So IF you had tons of wong, would you send em private?

No because part of school is mixing with all sorts of different people and learning to get on with/deal with them. I want my children to do well academically but more importantly I want them to understand that we need all sorts of people to make up a society and academic achievement is only one form of success. Does that make sense? If I had mega wong I would, of course, give up my job and get a cleaner so I wasn't so knackered all the time and could string together a coherent sentence aafter 5pm!!

FiveHoursSleep - I don't believe that either. A number of our friends would be able to afford private schooling pretty easily (very easily in one or two cases!) too but none have sent their kids to one, they have chosen a variety of different schools but all are state run. I haven't really thought about it too much until recently as our choice seemed the 'norm' (if it was a choice in the first place, I don't really remember making a specific decision!). However, I am pretty new to MN and I read more than I post but I have found it interesting to read the different viewpoints and strong opinion on here relating to the topic. Hasn't changed my thoughts process but certainly makes good reading!

fivehours I guess we all have different views as to what to do for our DC.

Some think it is best to breastfeed to two/three years old.
Some don't allow their DC any sugar products.
Some don't allow aspartame.
Some think homework is the dance of the devil.
Some thinh homework is A Good Thing.

I think it's impossible to say that x,y or z, isn't the best thing for someone else's kids. The parents chgoose that no?

doublemocha We could probably afford it too without too much trauma but our local state schools are fine and so convenient. DD1 is having a crack at the nearest superselective and could possibly get in, but I'm very blase about it and I know she'll do well at the bog standard state school up the road. If she doesn't, we'll get a tutor and maybe move her for the 6th form.
I don't know what it is about the private school parents I know, a lot are really nice but seem convinced that sending their kids private is the best thing they can do for their kids. I really don't believe that.

usualsuspect - I took the comment from higgle to be ironic but will stand corrected!

FiveHoursSleep - Agree, just doesn't sit right with me either (although I can't say I know enough parents who send their children to private school to make comment re whether they feel superior or not). It's probably for a whole variety of reasons rather than one specific one but, nevertheless, and despite the fact that we are able to afford it - it just doesn't 'feel' right for us or for our children.

Yes, without a moment's hesitation.

Only if there was a small school for quirky, creative, absent minded professor types nearby where sport was not emphasised and the children weren't pushed to study law, medicine etc. at the dreaded RG uni. There are no such schools any where near me, but then the local state school is a bit cookie cutter too.

I actually have enough saving for it to be just about possible but then I would have to move in with the DC's in my old age as I would have a minuscule pension, as they are likely to be archaeologists or potters it doesn't worth spending it.

We don't have lots of dosh.......but we do send our boys to an independent school.........best comp schools arround here are all Catholic and I didn't feel right with the whole pretending they are Catholic to get in.

My DH went to this school and said he was v happy and he is a lovely bloke as are my boys. Note: I know a couple of kids at this school who are seriously NOT nice!!

I really don't know.

If we had always been seriously filthy rich from before the DC then maybe, but then we probably wouldn't still be teaching in state education and we wouldn't be the people we are IYSWIM.

I think I would have looked around and chosen the best school for them.

If we suddenly came into loads of money now, then I wouldn't move them unless they were unhappy at their current school.

'Of course I would - I'd prefer my children to have only met nice kids at school'

Thats why not , parents and children with attitudes like that.

No, I don't think we would. It just doesn't sit right with me and I can't help getting the impression that private school kids ( and parents) think they are 'better' than the state school equivalent. I don't want my children to develop this attitude.

Dunno - we do have lots of wonga, it depends which state school DCs get offered whether we go private - but getting into the correct private school is not simply a question of writing a cheque.

Brilliant joke about there only being nice children in independents there Higgle.

You forgot the at the end of your post there Higgle.

Of course I would - I'd prefer my children to have only met nice kids at school.

No

On the unqualified staff point, I think people run away with the idea the independents will let anyone 'have a bash'.

My experience of this - started as an unqualified, then a few years later qualified on the job, is that the reality is different. I was given loads of help, support, guidance and monitoring to 'learn' my craft on the job. I was also afforded time to read, observe and learn. As a consequence when I did my qualification it was more of a formality than it would otherwise have been. Without blowing my own trumpet, the kids that I taught unqualified were not hard done by (results were excellent), and I would not have been allowed to continue if I hadn't been good.

The only other unqualified teacher where I worked, was the deputy head! With 40 years experience and an amazing Oxbridge entry track record, her skill was certainly not to be sniffed at either.

I probably would, but after a negative experience with a prep school for DS1, I'd be very careful about which school and ask lots of searching questions. We were just blinded by the great facilities and the offer of an 80% bursary and it turned out to be totally wrong for him. TBH most state secondary schools scare me, which is why I quit teaching secondary early on. I absolutely loved my private education. Was probably the poorest in the school but it rarely bothered me, and the opportunities were fantastic. Some private schools are much more snobby than others.

In a heartbeat.

i googled it - romany for wanger

I have never heard of wonga either (and I used to live inSouth London).

shortening of wonga innit, it's a southern term I think

I initially thought it meant Wong as in Asian surname, so if you are a gimmer so am I

So when did the term wong appear? Is it regional or am I such an old gimmer that I have never heard of it before?