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

We're looking at secondary schools atm. Every state school we've looked at has had student led tours, as well as students helping their teachers demonstrate science experiments, activities, showing the visiting kids and their parents the equipment in the media labs, art studios etc. They were all keen to chat and have their honest views, good and bad, of different aspects of the school.

What, you work in every indy school in the UK to qualify you to make that statement?

I work in a role that allows me to visit and see teaching and learning in theses schools, as well as what these school have offer more widely.

Depends on so many things but now that VAT has been slapped on we've decided that our local junior school is good enough, but would like to send them private for secondary. We'd have gone in year 5 but we are now leaving it until year 7 to make up for the additional VAT expenses.

It depends on what you call bad behaviour. The local private school has a real bullying problem by all accounts. Kids are the same everywhere no matter how much you pay. If you're not getting bullied for having the right Nike pros then you're being bullied because your pony doesn't have the right brand of saddle.

well, from my experience as a parent and a teacher, engaged parents come from all walks of life.
I don't pay for private healthcare or education and trust me, I value my health, the NHS and education. So do all of the other parents I know.

I would go private for secondary. Did this with DS and not regretting it. Teachers are the same but pupils are selected. No bad behaviour tolerated. My neighbour whose DS is in state told me her DS can't concentrate because there are so many children who are being disruptive. Saying swear words to teachers or making noises. How are you supposed to learn in that environment? Teachers are great but they can only do so much...

I know several people who were educated privately and who benefitted from it, and that's more than 5 schools.

If you feel that all of the secondary schools in Bristol are horrendous you have answered your own question and need to send your children to a private school.

Ooh I wonder if mine is on the list - don't leave us in suspense!!

That's the biggest load of bollocks I've ever heard!
What criteria are you basing that on?

Indeed. We bought a house for £340k 10 years ago in a mediocre catchment. DS has just started private school for P6. DD will likely move for S1 (secondary). An equivalent house in a great school catchment would set us back minimum £700k. Our house is probably worth £500k max now. Theres not a lot in it. And we don't really want to move. A lot of people around us send their kids to private school rather than pay the premium to live in the great school catchments.

OK, I'll bite - which are these magical four?!

wtf are you basing that on?

There are far more than 5 that are worth it.

I guess it depends how good local state schools are. My DD got 11 x G9’s from a state school this summer. So obviously glad i didnt pay 100k plus. DS also got mostly 9’s.

There are fewer than 5 private schools in the UK that are worth it. None are in Bristol.

That's really not true at all. Loads of good secondary schools in Bristol - SMRT, Cathedral, Free school, St Katherine's ...

They really aren't.

My experience as both a parent and a teacher is that those who are planning to spend the best part of 250k on their child’s education a) do their research and b) have high expectations.

Loads of state school parents are the same though (do their research and have high expectations).

The only difference is they pay through housing, rather than school fees.

They spend many thousands on buying a home near the state school they want. And not necessarily in their current area. A fair few families specifically move to another area for the schools.

House prices near the "good" state schools are very often higher (sometimes a lot higher) than for homes near a less well regarded state school.

@fizzwhizz1 sorry not being rude which s hook is the really good one in that area I think there’s just one

My DC went to a failing primary. It was ok, she worked hard. She also was very badly bullied. The school refused to act and watched it happen.

Our local secondary school is failing, the building is falling apart and all lessons take place in portakabins on the playing field. This means no PE. Bullying and fights are daily occurrences. All of my friends children go there and tell me so I’m not inventing this.

We decided to send the Dc to the local independent school as primary was a written off and we know they wouldn’t cope in the state system any longer.

IF our local state schools were excellent we would use them and save ourselves a fortune. But sadly they are not and I value the mental health of my child. Nothing to do with grades. They will do well wherever they go.

Really depends where you are in Bristol and what your secondary options are. For us we went private as wasn’t on the state school so it gave us options.
Which are your local school/s?

I'm not interested in exam grades. My gentle, sensitive DS was mercilessly bullied at Primary and wouldn't have lasted five minutes in a state Secondary. We have moved heaven and earth to send him to an Independent school where there are smaller class sizes and a robust pastoral system. It completely depends on the child whether it's "worth" the money or not. If you've got a bright and confident neuro typical child with a secure friendship group then they'll probably do well in most environments.

@Parsley1234 No need to be rude. Redland Green is only ranked as 'Good' according to ofsted. I've heard about some drug issues as well lately.