Why state 'til 8 and not 11?

[Catandsquirrel]

Hi!

Just that really, I don't have kids and unfortunately probably won't thanks to an ill-timed health issue but keep seeing 'state 'til 8' on threads. I had a quick Google but it wasn't clear.

I understand the logic of saving fees at the early stages, maybe local friendships, logistics especially if there's a good primary.

However please can I ask out of interest why 8 in particular and not full state primary then private secondary (if your choice is private)?

Thanks! I didn't like to hijack a thread!

Haven’t heard of the saying however both of my children do go to a private school. This wasn’t our intention initially but the local school was not sufficient and we found it was having a detrimental impact to our eldest from a learning perspective.

I imagine it could be several things, getting children into private school before 11 is typically easier as the testing and entrance methods are more relaxed. Additionally, private education is different to state so it benefits children to have experience of this before year 7.

On top of this, the learning typically gets more serious around 8-9, as they prepare foundationally for secondary school. KS1 and early years, I imagine is similar regardless of where you go, with perhaps more sports etc in private so you may not feel it worth the additional cost vs return?

Maybe also to avoid formal state tests and exams such as SATS? (Not sure if it is still called this).

I assume because it rhymes! And therefore makes a good marketing slogan

Because prep schools start at eight years old.

It’s because a lot of prep schools start in year 3 (so at 8) so a logical entry point. People worry that children won’t get places at 11 from state primary.

Each year the gap widens and a child could need more tuition to pass the entrance exams?

DS is in Yr3 in a private school. He’s starting to do yr4 stuff at school.

Unsure but it does vary I think. I’m in Scotland and it’s pretty normal for a third of the clsss to vanish at the end of p.6 and start private schooling.

Partly it’s a geographic thing as it can mean getting on a school bus and travelling an hour plus which is a trek when you are younger.

I assume because traditionally that was the age prep schools started taking boys - usually for boarding - they would have been educated at home by a tutor for a few years, then a prep school from 8, then usually one of the big public schools (eton etc) from 13.

A bit later on as it became impractical for families to hire tutors and more people started going to private schools other than the very very elite the kids would have gone to the local primary until they were old enough for prep. There would have been far fewer independent primary schools so until the child was old enough to board (which 8 was considered to be!) then state was the only option.

A lot of prep schools still cover ages 3-13 rather than stopping at 11 like a standard primary.

Also possibly a bit of a thought process that schooling before age 8 doesn't really "matter" in the way of formal teaching and testing - after all some european countries don't even start formal education until 6/7.

It's not a set rule or anything, now there are more independent primaries lots of people swap at various ages.

In the private system kids change at 8 and 13. Private schools tend to be hothouses and so the kids get pushed academically, what kind of effect that has on their emotional development is varied and has probably changed from how it used to be (awful!).
We considered private education but couldn't possibly afford it and our bright daughters did well at the local comprehensive. I don't know if it still happens but when ours were going into 6th form, a lot of kids from the local private schools entered the comprehensive 6th form because, as one parent said to me, the hoi polloi had moved on! I think private school parents think having a state school on the their kid's cv is an advantage though I can't believe that universities fall for that.
What amused us was the expectations of the private school kids, things like the teachers should write their university applications for them, that the school work at state school was going to be easy and complaints that the state schools didn't have pools or 'proper' theatres in which to perform at drama!
The kids all got along but doubtless, since lockdown and its effect on behaviour in schools, the gap between public and private sector schools is huge. Even at our very good comprehensive, some kids slept through lessons, didn't work, cheeked the teachers and drugs were rife! You pays yer money.......

State till 8 because 8 is when standard prep school starts (before that you would be in pre-prep). The aim of the preparatory school was to prepare you for common entrance exams to a public school at 13. It’s quite outdated!!

Given the key benefit of private school is the network, I'd have thought from 16 would be sufficient and then you're not risking their earlier education with unqualified teachers etc.

Because 8 is the age when kids start wanting to fit in/peer pressure and god forbid any peasants influence the DC

Thanks all, makes sense that it would be the start of prep and getting ready for any entrance exams etc if a. Selective secondary.

Some state schools are still split infant and junior, so 4-7 then 7-11.

Ah thanks, didn't realise that still happened