Would you turn down this State school for an independent school? (a bit long!)

But is doesn't really sound as if the state school is ok, I personally disagree that for a non selective comp that 53% is an acceptable percentage, better schools would have that in the high 60's or more.
I'd personally rather spend the money on their education, than on fripperies, materila goods and expensive holidays.
Also extras might not be too much, many independent schools are well aware parents struggle to pay the fees, and don't load the bills with other stuff.

I think if the state school is OK, then save the money and spend it on other stuff - holidays, trips, books, music lessons - just other stuff, really!

On double versus triple science, you might be aware that state schools are now being encouraged to offer triple science. I think everyone who gets Level 6 at KS3 is entitled to study triple. Won't this mean that triple science will become more common and, rightly or wrongly, devalue double as a consequence?

Exactly Seeker. If your child gets their good set of GCSEs, you (and they) are not going to give a flying f*!k whether 49% or 99% of the other kids did.

The important thing to remember when you're comparing rtesults is that a grammar shcool or an independent school is certain to have much better resulrs because most of the children who aren't going to do well are selected out at admission.

53% A-C is good if you take into account that there will probably be a significant number of chiildren in the school that won't get and a-c's ar all - or indeed any gcse's at all.

At my daughter's school, for example, nearly 100% get A-C - but then the bloody well should - it takes the top 25% of the cohort. The High school gets 38%ish - but the top 25% have already been creamed off to the grammar and another significant percentage arent't at school often enough to be told when the exams are, never mind to work for them. Looked at like this, the 38% is brilliant - and most of the children of committed, involved parents like those on Mumsnet are going to be in that 38%. It's not that clever children go to a school with results like that and suddenly start doing badly. They help make up the 38%!

if your ds wants to go and he's got a place how's he going to feel if you turn around and tell him he's got to go to the local comp??

I don't neccessarily think that being able to afford (or not) school fees for your ds2 should be a deciding factor. You'll need to make decisions about ds2's education independently of ds1's - they are different children after all

ds1 is at an independent secondary, where he's absolutely thriving having been miserable at his state primary - it was definitely the right decision for him - however, ds1 and ds2 are chalk and cheese so I'm not sure that ds1's school would be right for ds2 - in fact, at the moment I'm leaning towards the partially selective 'outstanding' local comprehensive which would have been disastrous for ds1. It's much more important to consider which school's right for each child

marina - I agree totally about the languages. Interesting to hear how things were over sciences - I wonder if it's still the same for some universities/courses? The debate has suddenly (since this afternoon!) taken on a new significance for me as it looks as though ds may choose the double science option over separate ones due to an unexpected computing choice turning up on his options sheet which he bought home today. I'm worrying if because he's at an independent school where seperate sciences are offered universities will expect him to have done them? I imagine they cut state schools that don't offer them more slack or am I being overly paranoid? Talk about eating my words from earlier - I can now totally see why people might be worried about this!

See GCSE choice thread here

That is good to hear snorkle. At my old school (admittedly when combined sciences were in their infancy) ALL our prospective doctors and physicists left in the sixth form to do separate sciences elsewhere, on the advice of university admissions tutors
Glad things have changed but still think one language in the school environment is a shocker because of the whole-community message it conveys that MFL is hardly significant any more. Agree tutors etc can overcome this lack but it is a loss to the school at large IMO
Made your mind up yet Queen Meabh?

QMOC - I've just added a note to the GCSE options thread and looking through it the double vs seperate science issue is discussed on that - if you look back through it you can see Martianbishop has had students go on medicine and vetinary science from double science. Link to thread here.

Is your ds going to be among the 53% with at least 5 A-C passes? Because if so (and it sounds like he is) then does it really matter what anyone else gets??
Don't think the science would necessarily be a problem. Many schools do this these days. Only being able to study one language for GCSE could be limiting if he's dead keen, but one language is enough for university.
Try to evaluate what you're actually going to get for your money with the private school - what is there over and above what the state one has to offer? If your ds has specific talents then it might be worth considering, but you're certainly doing the right thing by considering the issue rather than doing the kneejerk 'I'm paying therefore it must be better'. My ds was in private for a while as he was a chorister , and could not have had that experience without going private, which was fine, but once his voice broke, he chose to leave, and tbh I'm very happy with the decision as our local state school is excellent and apart from the music, the teaching at the private school wasnt amazing. It's also worth thinking long term and considering whether applying for university from a state school may be an advantage.... Good luck with what you decide

Sorry - posted on wrong thread!!

Roisin - we're in same position. Dd got first choice - fantastic school - but already has her heart set on independent. She's put so much effort into the whole process it seems cruel not to let her go to the school she really wants. We could just about afford it but obviously it would be great to save the money!

QMOC, You can do 3 science A levels following dual science GCSE. You start with a small disadvantage over those who have done seperate sciences but it's caught up in just a few lessons I'm told. Talk to Martianbishop on this - she is an expert. At my dc's (private) school three sciences is an option but many are encouraged to do double (and take an extra language) to give a broader range of GCSEs. Once you have done science A levels what you did at GCSE is irrelevent.

On the languages you can do things to help yourself if the school doesn't, including organising exchange trips which are hugely beneficial. To teach a whole extra language outside school though is not easy at all, but if you really wanted to, an outside tutor once a week for 4 years ought to be sufficient (this is how mandarin and japanese are taught at my dcs school).

I'm not saying deffo go for state (would be exceedingly hipocritical of me), but some of the obstacles are not insurmountable.

I've taught in the independent sector and would say that the advantages are not always the same throughout the sector but it is rare that they don't exceed the advantages of even the best state schools. the resources are far in excess of state schools because of obvious funding issues. It really comes down to finances, its a huge financial commitment to make for 2 children, remeber the additional cost of uniform, school trips and the inevitable 'extras' for a lot of things, but if you are prepared to afford it I couldn't recommend it more highly. I have 3DC and would have trouble to find money to educate even one privately but if i could afford independent i would definely choose it. the only situation i wouldn't recommend it would be if your DS didn't want to go, if he does then send him if you can.

Any chance at all of a bursary at the school (I am guessing he did not enter for a scholarship place)? He sounds eligible on academic grounds. How musical is he? do they offer music scholarships?
You could ring the School's Bursar and see if there is anything the school can do to help...

Things have changed with regard to MFL provision QueenMaebh - I think what the state school now offers is the minimum required, sadly. It's the law of diminishing returns.
State schools with specialist language college status offer more choice, as do state grammars where they still exist and, the independent sector.
I am hopelessly biased as I am a linguist and ds clearly has potential in this area, but for me, assigning a low priority to MFL is a big turn-off in a school, regardless of sector or other facilities etc

sounds like you're leaning towards independent, which is fine, BUT 53% achieving A*-C at GCSE doesn't mean that half aren't receiving the education they should. It means that 47% can't manage those grades with the education they're getting. That could mean that the education is poor, or it could mean the intake has many children who would never achieve those grades, even with excellent education. That is why league tables should be taken with a pinch of salt....it could be that the education is excellent, and that many of those 47% would have WORSE results with a different set of teachers. You need to look at the demographics of the school, not just the exam results.

I would also think hard before committing yourself to independent school for one child, if you can't afford it for two. What are you going to do when your second child moves up if you haven't got a better job? Do you move 1st child back to state school after he's settled in and made his friends, or do you send 2nd child to a school that wasn't good enough for your 1st....

on the science thing again, I also feel that science is SO important that it should at least be possible for it to be give 3 full 'slots' (3/10 or 3/9 of your education on science isn't all that much!)
My DH did a science degree (a while ago now), at oxbridge: no double-awarders there...