Does anyone else feel this way about the education system in the uk?

Firstly, what’s ‘chaos’? Secondly did you enquire at each of the five schools why the supply teachers were in place? If so, what did they say?

Sorry, but that is very odd! Something isn’t right there.

What is the year of the most recent inspection?

There’s clearly a moral question for you about the politics of giving your child something that other children don’t have. But there’s also presumably a moral question as to whether it’s right to send your child to a school which you don’t particularly like due to your own political views.

My view has always been that my highest moral priority as a parent is doing my best for my children. I actually think most parents share this in most respects- you don’t feed your children suboptimal food or withdraw attention or love from them or prevent them doing extracurricular activities just because not every child has the same. A different logic is applied to private schools in that respect.

My own parents put aside their previous anti-private school views in order to move me from a state school where I was really suffering. I’m very grateful they did because it massively improved my adolescence and preserved my mental health.

But in a way your issue here is inherent in your political beliefs about private schools. If you believe that private schools are wrong because they (in general) are providing something better than the state sector, you are accepting that if you follow your principles you won’t be sending your child to the best school available. That’s quite uncomfortable in the context of your own children.

The disclaimer here is of course that not all state schools are bad and not all private schools are good and there may be other benefits to state like a broader mix of children which outweigh factors like crumbling buildings.

You keep mentioning ‘real life’ but I think it’s possible you have no concept of it. Where I am parents send their kids to private on 30k as well as 300k as some areas have awful schools. One of DS’ best friends is the son of a carer and a taxi driver, another is the son of a local GP. There is such diversity. The super rich kids of aristocracy go to boarding, they don’t tend to go to day schools - those are still the preserve of the wealthy working class.

It will vary from school to school but that was not our experience at all. There were some wealthy families but most were pretty normal and funded school by compromising on holidays, new cars, etc or with help from grandparents

I don’t want my child mixing with a tiny percentage of society which is the most privileged

I hate to break this to you, but if you can afford private school you already are amongst the most privileged, so she'll be mixing with her own kind.

I work in a state secondary and I have lots of friends who teach in other schools in the area. I have worked at and visited more schools. Your description wouldn’t fit any of the schools round here. Even the one which is considered to be particularly challenging and in a deprived area. There was calm and order there too. Would you move area? If the schools in your area aren’t great, then that will move into social aspects of life for a teenager in your area too.

And that it conveniently slips minds that 93% of the nation are state educated.

There is a shocking disparity in schools depending on the area. We ended up moving house because of it, and I'm sending my dd to a selective grammar for secondary, because I'll do what I can within the limits of my resources to give my dc a good education. That's part of my responsibility as a parent.

Well then there is your decision. if you are so against it, why did you post here

How much confidence do you have in your parenting?

‘Satisfactory’ was scrapped as a judgement by Ofsted in 2012. Are you saying they haven’t had an Ofsted in over 12 years and have never been reinspected?

If you found this to be the case in no fewer than 5 different primary schools, then either your expectations are way too high or you live in a horrendous area. State schools are facing some real challenges, but I’m finding the claim that all five were this terrible to be a little unbelievable if I’m honest.

& really naff sounding teachers

What does a naff teacher sound like?

Well she will have to learn that she can’t have the same as her friends but is still privileged and can have nice holidays and a good education. It’s up to you to teach your kids rhe right values. Whatever school you are in, somebody will have more or something you can’t afford

My DCs are now all in their 30s and we sent them to private school because the difference was evident even back then. I just felt I couldn't have lived with myself if I had not taken that opportunity and, possibly, compromised them for my principles. We have never regretted that choice and they are all very grateful for it
I think the gap has widened even more, state schools are judged by very low standards, and I wish we had the money to pay for our grandchildren.

Personally I don't understand this "moral compass" thing, racing to the bottom is not more moral as long as your advantages are not at the direct expense of others

look not all private schools are the same. My neighbours are very normal, down to earth people on a semi 3 bedroom and have both kids at private. No private jet or holiday home. In my area lots of kids in private school have very middle class backgrounds.

My friend’s kids go to school in Chelsea with children of MPs and famous people and that’s completely different again.

"Am I jeprodisring our child’s future for my own moral compass"

It's the convenient MC left wingers Get out of Jail Free card on the issue so you wouldn't be alone.