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Original poster

Considering independent school. Family very negative about it?

104 replies

WTDAS · 25/09/2022 09:30

Our eldest is in Y6 and so we've started looking secondary schools.

Current favourite is a local independent and for what it offers we think it'll be worth the expense. (Affordable for us with some sacrifices if DC2 ends up there too but nothing we aren't willing to make - fewer holidays, tigger budget etc)

But no one in either side of our family have ever set foot in a private school and are just full of reasons why it's the wrong decision.

Waste of money.

Nice kids will do well anywhere.

Won't learn what real life is like.

Teachers aren't qualified.

Will get bullied.

Etc etc. List goes on.

Honestly I go between being taken in by it and being more determined to send him.

Anyone had the same?

OP posts:
LadyAethelfled · 25/09/2022 09:41

Like any other school, not all private schools are the same. If it's one of the more affordable ones they will likely have a mix of students from different backgrounds. No more chance of being bullied than in a state school. And I very much doubt there would be unqualified teachers.

Hoppinggreen · 25/09/2022 09:36

All of those objections are possibilities not certainties and are not exclusive to Private’s schools.
Also, given that the people with those objections have no experience of Private schools at all how are their opinions valid?

The choice is yours and there are certainly pros and cons but don’t base it on the views people who have no idea what they are talking about

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 25/09/2022 09:36

Oh, and fwiw, I have set foot in plenty of private schools, but I still share their views.

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 25/09/2022 09:34

Well, personally I think they're probably right that it's a waste of money, unless your state options are truly awful, but ultimately, you're the parents so it's your choice.

Just tell them that you've made your decision, that you understand their perspective but you don't share it, and you'd be grateful if you could respect the choices that you're making as a parent.

You won't be able to persuade them that you're right, so just agree to differ and do what you believe is the best thing for your dc.

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