I teach in an independent school AMA

[CraftyGin]

Just as the title says.

I'll leave it at that though.

Thank god for that. You were just trying to pick an argument bringbackfonzi.

What advice would you give to parents who want to support their hols through primary school? And secondary school? Should parents of kids in state schools do anything different to those in private to support their kids?

Fairness works both ways though. DH and I have worked hard to get where we are and being able to provide for our children by ourselves. is something that is important to us.

This worked hard argument is tiresome. It implies other people do not work hard. Lots of people work hard. Some people work harder for a lot less than others. Some people are not able to work at all. Some people work hard at work that has no monetary value. Why not say we have been lucky to be in this position?

You may well have worked hard in spite of many many disadvantages, I don't know your background. But you were lucky too.

Does it bother you when people make assumptions about private schools? I'm a Guide Leader and had an issue recently with some girls picking on another calling her "posh" and "stuck up" for going to a private school. The little girl is neither of those things and it's a very ordinary private school rather than a well known public school.

My DS goes to a prep school, and I’ve been fascinated by how it all works! One year my son is the genius who performs well ahead of expectations and is the teacher’s favourite, but another year he is almost invisible, and is deemed very average in the class/group. Guaranteed he is still quite young and evolving..

I wonder whether the performance in an independent school is highly dependent on an individual teacher’s perceptions and also on the parents’ involvement in school activities, regularly meeting with the teacher etc. What do you think, OP, are some of the factors that contribute to this difference?

I teach in an independent school too, and I actually get quite pissed off with attitudes like bringbackfonzi’s.

I enjoy my job, I like the kids I teach, and no, I don’t feel guilty about it. The bottom line is, whatever has led to those kids being in my classroom, they deserve the best teaching I can deliver once they are in there.

t rich." Is it true to say that yours is the latter?

As with many independent schools, we are all unique.

I often think teaching would be so much simpler if parents weren't involved. Do you have a lot of parental input? Is it more positive or negative than when you did your NQT? What is the typical school day like? Hours? Lessons? Etc. Is it a boarding school or just a day school? Is it 5 days a week?

Thank you 😊

My school isn’t typical, but with independent schools, there really isn’t a typical.

Most of our parents are hands-on. They are linked into “show my homework”, for example. Our communication with parents is very immediate and informal. We know which parents are supportive and which ones are belligerent (the latter in leave to the headmistress).

My NQT year was 25 years ago, and I didn’t deal with parents.

We have 6 lessons a day, five days a week, day school.

I taught at a prep school last year - up to 6pm and Saturdays - it was a killer. Nowhere on their blurb or website did it say this.

OP, what happens when a family's circumstances change & they can no longer afford to pay the fees?

(The reason I ask is that DP coaches the private school rugby team & a teacher mentioned something like 25% default on fees - that cannot be right?).

Do you feel that the children need you? Do you think you could make more of a difference working in the public sector?

I am not God’s Gift, but I like to think that I add value. I am not cut out for state education - I am seriously rubbish at discipline.

Does your school offer scholarships or bursaries. If so can you tell which pupils are from less financially well off families? If there are scholarships do the children struggle to fit in with richer pupils?

My current school isn’t that kind of school (independents are all unique). Previous schools I have worked in have had a bursary and scholarship policy. I have benefited myself as I have described upthread.

My children have never, ever struggled to fit in. I have found that rich families have been incredibly sensitive and are happy to host the sleepovers, pool parties and other events.

What do you think of the Independent schools’ assessment system

ISI is based on OFSTED but it is lot kinder. It genuinely tries to drive good standards in a supportive way, and it is not punitive. The pressure is on SMT and an inspection week is very easy on mainstream staff.

A poor ISI inspection is bad for the whole sector, so the try to be very pastoral and constructive about inspections. It’s a good model.

How long have you been there?
Have you, or older teachers, noticed that there are fewer middle-income families sending their kids to private schools in the last 10-15 years?
(Though perhaps this depends how expensive your school is.)

Do you get many children attending your private school who cant afford to but are paying full fees - ie their families are having to go without other luxuries/ extras in order to send them to private school?

My school is fairly unique in that many students have EHCPs, so don’t pay fees at all. I don’t know the financial status of families in general.

From my wider experience, families will have a very modest existence to enable school fees. It is amazing how priorities change when there is a school trip to Iceland, though.

What advice would you give to parents who want to support their hols through primary school? And secondary school? Should parents of kids in state schools do anything different to those in private to support their kids?

No, absolutely not. Do what you can in the holidays. Find what ever enrichiment opportunities that work with your family.

You may well have worked hard in spite of many many disadvantages, I don't know your background. But you were lucky too.

Very true, but luck is only part of it.

EHCP = ??? please

I can't work out the initials

I'm a private school parent who has sacrificed a lot to give our children a private school secondary education.

Knowing what you know about the sectors, do you think that has been money well spent? Or, given that we are engage parents, prepared to invest (financial and practically) in our children's education, is it likely that they would have done well in the poor local state offering (35% 5 A-C). Our children are bright, but not exceptional (yr 6 sats in the 109-116 range)

"Show My Homework" is in a lot of state schools as well.

One of my DCs is super bright. Family tell me “he’ll get on ok anywhere” because of this. Would an independent education be better for him than the local comp though? (Local schools OK but nothing special.)

Do people give you this much grief in real life for working in a private school?

Ehcps are education health an care plans. Are replacing sen stdatements

EHCP - Educational Health Care Plan (replaced Statement of special educational needs)

Oh Oke doke thank you

Ok, thanks. My follow ups are somewhat moot then, as I was going to ask what would happen with your kids, would they have to move to state etc and how do they feel. My kids are in a prep and I know several teachers who have struggled with moving their own to state because they can't afford private secondary.

It’s very difficult. Once you are “in the system”, it is very difficult to leave. It is important to prep teachers to plan for senior school when they might not have the same level of support.