private.

I am very fortunate that we can afford private because the state of my workplace is horrendous and if this is indicative of most schools then I would not want my kids there. We are fighting a losing battle. We are massively under resourced and the level of need from students is overwhelming. We have some fabulous teachers and some really shit ones but I'd say it's 50/50 and we struggle to recruit. In a school of 1250 we have a SEND department of 3 and we are not meeting need at so many levels which has a knock effect on behaviour.

I had no issues with one of my DC grammar whereas the other was poor and relied entirely on the cohort. Neither can compare though with the opportunities my DC get now at private - drama productions, choir, sport etc are poles apart from what is offered at state. I wish all children could have these opportunities.

Not unfair necessarily. Looking for equity between them? It’s not unfair if the child with short sight gets the glasses but the one with 20/20 vision doesn’t.

as long as school is being chosen according to need and they’re both happy then it’s fine I think. Plenty of families we know do a mix of state and independent between siblings for all sorts of reasons.

Sorry but the last few posters are woefully out of date. As I mentioned, on results alone there are several state wsecondary schools spitting out Oxbridge/medicine/Russell Grp straight A students. So god only knows what they'd need to be doing to not be so 'horrendous'...Maybe posters don't like the uniform or diversity of intake ?

It's a bit like business class for some people. Same destination, better ride.

Look, if you've got circa £250k to send your kids to private school then I'm guessing you've got the money to buy a house in one of the areas that would get you into a good state school in Bristol.
Purely on results (going on what DC's peers achieve in said state schools) I don't know why you'd pay.
On the other hand through my sport I'm linked in with many private school kids (and parents). They undoubtedly get far more opportunities for their sports (training, matches etc) and extra curriculum stuff is on tap and we'll supported. Mostly parents seem to be paying for an extended school day/wrap around care and the school taking care of promoting and supporting hobbies and when experiences. State parents have to do much more driving about and supporting....

OP I have to hand it to you, this is a fantastic subversion! 🫡

Rock up in a vehemently pro-VAT space (because it's not fair that the poors can't access the advantages of private schools) and get them to sound off on how private schools aren't worth the money and are in some cases worse!

bifurCAT · Today 21:27
You can take a horse to water, but you can't make him drink

You can send a person to college but you cannot make them think.

Less time in lessons (looooong holidays) and unqualified teachers.

Bingo!
Still no mention of Boris though.

So you’ve been to every independent school in the country and know for sure that only 5 of them are of benefit to their students, over and above what could be offered in a state school.
To know whether a private school
is worth it to an individual child you would need to know what the alternative is for that child. You’re talking absolute bollocks.

Have you any experience of private schools outside of their representation in films and on tv…?

The likes of Westminster and both the St Paul’s. This is not to say other private or state schools are crap. But families need to think about the values, culture and practicalities of what they want out of the school they choose.

Privates schools are like the Emperor's New Clothes! Less time in lessons (looooong holidays) and unqualified teachers. Just because someone has a phd in a subject REALLY doesn't equate to being able to teach it ...

Don't believe the myth of better behaviour at private schools either - the kids just have access to more money so the parties are fuelled by champagne and class A drugs rather than cider and vapes 😬

This is so true, and as someone else said not all private schools are equal. And not all private schools will suit all children, some will definitely be worse than state.

Personally I think going private just to get better exam results is a waste of money. You could buy personal tuition in a few subjects and achieve that extra grade or two. But then my children didnt want to be ie Drs so didnt need all round excellent results.

Bristol area has a huge range of Private Schools that are very varied, choose carefully.

The wrong reason would be for your DC to enter a high paid profession. It's just not guaranteed.

DF spent £70k on my education (scholarship) and I work for a charity. I gained a lot from it though - independent thinking, love of learning, friends, values, enjoyment of sport, maturity, tolerance.

I went to private school and a top London uni, joined a Consulting grad scheme. On my grad scheme most were grammar or private. However, it's now 20 years on and a large % of sr management and directors at my level at all the top corporates are from state schools, and not Oxbridge educated. I also used to think private school lent itself to confidence but I now believe it's more to do with parents and travel. So I think everything balances out post uni, and again in your 30s when those who pushed hard in their 20s step back/burn out (like me) and those who were a bit lost in their 20s find a purpose in their 30s.

In summary I don't think it's worth it unless you are wealthy and won't feel the pinch of the fees to much. Prob better to save the money for your retirement, their house fund and lots of nice holidays.

Well actually you can if you use apple juice or recovery mash.....

We’re doing the same, sending DD to a private primary with excellent success rates for local grammar. If she gets in then it will have been very worthwhile… quite the gamble though I suppose!

Which ones do you think they are??!

You can take a horse to water, but you can't make him drink.

It's no longer the guarantee it once was. But the chances are still good. I visited Cheltenham Ladies once and their library was the size of our school hall. I remember feeling a twang of something. It wasn't jealousy as such, more of a realisation that these girls just had better chances.

OP visit as many schools as you can, ask them critical questions: what's the pass rate; how many students progress onto university and how are they supported if they want to get into a competitive course/university. There a plenty of myths about private schools, e.g. small class size, this only matters if you are in single digits as it is not a money maker for any school.

Ultimately, it doesn't matter which school you go to, it matter whose class you are in and who your parents are.