to wonder what the fuss is regarding Private Schools?

[peppapigandhumf]

A friend has 2 kids at a local prep school. She doesnt really bang on about the school to me etc but i wonder why bother pay for education when schooling is free.

Is it really just about small class sizes and fancy expensive uniforms?

The main difference is that if you need to go in about anything the Receptionist will lick your arse rather than look sniffily down her nose at you and tell you that, No, you can't see a teacher.

Also they don't give a rats-arse if your DC is late, as long as the cheques keep coming.

And when they have a school trip they go to Argentina to make a water-hole for the villagers rather than going to Spain to look round Benidorm.

They also ignore as oppose to stare at Darcy-like husband's twitch which manifests itself whenever there is talk of extra-curricular activities.

where to start ... or stop.. having taught in both state and independent what I can say is that private can help those who might have fallen by the wayside academically to achieve (as some on here have attested to as their own experience) because of the academic ethos they are surrounded by. Also some VERY high achievers who would be bullied to death for being geeks / boffs etc get left alone and allowed to develop their interests. There are usually enough of them that they are not isolated and form some very good friendship groups across the ages. As for teachers, things have changed even in the 8 years I have been in the private sector. There are far fewer eccentric loons and an overwhelming majority of highly skilled and qualified teachers. They tend to have excellent degrees because we DO have to teach A level and Oxbridge entrance to very high achieving pupils but it is also a condition that new staff who aren't already qualified must do a GTP (which the school funds). It is equally true that some of them wouldn't cope in a more mixed comp style environment but so what? So long as they suit the school they are at, they are "good teachers". Also, I personally think teachers with about 3-4 years experience are about the best there are at classroom teaching - not wet behind the ears but not yet jaded, faded or preoccupied with young kids at home yet.

My oldest is in a sen school and if it had to be paid for privately it would probably cost more than your average private school.
The teaching and care is outstanding. The facilities are on par with a private school ie own swimming pool, boat and even a house which they use to teach construction skills.
My other son goes to a faith school, the building is over 50 years old and pretty tatty but they have an amazing mac suite and media centre, the pastral care is outstanding and the head working hard to raise educational standards above average. For example my son has been struggling to keep up with math but still he has managed to find funding for my son and several others to a 10 hours of one to one extra math tuition.

But even with all the above if money was no problem i would pay for a private education for him. The small class sizes would be the swinger for me.

Oh, and there is also the little matter of very long school holidays because your £18K a year only gets you about 34 weeks of teaching a year.

Private schools sell their services like burglar alarm salesmen or insurance salesmen.

They peddle the myth that if your kids don't go there, they might fail in state school. They frighten people who have money into submission to do the best for their child - "Ooooh just imagine little Felicity being in a class with a poor person, a person that might swear" etc etc "imagine what that might do to her"

A fancy swimming pool and an astroturf pitch do not make a child succeed.

I went to a private school and have no doubt that it was wasted money and I would have 'achieved' what I have because of the attitude I had before I even started at the school.

Sorry, am secondary so don't know bout primary.

All the teachers I have worked with in state sector are well qualified, experienced, passionate. Not just doing it for lack if other options, how offensive. Fwiw I have q first from an RG university and career changed from a very well paid, board level job. I am not unusual amongst my peers.

What LondonMother said. That's what I meant.

I do agree with Lady Blah Blah too, I loved my school, but in hindsight it was probably a slight waste of money given there were great grammars locally I would certainly have been accepted to.

NinnyNonker I work in primary and it's the same.

Fwiw I went to a state comp and it was fucking awful. I got a truly poor education, nit because of most of the teachers it has to be said, but because of the clogging dullard one size fits all-ness of it plus the high percentage of students who pissed about. And the large group that beat me up regularly.

I left with one good and two average a levels.

I loathed every minute.

But that was one particular school at a particular time. So not relevant, as with most ' my private school was shit' posts

I teach in an 'outstanding' (OFSTED) state primary school and send my DS to a 'Good' (OFSTED and ISI) Pre-prep.

OFSTED means very little to me.

IMO pre-preps support little boys far better than the state system because:

Class sizes are smaller
Naturing ethos
LOADS of sports (an hour a day)
Creative curriculum
Outdoor activities, daily walks, swimming.
Higher expectations of behaviour and less challenging behaviours to observe and for the teachers to deal with.

Private schools have a great advantage in being able to do things their own way in all aspects which is great.

As someone else has said, it's personal choice, whatever your reasons.

DD recently started at our local state primary and is absolutely blooming, both academically and socially.

I was bullied horribly at state primary, and due to living in a very rural area, with only one state secondary available (that my bullies would also have had to attend)I moved aged 8 to a private prep and then on to private secondary aged 13 on a full academic scholarship. I loved every minute and blossomed. My brother moved with me and hated every second he was there.

We're all different and what suits one might not suit another. If you're lucky enough to be in a position to choose the most suitable situation for your child, why shouldn't you?

I don't get this "suitable" argument at all. There should be schools, all properly resourced and with trained staff. When at secondary level, there should be some which are more academic and some which lean more towards the vocational.

Why is it acceptable to argue til the cows come home about tuition fees at university, but still think it is reasonable that those with the cash can buy their dcs access to a "better" education at an earlier point in their lives? It is elitist and wrong in mho.

But it is everybodies CHOICE,

I don't see many threads on here where posters argue so hard about foreign holidays vs staying home, or volkswagens vs BMW's. Do people on here argue between 2 bed semis and 4 bed detached??

There are many reasons for and against private education. Right or wrong there are failings in the public sector, the private is an option for some, at least those that pay are putting money back into the economy and (whether you like it or not freeing up state place).

Is there something in the water at the moment that has made this a hot topic?

no choice is it though if like most the population you can't afford it.

Point is though, it is not a CHOICE for everyone. It's alright for MY child to be bullied and have a crap education(hypothetically), but apparently as long as you have some spare cash you can OPT OUT. I do not think this is right. If everyone had to access the service, then the pressure would be on to ensure the service was fit for purpose. I think this subject brings out my inner communist!

I understand why people send their dc to private school - more because of the "gloss" and confidence they can acquire. That would be my reason tbh, not academic qualifications.
However "teachers who genuinely have an enthusiasm and calling to teaching rather than nothaving anything better to do than convert their degree to a teaching qualification" . Most of the truly fantastic teachers I know would not teach in the private sector, feeling they are more useful in the state, and as has been said, trained by the state. Incidentally, all the lawyers and accountants I know only did those things because they did not know what else to do...

And holidays and detached houses are a LUXURY. Education should not be. Children are our future (to paraphrase Wacko Jacko). Each amd every one of them should have access to a suitable and decent education. Not just the ones who can pay.

no but again most of the population may not be able to afford the BMW, the foreign holiday or the large house,

However I don't see many car garages offering bursaries with up to a 100% reduction?

I have no problem with state or any other school what I dislike is the anti private feeling that goes on.

I would never come on here and slate state schools in general and yet there are plenty of posts on here (not necessarily on this thread) where the opposite is true.

I say live and let live.

I think it's because of the inequality it leads to.

I really don't think it's true that 'poorer' teachers go into private education. IMO private school teachers work longer hours and get paid less. I would seriously consider it though, if the role came with a home and free school fees.

I love the fact that in Belgium, the Royal family send their kids to state schools. Why should they not?

Point taken re luxuries but then again what about private health care? will people be criticised whenever there is a chance to opt out of a state provided system?

Surely its up to me if I kill myself working to chose education rather than cars and holidays?

pvt school teachers are trained by the state - OK

pvt school parents still pay taxes but dont use the service - SO ALL SQUARE?