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??

Why are you assuming I think the system is good enough? I said, I teach as well as I can in a class of 30+ with few resources and lots of kids with challenging behaviours.

The system, where it works, isn't bad. In fact it can be quite good. It has never occured to me that I am paying for better teachers or teaching. I think they'd get that in most good state schools. I am simply paying for lots of other things that they enjoy and that all their state educated friends pay for too-only separately.

Oh and there is no getting away from the small class sizes. I would be a hypocrite if I tried to say they don't make a difference.

The kids in state around here are not remotely unfortunate!
I have never thought of my job as charity or a 'calling'. I do it because I'm good at it and I love it.

Why shouldn't a teacher want an education in an institution with far more resources, a higher teacher to pupil ratio and more activities etc for their own children? Makes no odds that they teach in a state school. I don't see why anyone would even think anything of it. Would an NHS doctor that had private health insurance be commented on?

In response to:

"Why should social workers bother helping those less fortunate when their own kids don't need support?

Should you be a midwife if you never want children yourself?

Maybe Dh's best friend shouldn't bother stitching up the idiots who come into his A&E at the weekend. He thinks a lot of them are drunken louts; should he just leave them to bleed to death? Do you think he stitches them any less well than he does the MC mother who comes in after slipping on some houmous?"

I'm top of pay scale teacher (after all thresholds) on 37K in England.
My DH is an asst head on 52K

37 + 52 = 89K and we couldn't afford to send private. Not a chance. I would consider if we could, DH feels less inclined as we are on the catchment of an outstanding school (so big mortgage)

I think most teachers with DCs in private must have one very big non-teacher earner in the family (or a tiny mortgage!).

I suppose it is being seen as a vote of no confidence in the state system and perpetuatinga system of unequality. If you work within the state system but take your own dc out, doesn't inspire much confidence

Other countries really don't have this state/private divide in anywhere near the same magnitude but I don't know if their state school system is better or the historical situation was just different. Thinking of Sweden for instance - all those scandinavian countries. Also Italy I think it is less common to go private there too. NOt so sure about that though

Agree with small class sizes, is most important issue IMO.

ok thanks adair

Not most important issue, that's rdiculous! (need to leave this thread). I me\an, that if the gov only concentrated on that - other issues would fall in to place (better pastoral, better results etc)

inequality

reducing class sizes would be a big thing in organisational terms - more classroom space needed, cost of paying extra teachers etc

Agree it would make a huge difference in terms of what a teacher could achieve

Yup

When I taught in state schools i simply could not afford to send my child to a private one. Of the teachers Iknow who did, they were usually one of a couple where the other partner had a high salary.

Most of my colleagues sent their childern to state schools secure in the knowledge that, as children of educated middle class parents who had a vested interest in education, their children already had an advantage.

Indeed slug - just as I said.

Only a small minority of teachers send private!

2 children in DD's reception class of 15 have a teacher for a parent. One is a single parent. Never thought it odd.

Fees less than 5k a year and house prices lowest in UK (small northern town).

Well you can rationalise it as much as you like, and no, it's nobody else's business, but it's bloody sad.

If those of you who work hard to make your schools as good as they can be, who (presumbly) beleive in a state education system in principle, don't think it's good enough, what hope for the rest of us and our kids?

I think lots of teachers who send their kids private would reconsider if the class sizes were reduced in state schools. You'd be surprised how big an issue this is for lots of teachers.

I certainly know that last year when my class was rife with chickenpox and I had just 21 in for a week, we got an amazing amount done and I was able to offer so much more support.

Ormiriam, the only think I don't actually think is good enough is the large class sizes and the lack of wraparound care (which varies).

ZZZenAgain,

I went to a grammar school and there were lots of children of teachers (in other schools). I was never sure whether this was because they were well-educated as they had teachers for parents (not quite the same as intelligent of course) so were more likely to pass the entrance exam, or because the parents knew the school system and knew where their kids would get the best education, so were more likely to apply in the first place.

Sorry, Ormirian

I work in a large inner-city comp. Out of 100 staff, 2 have their DC at private schools! 2%!

They have rich husbands, btw.

The other 98% are moderate earners and happy with the state for their DC.

Small class sizes would make my job so much more enjoyable. A bottom set (VERY challenging) has 24 in my school and that's considered small. Top sets typically 30-33.

The other thing to remember is that for some people fees are not a major problem. So if you could reduce your child's class size down to 20 and throw in a few extra clubs and activities and it not make much difference to your lifestyle, wouldn't you?

It simply isn't the case that I'm paying for better teachers or teaching. Or that I'm trying to give my children some sort of social advantage as they get that anyway due to where they live and who their parents are.

I work in an Outstanding Academy in London and send my children to an independent prep school. I wouldn't send them to the school I work in and I am highly offended that anyone would think this affects my teaching skills. I am fully committed to the school and the pupils but am not convinced my children would be best served there.

In a class of 30 students of mixed ability it is virtually impossible to cater for all the students. If I can afford to send my children to a school where there are smaller classes then why shouldn't I?

Went to state school, will send my children to private if we can afford it.

For many lefties, it's not that they want poorer children to do better...richer children to do worse will suffice - hence the bizarre idea that we should all suffer the same inadequate and non-challenging state provision.

Work in an outstanding Comp.
I wouldn't send my kids private.
IMO a good state school gives a better all round education even if the class sizes are larger.
I made sure we moved to an area with good state schools because I want my kids to educated within their community and feel at ease with a range of people. I believe that gives them a social advantage.