Sam Freedman wouldn't send his kids private

Tbh I can't remember, however it's irrelevant because schools in other areas also have high pp, so no difference whether you compare it to a similar school elsewhere with or without pp funding.

Not at all noble just pointing out that the funding of London state schools makes them very different to what a lot of the country has. However iirc someone did once post the funding for a school in tower hamlets and it was a lot closer to the funding for some privates outside London than it was to state funding for some areas outside London.

I can afford private but my children went/are going state.

There are plenty of us about!

Not everyone pays for 11+ tutoring! My daughter did a couple of past papers and that was it.

Good point Clavinova, he might not be able to afford private school fees for 3 DC. Fox and grapes?

Given that all London schools have higher funding than the rest of the country, attending a comprehensive there is no more socially principled than any other choice of school.

Last year Sam Freedman stated that if he lived in a full grammar school area then he would be obliged to pay thousands of pounds for (11+) tutoring - just like all the other middle class parents do - which proved that grammar schools were socially unfair. He would still pay the tutors though - so why would he not send his dc to a desirable comprehensive school in London?

Woodside is obviously an outstanding school with excellent Progress 8, however:
High Attainers on entry 12%, fsm 56.4%, EBacc 20%

There are plenty of other comprehensive schools to choose from in North London if he lives that way; Fortismere is only a mile away:
High Attainers on entry over 50%, fsm 15% and EBacc 59%

You are assuming that he can easily afford private school fees for 3 dc in London.
Senior Policy Advisers to the Cabinet Office appear to earn £65,000 - £70,000 pa - he would need to earn considerably more at Teach First and/or be married to a relatively high earning professional to afford £36,000 pa (minimum) school fees for twins in London at age 11, plus a London mortgage, plus a nanny/child care?? From his tweet, one of the reasons he wouldn't send his dc to private schools is his social conscience, another good reason might be the cost of the fees.

Thanks bizzy !

mmm- just because a school in a disadvantaged area does not make it 'crap' or 'bog standard' or whatever other offensive term you can come up with. Most people obsessed with bottom line data I find and also for some, choosing a school seems to be a class issue.
Having principles, supporting inclusive education is not something that should be sneered at or create an immediate- you must be sacrificing your children response.

SF's twitter account says he has 7yo twins and a toddler... is it out of date?

Never understood why public figures expect to get brownie points for sending their children to the school they think will be best for their children. If that's a state school (for whatever reason, including what you think it will teach them about other groups in society or what technology it will teach them or whatever) lucky you, you got it for free. If that's a private school, fine, whatever.

OTOH if they expect credit for sending their children to a school they think will not be the best for the children... just no. Either they're saying they think their children have some kind of magic fairy dust that's so powerful the advantage to other people's kids outweighs the disadvantage to their own (err, no, I don't think your kids have that superpower) or they're engaging in some bizarre "look I'm handicapping my kids" game. Either way, not a way I want someone I'm expected to trust to discharge public responsibilities to think.

I send my children to the best schools I can. For me, that is private.

@noblegiraffe - did he actually switch his daughter's school? I thought she was still there, along with Gove's daughter.

With a family background like his, his DC will do well wherever. Family background - not school sector- has always been the biggest determinant of academic success.

His kids will access a first class state school. They will get private tuition if/when required. They will live in a warm, comfortable home full of books, with engaged parents and interesting conversation. Their holidays will be full of enrichment activities. When they leave school family connections will ensure appropriate work experience etc.

Why on earth would he spend money on private schools?

I'd be more impressed if he were involved with a school in the arse end of Ballygobackwards, rather than in London where they have far more money and engaged parents.

I'm not sure what to make of this (and had no idea who this guy was prior to this thread). A few things that come to mind:

I had the same experience as him at a (foreign) private school, and feel the same re my own children's education.

Like a lot of people in London I've ended up buying a home with an eye on the local schools, so there's a large element of selection by house price - where does this chap live?

My children will have (touch wood) two educated, engaged parents with the financial resources to support their education either with extra-curricular stuff or with additional tutoring etc (like this guy) - so even leaving aside the point just above, if they did end up at Grime Street Comp (Tottenham Edition), with poor teaching I expect they'd get the grades to reflect the added value that their parental background offers.

Just had peak at Woodside High School.
A very successful school which also has high number of children attracting pupil premium.

I don't know why anybody wouldn't send their child to a state school in London because they get a far better pupil premium than the rest of the UK as well as generously funded museums, theatres etc.

The school I worked in that was most involved with TF was an outstanding inner London school.

I would cynically guess that his kids will go to one of the best schools and he'll be able to pat himself on the back bigly.

Anyway I wouldn't let it influence my own decisions.

I blame his parents, not his education. It is perfectly possible to go to private school and still be worldly aware.