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"

And the comp full of knoves doesn't wash. There are some. But the sort of people who generally send their children to private schools don't live in the catchment for them. They only read about them in the Daily Mail.

We live in an area with selective grammars and if my daughters were not particularly academically minded, I wouldn't get them tutored privately just to pass grammar exams when they would be likely to be unsuited to the academic rigour of a particular school. I can understand, on the other hand, people getting their kids tutored to make sure they practice past papers, know what the exam entails and don't make silly mistakes - to the extent that their primary school doesn't do this (enough) already.

seeker, shouldn't there be a card for my 'all the state schools near me were faith'? [feeling neglected]

IIRC the first instance of whingeing about nasty children was the OP complaining about the product of private schools....

It is a lame and unchallenged argument that the good schools are all in leafy areas anyway. Our local school is in a very mixed area - takes in a few villages, but also a big council estate and a travellers' site. Selling my house and moving somewhere very very cheap would not fund private education by any means.

It's funny and sarcastic...

I think were I not a teacher, I'd look at my school and go

But I'm in it, and I see the progress made by children as individuals and not an overall statistic. And I think my DC would do just fine.

I send my kids to private schools because I want them to have an excellent education and I can afford it

I send my family to a private dentist because I want them to have excellent teeth and I can afford it

Why do you care in either case? If the State/NHS equivalent in my area isn't doing it for me, why do you care? I'm subsidising your kids NHS dentist and state school - you should say thanks nicely and move on.

And yes, my kids will have better teeth and life chances than others in the area. Who said that everyone has to be equal? Would you rather everyone hit the lowest common denominator?

Christ how depressing

Oh Seeker. That might be your experience, but it is not mine.

There are people out there, myself included, who live on council estates and still dream of private education.

knitted everyone rows in oxford. the best club is open to all (hinksey). You should move here

It is wrong that some people can have nicer teeth than others based on income, I agree. But the ones with nice teeth don't segregate themselves, and the ones with nasty teeth don't exist in a separate realm where they never encounter anyone with straight gnashers. Well, of course in a way they do as there's an obvious overlap, but you know what I mean.

Sending your kids to private school has an effect on society, and promotes separate spheres of existence between classes, and as such I find it distasteful.

But your choices do have an impact on me and mine, in my opinion. So while obviously I'm tremendously grateful for your contribution to my salary and my children's education, I'm still going to say I think you are doing the wrong thing. And are wrong about the lowest common denominator thing too.

Joan - grow up - or move to communist China where everything's really 'fair'.

Life isn't fair and it cannot be made fair.

Oh, the 'if you like it so much why don't you go and live there' argument?

Classy! Did you learn that in the Debating Society?

There will always be separate spheres of existence between classes.

If you don't think so look at france. They all go to state lychees but the politicians have always gone to the same few state schools in the better residential areas. Except Sarkozy which is why they laugh at him.

We separate ourselves into social classes because we are humans. Have a little look at India. Those castes weren't caused by private education.

I will always hang out with intelligent and educated people mostly from the professional classes because they are like me. Doesn't mean I don't like other people, but I am comfortable with those who don't think I'm an enemy of the people just because I am well educated, earn good money and spend it how I like.

PS I have better shoes than most other people too. So shoot me.

If we lost independent schools, before you know it the state sector would be sitting right back on its haunches with its arms folded, complacent as hell. If we lost state schools, we would end up with a bunch of fiefdom-swaggering headmasters with egos the size of planets, and property deals being done under pupils' noses right, left and centre. We NEED both sectors to make each side aware that other ways of being are possible, and sometimes desirable.

lychees! hahahahahaha
lycees

spell check does it again

I tried to explain why shoes/teeth and schools aren't the same. But yes, ok.

PS the state (ie UK) could not AFFORD to educate all those currently in private education! Do you want to pay an extra £5k a year in taxes to educate my children in schools I don't want them to go to? Really?

of course shoes and teeth aren't the same.
there isn't anything the same as education, is there

Well Seeker, we went for independent school even though my nearest 5 primaries where all graded outstanding. I've never once tried to pretend that it was to escape a sink estate/school.

What bothers me is the assumption that I did so to avoid a certain type of child which is completely ridiculous. I am all in favour of more schools operating like MG (as previously mentioned). I am all in favour of large proportions of my fees helping other kids who could not otherwise afford it.

I paid for the facilities. That and that alone. Only the private sector offered the facilities I wanted at primary level. Sure, all the other 'bingo' cards apply too such as wraparound care and class sizes (20 so not too small). But I freely admit I paid for what it offered.

Lots of friends went state and paid outside school for a lot of what we got included. It just worked better that way for us. I don't see that their children are missing out to any extent that would warrant the abolition of private education. In the long run they have probably paid the same with thier 800k house in the exclusive catchment, horse-rinding, judo, tennis etc. It's just that I have one bill.

What really gets on my tits about these threads are the people who say they chosse state education because they want their children to mix with poorer children.

I find that extremely patronising (given that I was once one of those poorer children

I also don't understand why you wouldn't want your children to mix with people of all types, including those who've been very sucessful?

Where I grew up there was a feeling that you stick to your own, not get to big for your boots and certainly never try to be sucessful or (whisper) rich. This attitude annoyed me when I was young. I can't understand why people would want their children to feel guilty about wanting the best for themselves whether it's a first class education or otherwise.

And OP, you obviously feel morally superior with your comments about being able to afford private education but choosing not to. That doesn't make you a good person you know. I hope your decision is the right one.

Who said that, Joni? I can't find the post?

I don't remember reading that tbh. If you want your child to mix with a wide social range, then a big comprehensive with a varied catchment is your best bet. A private school certainly isn't, and neither is a comprehensive with a smaller/less varied catchment. Or one of the Brighton schools with a lottery admissions system. That might do it.

I said 'these threads.' I've been on here long enough to know that's always the argument against private schools.

And I say that as somebody who attended state and chose to send my ds to state as well.

OK - doea anyone know how much extra tax we'd each have to pay if another 620,000 children joined the state system?