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?

IMO private school teachers work longer hours and get paid less

Boarding staff do work longer hours, and many schools do expect extra-curricular commitments, but I think on average hours are comparable (certainly I could cut at least 5 hours of my working week if I had a class of 15 rather than 30 just through the marking load). As for pay, smaller and poorer schools pay less than the state rate, those that are large, well-established and with large endownments will pay more.

I think it can be a difficult place to be if your parents aren't as affluent as others- my friend went and has this horrible hatred of the upper classes, my sister also went to Oxbridge uni and was the only one of her friends that didn't 'summer' - she worked in a factory, was very awkward for all involved

My point is that the state provided system should meet all needs and expectations. If the countries leaders, and those with the power and money get to opt out, there is no impetus to ensure that ALL schools are at the high standard they should be at. It keeps the elite at the top of the pile.

We had a clapt out old galaxy which was practically given to us when the DD's arrived at their private school and every one thought we were incredibly rich because we were old money rather than 4 x 4 types, how I chuckled.
Not many children in the DD's school are super loaded and the ones that are tend to be the nicest, it's the social climbers like us you've got to watch out for

I've never seen any real difference between a very good state school and a very good private school.

But I have an awful feeling there'll be a big difference soon enough due to all the Government cutbacks.

School budgets are being slashed badly and as a result, many schools will find that from next year (in some cases this year) they'll no longer be able to afford TA's in every class, lots of 1 on 1 help will be cut out, learning resources such as school libraries wont be stocked well and a multitude of other things such as free music lessons (for schools that provide them) will be cut too...that's all I can think of off the top of my head but there'll be lots more unfortunately

The ones at the top should be the ones who are clever and/or work the hardest. Not the ones with the trust fund as default.

Everyone likes to take the piss about the current government all being privately educated/rich. That is seen as being unjust - how can they possibly understand? On the other hand, everyone is totally for a private education for THEIR dcs..... cos they is "special"!

I don't care about the government being in private school or not. Plus I notice a lot of those who get so cross about the Tories being the products of private school hate no one as much as Margaret Thatcher, and she went to state school.

I will always fight for every advantage that I can for DD. I'll never be able to do as much for her as a multi-millionaire would. There is always someone better off with more advantages than the next person. Unless you're going to take children off everyone at birth and then raise them in big farms, you're never going to get equality of opportunity, and money is only one factor.

Do people who think that private education should be abolished feel the same about home education? If not, why not?

There is actually no point in having this "discussion" because every time someone puts forward a reason they chose a private school, as requested, others simply try to trash those reasons and stick their fingers in their ears going "Lalalalala"

Personally, I don't give a stuff what you think of my reasons. I know what my decision was based on, I know the ethos of my chosen school and I know what kind of person I am. I am comfortable with my choice.

I don't need to listen to people trying to tell me the children aren't properly "ordinary" at DSs school or ttying to make out that they know better than I what my real reasons were. My bog standard comprehensive education was good enough that I know you do not have a better idea about my choices than I do.

Actually, that's not quite true because if they said "I chose private school so my precious child doesn't have to mix with riff raff" the anti-private bunch would all be pointing and saying "see! I told you so!

Soup no-one should have to explain their choices when it comes to their kid's education...it's a very personal thing I think. What works for them works for them and it's no-one else's business.

That said, I would find it hypocritical if a Government Minister for example were to bang on about how wonderful state schools are...then have kids and send them to private school. If their reason was that all the state schools in there area were shite...I'd expect them to do something about it.

But apparently we do have to explain our choices, only to have those explanations thrown back at us and dismissed.

I agree that there is a difference between choosing the right school for your child and being upfront with why and the minister you describe saying that state schools are fabulous... just not fabulous enough for their child.

Soup you shouldn't have to justify your choices and if you're confident in your choices, fuck everyone that criticises them :)

The only thing that pissed me off about this thread was the idea that teachers in private schools are somehow better than those in state schools. Which is complete bollocks, frankly.

I don't criticise anyone's choice to put their child into private school. I totally understand why they would. I just don't believe they should exist in the first place.

I just don't believe they should exist in the first place.

The need for them shouldn't exist no.

Teachers aren't better necessarily at private schools but they can get away with being worse as they generally have a small class of relatively interested pupils who want to do well. State school teachers often have twice the number of pupils at wildly varying levels of ability, so they have to be really good to impart the same level of knowledge and get their pupil's attention, while simultaneously quelling bad behavior and bringing those grossly behind up to speed as best they can. Private school teachers don't need that skill set in the same way.

No, it's not all about small classes.

Imo, it is about fancy uniforms and networking.

I'm not sure standard of teaching even comes into it.

they can get away with being worse as they generally have a small class of relatively interested pupils who want to do well

At primary school ? Do you honestly think my 8 year old wants to do well ? she couldn't give a flying fuck along with the other 20 children in her class, they are all normal some times naughty children you know.

In my experience, the primary school kids (again, generalising) are the ones who want to do well. Younger children want to please. It's when they get to secondary (I find when they hit 13/14) that they don't give two shits anymore.

Yes I agree..what is it with this 'children want to do well?'

Why? Because they know their parents are paying a log of money for their education? I doubt it...kids are kids and wanting to do well will have nothing to do with being private or state educated.

'lot' not 'log' obviously

Maybe that's where the difference is in private and state because IME at 13/14 they start talking about where they are heading to, what A Levels are required to get there and therefore what GCSE's they'll need.
And the teachers keep them on the straight and narrow, that is the age a good teacher makes all the difference in my opinion.
I'm lucky my eldest is very driven and motivated but the little ones want to play not please me and rightly so.

Do you think that doesn't happen in a good state senior school?

My situation is different than most, ds will go to a private school, he is at the nursery just now, yes it will stretch me to pay for it, but the benefits he gets, the counselling (he lost his dad), the gentle hand holding from the staff who know him and how he copes with his upset, the fact the out of hours care is in one place, that doeskin happen at our local school sadly.

It's a choice like anything else and although some I know judge, only I can make that decision and for ds it is the right one. Also ds's school uniform is actually cheaper, as no brand logos etc allowed also all the children have a plain school logo'd backpack.

I don't know I'm not at that stage with my DD as yet, hope so because we'll be giving the local grammar school a try.

It's a gamble i'm prepared to take with one child who i'm sure will do well where ever she goes but wouldn't if I had any concerns at all.

That's the thing I think with the whole 'state v private' debate..there is ignorance and inexperience on both sides.

I can tell you that in my son's senior school the pupils are very driven..very motivated and will have had countless chats with the careers officer by that age.