What’s more important primary or secondary education?

Secondary definitely.

I work in two secondaries and my son went to a third and they have had huge difficulties in recruitment and retention. Lots of subjects have non specialists, particularly in years 7 and 8. The school workforce census looks at this and there are stats like 1 in 5 physics lessons are taught by non specialists. So I'd say it's quite well documented in the state sector that schools are struggling with specialist. But of course will vary school to school.

I dont really have any evidence for private education to be fair, other than knowing that the local schools websites say that all thier subjects are taught by specialist and a lot put thier teachers credentials on the website. But I am sure this does vary too.

It was just something to check/consider when looking at individual schools rather than a hard and fast rule.

Yes. I was saying that although everyone needs a good grounding, if picking one or other for private then I wouldn't advocate moving from private primary to state secondary. But I probably didn't put it very well .

Secondary

can you imagine a kid going to a state comp after primary?! What a shock to the system

I don't like the way you framed your question, but I'm not going to get involved in that.

In my opinion, early years and primary are without doubt the most important years in any child's education.

I'd be interested to see your evidence for that? My DSs have both been educated at a fairly average state comp and they have never been taught by a teacher who did not specialise in the subject taught (apart from the odd cover lesson obviously.) This includes all the usual subjects as well as music and drama.

I can't say the same for some of their friends at local fee-paying schools.

Depends on your local schools
We have excellent state primaries but dire secondary so did state until end Yr 6 and are doing indy Yr 7-11.
She can choose for Yrs 12 + 13

Remember at primary they are influenced by teachers + parents, at secondary they are most influenced by their peers

I’m in the same situation as you OP. I’ve had some advice about it and the consensus is that if you can only afford one or the other then secondary school is the better investment.

@ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea To be fair that depends on location. In London it's quite common to go to private from a state primary, but I imagine in other areas probably not so much.

In terms of education itself - without a decent, basic understanding of literacy, grammar and numeracy a child isn't going to be able to access secondary education, so obviously the primary school is important.

But in terms of choosing one or the other as private schooling, I would bear in mind that it's difficult enough going from primary to secondary, without the added difficulty of moving from private to state. I think that may be quite traumatic for a child. There will also be more options in terms of choosing a primary school than a secondary (ie an area may have 6 primaries but only 2 secondaries).

It depends on your local options and child.

But I'd say you are equally likely to get a qualified teacher in primary in either sector, but you are less likely to get a specialist subject teacher in state secondary. So I would lean towards private for secondary.

I think you need to consider the adjustment and acceptance side too. If you send your child to a prep school, then to a state secondary that might be quite a change (probably easier in a grammar school as they are selective - if that is your thing and your child were able to secure a place!) - and I imagine that they could potentially be bullied if other pupils know they were in a private school, or it they sound or act as if they have. I think the adjustment is probably easier the other way around (and less chance of bullying) if they go to state primary and then to independent secondary. I know children who have done this and it hasn't been a problem.

Well for a start private secondary is usually a lot more expensive so you need to carefully count that cost. It will depend on your local state offer, impossible to say which is more important as they both are.

We are 99% sure DC will go to a private secondary from decent state primary, however we are already doing additional work (yr 5) to make sure they aren’t behind in yr 7 as there if definitely a gap which seems to be widening between the kids we know who are already there (all through school) and DC. There’s also the matter of an entrance exam which those already at the school are exempt from.

They're both important, obviously, and also obviously it depends on what your local private and state options are. There's good and bad in both sectors! And also, again obviously, it depends on the character and abilities of each particular child.

So there's probably not much advice that anyone can give you without more details.

Depends on your local options. Eg what are results and ethos like at secondary? Are there selective options?

We planned to send DC to a non selective independent secondary which gets decent results as our local secondaries are dire (unless you get into grammar which felt like a lot pressure). We are quite laid back and subscribed to bright children doing well anywhere however we had to withdraw DC half way through year 5 as the behaviour at our local school became shocking, 2 form tutors resigned in 2 terms and so the class were being taught by a TA and they were nowhere close to covering the year 5 curriculum. By shocking behaviour I mean 9 year olds bullying, vaping, assaulting teachers and swearing (“fuck off you old cunt”).

The experiences in the prep are so different and DC is a much happier little boy with lots of nice friends and has come on leaps and bounds. I’m confident if he had started out in his current school he would be in contention for selective grammar or would be academic scholarship material because he’s got the quality of teaching is better and there is minimal disruption. He’s still going to do well but if I had my time again I’d have picked prep or at least done “state until 8”