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Original poster

How to compare state with private? Failed 11 plus.

30 replies

PersonAtHome · 16/10/2017 12:28

I've just found out DS's 11plus results this morning - he was 0.28 marks under the pass mark. I've had my head in the sand, hoping he'd get in to the local grammar, so haven't really seriously considered the other options until now.

We're very lucky and could probably just about manage private fees for secondary - but it would mean other sacrifices. To cut a very long ramble short, a few years ago we had some very very lean years which we've just about recovered from, so yes we could manage private but it would be a lot more comfortable not to. Also I think the worry of the unexpected - like losing our jobs or not being able to work because of unexpected illness - will always hang over me.

But then on the other hand, if I do have the money to give him better opportunities then maybe I'm being silly not to consider that. But are the opportunities / outcomes definitely better at private anyway?

I have an older DS who went through state primary and then got a place at the local grammar. My younger DS did state primary until his school bombed and we put him in private school for the last two years, so I now have experience of both private and state.

The online government portal allows comparison but there's no data for the local independent schools, just the state ones.

Is there a way I can find out whether my local state schools are 'better' than my local independent schools?

If you've had to make this decision, how did you go about it and what factors did you consider?

OP posts:
Allthebestnamesareused · 16/10/2017 13:31

I would ignore anything about G & T because the reality is that means the top 10% of the particular cohort for that school. So it depends who makes up that tope 10% especially if the top 20%/10%/5% (depending where you are geographically) has in reality already been creamed off for the grammars.

As well as charts for the the State Schools there are charts for the Independents too that are separate to the Sate school charts and these will even include those schools that do igcses as well as gcses unlike the State School charts that don't include igcses.

So you can make some form of comparison of results.

As you have already had children go through both systems there seems little point rehashing what some of the other benefits of going private are .

As with all schools some private are good, some are not. Some State are good, some are not.

Have you looked at private in the area yet? How do you feel about them and how does your child?

I m sure you are not letting your disappointment show to your child but with such a narrow miss is worth appealing?

Original poster
PersonAtHome · 16/10/2017 13:11

I really underestimated how miserable I'd feel about him failing the 11 plus. :-(

OP posts:
Original poster
PersonAtHome · 16/10/2017 12:58

Thanks for posting Fionnbhar, that's a very interesting point re comprehensives in grammar areas losing a lot of clever children to the grammars, I hadn't considered that.

Of the two state schools I'm considering, one has won awards for it's Gifted and Talented scheme (think the scheme has a different name now but not sure) and has a reputation for bright kids doing well. It used to be Ofsted Outstanding but has now gone down to Good. When I went to look round the school it felt huge and depressing, but I think it's difficult to get a true impression of a school when being shown around by a year 8 girl, just looking through class windows (we missed the open evening).

The second state school has improved over recent years and is also now a Good with Ofsted, but it doesn't do as well on the figures in the government comparison portal. But on our visit the school had a nicer feel to it, much smaller, nice spaces e.g. for lunch and socialising, great sports facilities. But I have known of children who left there because they were bullied, there are social problems etc.

My husband hates private school and won't seriously consider it, but it'd be me paying for it so I'm considering it on my own!

OP posts:
Fionnbharr · 16/10/2017 12:46

I think the question you need to ask is whether the particular private school will be better for your DS than the particular state school

Your DS’ 11 plus result plus school reports should give you a feel for where he is in terms of achievement - I am assuming higher ability group. So I would look at how that group is dealt with and how it performs in the local state school. Remember it does not matter much if the local state school only achieves 50% A- C at GcSE provided your DS is fulfilling his potential. Compare that with what you know/can find out about the private school.

In many areas I do not think there is a massive difference between the top streams at the comp and private. But I think the problem in grammar areas is that the “comprehensives” are not comprehensive as a high proportion of the clever kids end up at the grammars.

Can you look at seeing how it goes until 13 maybe with extra tuition and then moving to private for 13 - 16 if it is not workin out and then back into State for 6th form? We know children who started school in UK at 13 with fairly limited English but still did well at GCSE.