to hate it when people talk about "indie" schools

[gobehindabushfgs]

in an attempt to make it sound cool, edgy and alternative? it isn't. it's private education. it's a right-wing, ultimately selfish decision.

"indie"

of course it is. as is being in the army and posted to the arse end of nowhere.

but it isn't the only good reason

another good reason is "because I want to and its a good school"

there are lots more

Sorry about the fuck off. Need to lay off the wine.

I don't think state education is in the dire straits that everyone thinks. My DD1 has the option to learn violin in P4 and there is a choir. Not madrigals though.

"fuck ogg"

I think I've shit a kidney laughing

Nobody actually stated any of those things on this thread, did they?

You must hang around some very strange people if somone told you they chose private over state because of the uniform? If anything, the uniform is expensive, stuffy and a pain in the bum at many private schools. I'm thinking of those poor girls in brown kilt type things.

Its Ok I thought it was fuck ogg anyway

state education doesn't have to be in dire straits for people to want to go private

and going private is a valid choice is all

(only violin? has the oboe teacher has bitten the dust? Both my siblings played the oboe...ahhh)

But I think so much said about state education on mumsnet is down to prejudice and occasional viewing of Waterloo Road and romp through the newspapers.

Yes bad things go on. They do, they did at my school. But that doesn't mean the education will be bad or your child will be bullied or have a miserable childhood. They may come out woth some empathy and understanding of what makes people behave in the ways they do.

What they don't come out with as an understanding of what they are entitled to. And that is shown by the low numbers applying for Oxbridge.

I don't think I have anything left to add so think I may bow out now. Until the next time, no doubt!

There's no doubt that a lot of people are very well served by a comprehensive education. I did pretty well but that was probably more to do with the fact I was very self-motivated. I saw countless people (siblings included) who found that the one size fits all approach did not in fact, suit them

Well this is a primary school. I would rather it was the recorder but if violin I shall make her practice in the garden, out of earshot (horrible unmotivated parent.)

There is a Ceilidh band at the high school!

Damn it

I love a private state barny. Everyone is fed up with it now.

Until next time

Just to add to Norman. It's not all based on ignorance. I was a state school teacher and taught in both inner city and affluent areas from schools in SM to schools graded outstanding.

I was in no way 'terrified' of a state school education for my children but I opted to pay because I knew what they were getting at their school would never be possible within the constraints of the state school budget.

You may be surprised how many state school teachers pay for schools and how many more admit they would if they could.

we have lots of state school teachers at our private primary
head teachers of state schools too

anyway its been fun, night!

"Do people have to give a reason for their choices? Well, if they joining a conversation about why you might send your child to a private school they do, yes!"

Except, when they do, they are told that they are lying and the real reasons they chose to go private are X, Y and Z. There is no point trying to explain as you just get shot down and told you are only doing it because you are elitist and trying to protect your precious little darlings from the state riffraff.

This is all moot for me. I can't afford private prep and secondary OR prep primary which steals grammar places from bright poor children (like me) OR to live in the catchment of a fabulous state school where a shed costs half a million quid or to be David Cameron.

But I hate the term, "Indie" school. It sounds so off-beat and liberal when it is anything but. Have the courage of your convictions you privileged people, please. It isn't much to ask given what you have, surely?

And yes I do have a chip on my shoulder and I am proud of it. It's there for a reason. Stop taking the piss out of me for it and think about how you would feel in my position.

YABU. I went to independent school. My entire family is v left wing. My parents chose it for me and my brother when my dad became terminally ill. They foresaw bad times ahead and wanted somewhere with long long hours to keep us out of an increasingly distressing home environment.

That school kept what was left of our family sanity together.

And now... we live in the inner city, our kids attend a happy but very below average performing state school, DH (we met at school) is a musician and I work with excluded children. No bankers or old boy networks here!

Lucky for you that your parents were very left-wing but still able to provide that sort of provision.

Many less fortunate children would have gone into local authority care instead. With horrific outcomes.

But I am sorry to hear about your Dad, that must have been very hard for you to bear being so young.

I'm bored too - but I do have to nip back to say that the uniform reason was absolutely true.It was used by a particularly silly friend of mine - I could give her address and the name of the school where little girls dress like Madeline - but I won't.

And the no bullying in private scools was seriously posted by a reasonably well known mumsnetter.

Night all.

my private school saved me too, at a horrible time in my life.

I was a "charity" child there - on a huge scholarship, and then when my mum still couldn't afford that (hard ot afford much when you are homeless), more money was found by way of bursaries and top ups, and incidental things like making sure I had breakfast and supper at school as well as lunch.

not all children at private school are there because their parents are minted.

Much as MGS is being held up as a paragon of virtue, may I just remind you it's recently lost it's charitable status?

Yeah, in some respects we were very blessed. (I don't mean that sarcastically, either!)

He used up his life savings and paid all the fees for the whole 7 years up front when he realised he wouldn't be needing the money any more.

Of course I haven't complained!! Why on earth would I when he's gone from being an academically failing, unhappy and prematurely hardened boy in several schools to a very happy one with plenty of friends, very successful academically and having loads of opportunities to pursue his personal interests with his schoolfriends. He's very bright (top 5%) but found it very difficult to socialise until he was in an environment where he felt valued for what he was. Believe me, when your 4 yo starts self harming to avoid school, hid teacher tells you there's something wrong with him because wants to stay indoors and read at playtime, and he then spends the next two years being ostracised by the entire year group, as a parent you sit up and take note. Just be glad it's not your child you had to surrender your principles for seeker. I was 100% for state education until my son was 4, and the enthusiasm deserted me at the same rate as my child's spirit. Just be glad it wasn't you. I'm just glad I found somewhere my don could be happy. It as either this or he.

Much as MGS is being held up as a paragon of virtue, may I just remind you it's recently lost it's charitable status?

Are you sure? I thought it was one of the test cases but it passed. (And even the cases that were found wanting didn't actually lose their charitable status, but had to get plans in place to pull their socks up)

Here you go:
The first well-known test case was Manchester Grammar School. Like many illustrious schools, it started out as a charity. In its case it was founded by the Bishop of Exeter in 1515.

Today it educates almost 1,500 non-boarding pupils, who pay fees of almost £9,000 a year. The school provides bursaries to 14% of its pupils while 8% of all pupils pay no fees at all.

The school also shares sports facilities with other local schools and puts on lectures and poetry workshops, and provides pre-university coaching for pupils from other schools. The emphasis is on sharing with others some of the real benefits its own pupils receive.

As such Manchester Grammar is, in the words of the assessors, "a charity and is operating for the public benefit".