Are more of you planning to move your DC from private to state for 6th form now?

No I was pointing out that you know nothing about how state secondarys are run. I carnt believe you thought years 7-8 didn't get homework.

https://www.kingseducation.com/kings-life/igcse-vs-gcse

This provides a handy guide. iGCSEs are for schools with a global and international outlook. They are equivalent. And if they were not then i would expect that universities would not recognise them. But they do. Funny that.

Apologies no you didn't. However you did gaslight me.

Fine, mine won't be sitting iGCSEs but I'm off to learn more about them

you have completely misunderstood what iGCSEs mean, and what they are for

It is a lot easier and lesser, hence it is banned in UK state schools. The i stands for international, The iGCSE is meant for schools in poorer countries without resources, and is deliberately made very cheap to run, and easier to pass, as it is for children working in much harder circumstances.

I have taught it in the circumstances in which it is MEANT to be taught, children sitting 3 children to every two stools, one text book between 20, and only every other child can afford a pen Yes, it is right and appropriate for standards to be lowered to compensate for these learning circumstances -as children there are doing brilliantly if they get 15 % lower than a similar child in a UK school

It is a joke that they have been commandeered by the most privileged in our society though. Private schools are businesses first and foremost, and iGCSEs are much cheaper to run, as well as being easier to pass

I didn't ask you that question.

No need to "bless me". We did state primary and DD has friends at state secondary.
This is the thing, there is no equality in the state sector. So some are great and others are poor. Same as private sector. My experience and knowledge of local state secondary schools is that they teach to the test and spoon feed throughout Yr 11. Your experience may be different but don't gaslight me.

You haven't answered my Q about why you think Indy kids are spoon fed over state kids.

My DC got the exact same offers for a highly competitive course as the neighbour’s DC who applied for the same courses this year. One state (all the way through secondary), one a top private all the way. The myth that state school kids get lower offers certainly isn’t true for the competitive courses in top universities.
We know a couple of pupils who got contextual offers who deserved these but in their cases will probably achieve the higher grades anyhow.
OP - your child will be fine in state 6th form! Even if you had to tutor for gaps in teaching if needed, it’s still much cheaper!

What is the % because no Indy school around here only teaches iGCSEs, they offer as an alternative. IGCSEs are not lesser, in fact they are internationally accepted which GCSEs aren't
So when you categorically say that teaching in private schools isn't as good as in state, you have made this up?

There is no 'only' iGCSEs. It is equivalent and is internationally recognised. It's not lesser in any way.

well, for a start, a lot of private schools don't even teach proper GCSEs, only iGCSEs

Mine goes to a state school and years 7 and 8 do get homework, in fact they got more than you are saying. There is plenty of time for independent study. Yes my child has revision sessions in year 11 to get ready for the exams( they where not cramming sessions) but is expected to get grades 7-9 in all subjects due to his amazing teachers and independent revision every single eve since the start of year 10. He is definitely not spoon fed. When he starts college he will 1 day independent study at home plus independent study during college days. I'm sure you are just lost in the private school bubble to realise what state schools bring. Bless you.

Yes, here too - and for exactly that reason. Shockingly selfish motivations on the part of those children's parents who were working the system to their privileged advantage - pay for an exclusive education / small class sizes / better resources snd then swop to a state school for A levels which would be used to enhance their eligibility to be included in the university's state sector quota of incoming students, thus reducing the chances of those that had been state educated throughout.

Where is your evidence of this?

Sorry can you just clarify what you mean by spoonfeeding?
DD is Yr 7 in an Indy and already gets 1 hours homework per night x 5 days per week plus 2 independent study periods for wider reading. In Yrs 11 + 13 they break up at Easter for study leave and don't come back to school apart from exams.

At the state school Yr 7 -8 don't have homework, there is no study leave as they have to attend catch up/cramming sessions, breakfast and lunch revision clubs too.

I'm just confused as to what is classed as spoon feeding?

Several of my friends dc who were at private 11-16 chose to attend the state sixth form college. Whilst the private school is good educationally, it has a certain ethos and character that means if by 16 you aren't playing rugby or other team sports, maybe you're quirky or just gay, you don't really fit in. The youngsters in the sixth form seem to be all conforming to a certain look etc whereas at college anything goes

Private schools mostly have smaller classes, but lets be clear about what is being paid for. Smaller classes and richer class mates. Nicer building, better sports facilities. That is it .

State schools have higher academic standards at GCSE, ( many private schools don't even teach proper GCSEs, just iGCSEs) as well as better pay and conditions for teachers.

Most of the time, private school classes are smaller, however the largest child to adult ratios I have ever come across have been in private schools, which have stayed fully open with such teacher shortages that state schools would have legally had to send a year group home

They are where I live. Of course private schools can be a lot better than state- that's why some state schools get lower uni offers, to recognise disruptive,.large classes. Teachers might be great but spend a lot of time on crowd control.

No. The state 6th form ds had a place at, is 30 miles away and they cancelled the bus. I can't drive him there every day.

I could try to get him in to a school over the border in the next county but they don't have a great reputation, so ds will stay at the independent. The class sizes are small, the teaching is excellent, ds has a 50% scholarship, the teachers know him and the chances are vat won't apply for the first year. So he'll stay.

@combinationpadlock - you've obviously got a bit of a chip on your shoulder about private schools if we're going to slag off the students here?

Private school teachers are often better paid and the resources are better simply because there is more money there for salaries and facilities - it's hardly rocket science!

private school teachers are not better paid with better resources and less challenging students, what makes you think that? Mostly, state schools have better pay and conditions. Also, state school students rarely speak to you like they own your soul.

Very off topic. But this has reminded me of a friend who picks up extra work as a tutor, and who spoke to a private school parent looking for a tutor. once the parent found out she was a state school teacher she said that she wouldn’t be a good enough tutor for her Y7 daughter as she is privately educated. Made us laugh as we all went to the private school her daughter is at.

anyway, on topic, I think moving for 6th form is a very natural point to move & can have a lot of benefits. Lots move locally as no state school has a 6th form, so they all change about, and the local FE college is outstanding so a fair few come from the private schools.

Most teachers will have taught in state and indie schools during their career. Do not sure how they get better in one of the other.

You WILL NOT get a lower offer by moving to state school (except maybe Bristol). You will not have more chance of getting in to any particular Uni. Not unless you've suddenly acquired a few contextual flags.