State school teachers sending their own children to private schools

[abitwobbly]

AIBU to think we are not immoral or anti state and that we have just chosen the right school for our child??

It's the individual school and individual child too.
The system cannot accommodate everyone but it doesn't even try in many cases

With SEA and bibbity, dh and I both passionate inclusive, state teachers. Couldn't, wouldn't, send kids private, on principle. But then, we are also 'send the kids to the nearest,smallest school' people rather than all the 'choice' that is touted.

Obviously, different people have different priorities but yes, I do feel pleased when I meet state teachers who wouldn't dream of private education (IME usually the better teachers too...).

I love tge school I teach in and would be very happy to send DD to it, unfortunately by the time she gets to the age for the school (middle) it is likely not to exist due to the LA wanting to shut us all down (separate rant) so we are planning on sending DD to the private school attached to her nursery (plus it is Montessori so that swayed it even more in our choice)

YABU its their choice where they send their children to school. In most cases private schools outperform state schools so its an understandable decision.

I teach in state and send my kids to independent school. I was an Advanced Skills Teacher with repeated 'Outstanding' observations who put my all into my job. I don't think you can question my commitment to my job or the kids in my care.

But by paying for school I get so many extras that are just not feesible either practically or financially in the state sector. It also gave me small classes (which every teacher knows makes a difference) and wraparound care.

These threads always go on about how sending them to the local primary gives a greater social mix. That's simply not the case in lots of very small, affluent catchments where they're all reading on entry to Reception etc. My DCs get the same social mix and a bigger racial and cultural mix than they would at the local primary.

And Goblin, those are the kind of schools we work in. And the kind of schools the dc will go to (due to where we live).

Think sending to the actual school while you teach there though, not sure. Parent/staff - might be a bit complicated. At the moment, dh (senior leadership) works at the secondary two mins from our house so we may have this issue...

Also, the things I apy all-inclusive for are all paid for on top around here. So, ballet, piano, rugby, swimming, Stagecoach etc.
I'd rather they got all that during the school day than me spend all weekend doing it and 3 nights after school.

'ballet, rugby, stagecoach'

I don't think the choice you make for your child's education has any impact on your teaching abilities Adair, is be interested to see how you worked that out. (Have no school age children so am not grinding axe from that camp.)

Probably just a different county!You have to see Cheshire to believe it! My point is that in some areas, the social mix is the same regardless.

Well according to ofsted it made no difference to mine. I've also come across plenty of crap teachers and it never occured to me to equate it with where the send their kids to school. I just think they're crap teachers.

Nope, obviously it doesn't!

Was just an idle observation based on my totally Londoncentric experience...

And agree re social mix. But then that is also important to us (as inclusive teachers too). Luckily we can only afford to live in a nicely unwealthy area full of social deprivation so the dc school/playgroups are pretty representative

I totally respect your political stance on it. I just don't agree that it follows that teachers who use the private sector have less commitment to the state school they work in.
I only teach one, sometimes two days a week now but have taught f/t in many schools with 40%+ FSM. I loved it and was very passionate about the education I was providing for those kids. There's a lot of vibrancy in schools like that and I loved being part of it.

I think yabu - a teacher is not a politician. And sending their own child to a private school may not mean they don't believe in the state system. In addition, more teachers will be in state schools because not so many jobs come up in private schools (ime) and there seems to be less turn over. In the state system there seems to be far more moving and shuffling due to promotion.

what makes you think that a teacher automatically gets a place for their child at the state school they are teaching in?

Surprised they can afford the fees on a teachers salary!!

What do you think a teacher's salary is?
Two full-time experienced teachers in London would be on 60-100K+ depending on management responsibilities. Not so bad.

I don't live in London...

YABU.
How can you pretend you think what you're offering is halfway good enough when it's not good enough for you? Zero credibility for me, I'm afraid.

all the state school teachers I know (which is not that many) send their dc to private schools, have never asked why though.

I don't live in London either. F/t, my salary would be about 35k unless I agreed to do extra stuff again. I have 3 kids so I couldn't afford 3 sets of fees on my salary or double it if DH was also a teacher. But you're making the assumption that both partners are teachers.

So what, knock 20K off that? Think teachers get paid fine. Don't forget it's pro rata too. It's conditions that's the prob with teaching, not pay.

a few yrs ago I would have happily sent my child to the school I teach in. now, the school curriculum is changing beyond something I would be comfortable with and based on that alone, would seek out another school. Other changes that are being made to the day are also less child friendly imo so would have to say a big 'no' now.

the moral of my story is that a lot of things beyond our control goes into where teachers place their child. Sitting from the outside, looking in, with only a partial view allows for the sort of judgeyness seen on this thread.

35K is a great salary...
no idea what private education costs. But teacher's salaries are good iMO (though do apparently live in differemt world so maybe not).

Joan, what I'm offering is the best I can within the financial and practical constraints of a free state service.

In our school, kids learn well, feels safe and leave confident. But there is not the time nor money to offer all the extra stuff that children get in the private sector.

I don't suppose I am buying them a better fundamental education but probably a better (fuller?) all round experience. And as I said earlier, it means no ballet, rugby or piano after school when they're tired or at the weekend.