Downsizing to educate privately - any pearls?

Clever kids are served very well by good state schools. The ones that bumble along in the middle are usually completely ignored. Private school comes into its own for those kids. I'd definitely downsize to keep my kids at private school because I think it is better than the state options here.

has recently started

"We've struggle to pay for private prep, due to housing costs and 4 kids mainly but anyway. Every time i've tried to look at state since I cannot bear the thought of going back, the difference really is that great, the whole ethos is so very different.
I hear what the kids down the road get up to at the state school my DC's used to attend and I cringe, it's pathetic at the age of 9 they aren't doing basic maths."

I agree with Bunbaker don't assume all state schools are the same. Two of DC1's friends are working at level 7 in maths and DC1 as recently started working at level 6

Apology accepted, word factory.

I missed that, so apologies seeker

And to be fair, it was Maypole who said that, so I wasn't unduly upset....

I don't think that it's okay for other posters to do the same - neither does exotic, that's why she's apologised, I should think.

Wordfactory. I said it was ill judged and poisonous.

theoriginal if any poster has ever said that they hope and wish your children end up stacking shelves...then they should absolutely feel ashamed of themselves.
There is no excuse.

But it most certainly does not mean it is okay for other posters do the same. If we get into the asort of tit for tat, we may as well take to the playground.

And seeker I cannot accept any apology. The remark was not made against my DC and I cannot accept on the poster's behalf whose children were targeted. That would be arrogant.

But I think the fact that you have made no mention of that remark being thoroughly unacceptable speaks volumes. You would rather snipe at Heswall about aceepting apologies gracefully...so...

I've not just looked around one state school in one LEA BUN, you don't know what you're missing so i'm sure you are happy. I would know and so would not be.

"We've struggle to pay for private prep, due to housing costs and 4 kids mainly but anyway. Every time i've tried to look at state since I cannot bear the thought of going back, the difference really is that great, the whole ethos is so very different.
I hear what the kids down the road get up to at the state school my DC's used to attend and I cringe, it's pathetic at the age of 9 they aren't doing basic maths."

Maybe that is the case at your local state primary school, but please don't assume that all state schools are failing their children. We have an outstanding primary school in our village. Some of the children go on to private school after 11, but none of the parents send them to private school before 11 because they don't need to. The school offers a rounded education with loads of extra curricular activities and a strong focus on learning - in 2011 more than 65% of the year 6 children acheived level 5 in English and maths.

In answer to the OP, we considered sending DD to a private high school. she even passed the entrance exam, but when it came down to it we would have really struggled. So DD is now at the local state high school, and so far we have had no regrets. If I felt she needed a boost I will get a private tutor.

imo, homework in primary school is more for the parent to see their child(rens) progress than anything else.

Well I've been told on here that my children won't thank me when they're stacking shelves at tesco after their state education! People say this stuff: it's rarer for them to apologise.

I don't think "going on" about it can possibly be described as accepting an apology gracefully. Heswell has made it very clear that she has no idea how to. It's looking a bit as if you can't either!

I think an apology has been given and that's good.

However, I do think we need all to think very long and hard about ourselves if we ever get to a point where we wish bad things to happen to children.

Because let's be honest, no matter what a poster says, no matter how much it riles us, it can never ever be justifiable to wihs bad things to happen to children.

TBH, if I ever got to the point of even thinking it, let alone posting it on a public forum...I would have to ask myself whether this is a good place for me to hang out.

Have you never heard of accepting an apology gracefully?

The feelings mutual but at least I managed not to drag your dear children into eh ?

Thank you and goodnight Heswell.
I find you very unpleasant and will stop reading.
I would love to abolish all grammar schools and give every DC the best education.

No. She said something poisonous about someone else (and apologised- twice) because that person's attitude sucks. The anaysis of the grammar school system is seperate.

I am only going by Heswell who said
there are more places available than children to fill them.
and
the pass mark is 232 and I have known children with 216 get places.
If you can write your name you are in some years it would seem.

I live in the south and I don't know any parent-however bright-who doesn't await the results without a twinge of apprehension.

Obviously not at small white cat.

Exotic, stop digging a deeper hole

Wow- there's that fab attitude again!