To wonder if you are against private schools…

Or are private schools/private tuition

a result of
inequality ?

Everything creates inequality. Do you think that doing away with Private Schools would change that?

Not all schools are equal, even in state level so what do you do with those?

Ending Private Schools isn’t going to make your local comp any better.

I don't like them.

I'm a primary school teacher in the state sector, but in the holidays I work for a holiday scheme provider that is based in private schools. I get to nosy around them, look at displays, and sometimes even have a flick through the children's books. And honestly, they're not doing anything better, or different, than the same kids in state schools are doing. Or certainly not at the primary school age.

I think a lot of parents do the private school thing with a view to "buying into" a certain social demographic. Buying their children entry into a higher social class than they themselves were born into. In the private schools I visit (spread across the midlands and north London), the children are, I'd guess 75% and up, the children of second and third generation immigrants. Very, very few seem to be white British.

You can believe what you like but I would never have put a child of mine into private education

The state school to which we sent DS is average. It was chosen because it’s the closest school geographically, and schooldays are long enough without adding in a trek across the city on frequently unreliable buses.

Always makes me laugh when the "we could have afforded Private but didn't" and the "my kids did very well at State" crowd always chuck in how their State school was excellent.
I have yet to see someone who could easily afford Private send their DC to a failing State school just because of their principles and if a Parent DID do that then I would be seriously judging them.
I really wish that people who want to ban Private schools would acknowledge that some State schools really aren't fit for purpose and given that why the hell would I send my child there when I can pay for an alternative?
ALL kids deserve a good education but as long as the only way I can get that is to move house or pay for it then thats what I will do

This is true when you look at an individual level. On a societal level, private schools create so much inequality

But what actual difference does it make to your life? Your kids did great in state, that's wonderful. But on a day to day level, what would you actually achieve in your own life by banning private education?

The contempt should be directed to the government, not private school parents.

And I don't believe for a minute that if your child is in a class of 30 in a poor performing state school, that you wouldn't for a minute put that child in private, if you had the means to do so. I don't believe that at all, if the choice was there.

Why wouldn't you want your child to have the best possible education, access to the best facilities, music, drama, art, languages, trips etc.

I am so grateful and thankful that my DC attend the school I used to go past as a child, looking at it in awe, because I went to state. The fact that I can put my DC in that school is one of my greatest achievements and no-one can take that away from me.

The people who believe this are generally the ones paying for their child to go to school, in my experience, even though their children clearly are not any more or less brighter than most of their peers. Min fact a couple have SEN issues so the opposite could be argued, if we’re judging by conventional standards…

Well that’s clearly bullshit. Oh no they don’t. Very few are actually that academically selective - even then I’d question how ‘selective’ they really are…
you pay, you get in. As people in VAT threads keep reminding everyone, not all schools are Eton and Harrow…

Most people can see pros and cons to private schools. In both types of schools you can end up with bubbles - people who simply can't empathise with the other. Personally I agree that we should be mirroring what these schools get right rather than dragging them down. It makes no sense not to use the data of their successes to benefit mainstream schools. The main issue isn't even money but they attract parents and pupils who understand education is key to a good job and options throughout life. Of course the majority of state school parents understand this too (I'm not suggesting otherwise) but the larger % of kids from families where school is just something to fight through before you are "free" with no intention of working with skill or being particularly aware of other people, means their impact is more negative to the whole in state settings. Parents at these schools are well aware of the families and would also avoid them if they could.

What would really help is identifying these families in early years and working holistically with them. Ironically these families need smaller class sizes most so their kids can get more of a social education from the school setting to over ride the negative impacts from their families' social conditioning.

I was genuinely amazed when I heard that some people actually believe kids at private schools are cleverer than those at state schools....

From my own experience, it really isn't the case. There were plenty of kids who weren't particularly bright...the test to get in was a bit of window dressing imo. I'm sure theyre not all like that though. However I imagine as fees become more unaffordable, schools will become even less fussy as to who they take.

This is also a fair point.

But it’s not phrased by the school as bluntly as ‘Look, we’ll take children as academically substandard as we think we can get away with (because you’d be sending yours to Selective School X if they had a hope of getting in) while ruling out most SEN, but will guarantee little Ginevra won’t be sitting next to the daughter of the local drugs kingpin or start dropping her hs.’

I am going to assume that not everyone lives where you live

I am not naming it but my DC's Private school is non selective and interestingly gets the same A level results as the 2 closest Grammars
There is another Private school we considered around 20 minutes away and that is also non selective.
They do some very minor tests on their Taster Day and if they then end up there the tests are used to assess them along with their SATs results.

They don't 'like to think it'. They are.

I think you’re confused. The ‘test’ at non-selective schools isn’t an ‘entrance exam’, it’s just an assessment to see where kids are academically, ditto the interview, which is to scope out the child, the family, potential behavioural issues etc. Because parents prepared to pay substantial fees like to think (as seen on this thread) that they’re paying for some form of exclusiveness, academic or social, or for their child not to be in a class with children with significant SEN or whose English isn’t fluent.

My DD has friends at another local private school. It does claim to have assessments but none of her friends there got decent GCSE results (worse than the top set at the local comp which she attended) & I have never heard of a child being turned down there. In fact in August they were still advertising on the bus stops that they had places available for a Sept start.

Kingsley

Head to the Good schools guide and you will find many non-selective schools. We have visited many for our two DC. Some are really geared on those children with SEN, others offer and all-round education which isn’t dependent on ability. Of course, there are also many private hot houses too - horses for courses.

Could you name a couple of them please? I’m curious.

Not near where I live. Every single one requires children to pass an 11-plus style test plus an assessment interview.

I think Micheala is a state school, but with very firm boundaries which parents and children have to sign up to before being admitted.

Yes, absolutely, schools have so many hats on - social worker, behaviour management, counsellor, that 'teacher' doesn't always come first.

I don't think it's always about funding though. My youngests infant school has lower funding due to being undersubscribed, but has brilliant behaviour and fantastic teaching and achievement. Parental engagement is really high, and that makes the biggest difference.

The local private girls school here has very similar results to the girls state school that my own and most of the girls we know go to pretty much anyone that can pay can go to the private. It is smaller and prettier and undoubtedly “gentler”. It’s for the daughters of very wealthy families and those whose daughters have struggled at the state school due to social / emotional issues. Dd moans about wanting to go as their food and trips are better and her best mate goes there but tough luck!