My god daughter went to a very expensive top notch well known “ ladies” school
i visited her on rom time to time and on one occasion was given a guided tour of the school and boarding house ( or whatever they call it). I certainly wasn’t gobsmacked by the facilities; for instance I was shown into the computer room and told “ every child has a separate computer” ( this was around 2005-8 ish) and I made right noises but thought to myself well so do state schools..what the hell do they think state schools are like? Same in labs, sports hall, playing fields, drama room. There really wasn’t anything different in facilities other than a swimming pool on site vs a trip to local pool. Ok, I know not all state secondaries have playing fields but facilities are found for them.
I went to a music concert on another occasion, and as previous poster said they were raving about their talented choir and how they’d been “ on tour” in Europe. Choir was ok, but being all girls was limited sound, and the tour was a kind of exchange and no different to sort of exchange visits some schools were still managing to do at time.
yep, class sizes were smaller and that makes a massive difference and can see that for some kids will enable them to get grades they wouldn’t at state school. That I guess is we’ll worth paying for
but what I despaired at was this girl was just so “ girly” and silly with her chums. There was no sense of ambition or serious career plans or other goals with her and her social circle. They se med to do nothing worthwhile in their spare time that wasnt more hanging with same group like choir, sports etc. It was all celebs, makeup, clothes, boys ( focused on occasional meet ups with local boys school ). They lived and breathed this as they were spending their entire time, when not actively studying, with the same set of girls and a very limited outlook. Yep, my god daughter, like many I expect, had exposure to other stuff when back home for holidays ( which there are many) , but I just dispaired that despite all that money she was silly, frivolous, lacking curiosity, and insular. I also know that there was drugs in use which for boarders terrified me and that the school lacked control of it
In my own limited experience I haven’t seen any child in my acquaintance who went on to do outstandingly brilliantly at university and then work above that which I’ve seen state kids do . My own DCs went to state, we supplemented were absolutely needed with some focused private tutoring during exam years, we sent them to some after school activities, we paid for music lessons. My own kids and their friends from school have all turned out just fine. Most went to uni, all are in work, the majority now have very interesting and some have extremely well rewarded jobs ( they’re in mid twenties to early 30 age ranges now). Children I know that went to public school, including my god daughter, aren’t doing any better and some were doing a lot worse, particularly immediately after university while they tried to figure out a job and seemed quite frankly a bit lost.