to ask if you use state or private education

[manicinsomniac]

Sorry, I know it's a little rude and personal but I only ask because I think that only 7-8% of the children in the UK are privately educated yet on mumsnet it seems to be massively higher than that which I find interesting.

So, if I'm not being too unreasonable to ask, do/did/will you use private or state education for your child/ren?

Don't believe in private education, unfortunately state education did not believe in DD!Moved her in year 4.

Why must anyone be "proud" to know old Etonians? I know lots of people who went to Comprehensives too and so, I would wager, does Goosebury. But the statements were in answer to a jibe at old Etonians rather than ex Comp pupils, so that's why they were the subject of my post.

How I detest snobbery, whether it be the usual or inverted kind!

Before I left on maternity leave I was teaching in a private school. We plan on sending our 3 daughters to private primary and secondary. DD1 is in Primary 1 and absolutely loves school. :)

Ruby

Yes, why must I be proud Seeker?

I don't think there's that much of an argument against private schools tbh. If state schools were good enough it wouldn't matter that a bunch of people want to go to school together: as they're not, it's quite normal to want to make a different choice.

State schools can't blame private schools for their non fabulousness. Just as private schools can't blame the local state if it's a better school.

Lots of reasons for non fabulousness and it's up to the parents, governors head, teachers and LEA to sort em out

I have already said on this thread that my kids are at state schools. Happy at the moment with that and I was also state educated. However - like someone else has said on this thread- it is very frustrating to hear 'the I sacrificed nice hols/ clothes/whatever to afford private. On 30,000 a year and cutting back all over the place private ed is just a pipe dream for us.
[Fortunately ds1 thriving in his primary in supposedly disadvantaged area and his brother will join him soon].
No inverse snobbery here - but also no realistic choice.

You obviously missed the tone of mocking irony in my typing.

It wasn't a gibe about Old Etonians - it was a statement of fact. If you check with all the ones you know I'm pretty sure they will agree with me. They would rather associate with Bash Steet Comprehensive than Dumbleton.

oh por favour

is this the old "lord of the manor likes his beater better than hyacinth bouquet"

good god is this what you are reduced to

..and of course state schools would be better if all people who send kids to private went to them. The 'middle class' push would push schools up..

I thoroughly disapprove of private education - ds goes to a state school.

However, all the schools near us are good - at least as good as the private schools locally. If they weren't - or if ds had a particular talent for something that attracted a full scholarship/bursary (or we were loaded - I wouldn't cripple oursleves financially to pay fees) my principles would fall by the wayside.

seeker, it's obviously quite bothersome for you if people send their children to a private school because they want a sounder education than they would get in the local state

and not because they think it will help them marry a duke

but that's the way it is I'm afraid

state. i dont agree with private education

"..and of course state schools would be better if all people who send kids to private went to them."

really? why? are the middle class really that great? what's so great about a couple of extra mums and their rich but thicko children, that perform the magic to turn around a failing comp?

... unless of course you're a Middleton.

2boys, sorry if you thought the "inverse snobbery" comment was aimed at you. It most certainly wasn't. Just wanted to make that clear.

goodness that's cogent joan I must withdraw my children immediately

It was just a reply to the point you made about private schools not being the choice for people who want their daughters to marry a duke, Gooseberry - it wasn't meant to represent all my ideological objections to private education, truly.

You seem to be more antagonistic towards those who object to private schools even than we are to those who like them, I have to say.

"is this the old "lord of the manor likes his beater better than hyacinth bouquet"

It was only a passig reference - you have picked it up and run with it.

But I'm afraid it's true.

Thanks frantic!
Gooseberry I just think we will have to disagree..
From what I have witnessed 'middle class parents [thick kids or not!] do seem to help keep schools on their toes. The school My ds attends is benefiting from

a small influx of visibly MC parents getting involved with the school/ asking questions/ helping etc

But unless you actually ban private schools, many people will choose to go private. A small minority of the middle-class purposely deciding on state education for ideological reasons is not going to make much difference to improving them.

"and of course state schools would be better if all people who send kids to private went to them. The 'middle class' push would push schools up"

And of course, it's not always the middle class who have money.

actually I've made a few other points that nobody's picked up so the thing you're most interested seems to be sniping - I'm just responding to it

If only I had money converse.. if only..

boys tbh that just sounds like - how dare you put your own children first, come and help me educate mine

Yes Porphyria, I have heard of these incidents also. My friend's DD was punched, other children bitten and a teacher smacked by another 6 year old in their class. Initially they didn't even tell the parent (some bizarre policy about dealing with it in the school or something, unclear, sorry) and now they have applied to have him moved to a "troublesome" school nearby. In the meantime (apparently this could take a year or more) he is free to do as he pleases with a Time Out room a few times a day. Needless to say every parent in his class/year is annoyed at this as not only is it physically distressing but very disruptive to lessons. His parent now knows and is obviously mortified that the break down of her family seems to have triggered this, but she was late on the scene to nip it in the bud and appears to have no other resources to stamp out the bad behaviour. As I said, there are other similar situatons in a few of my friends DC's state schools.

We had a similar girl in my private junior and she was sent for therapy, teachers were specially trained to deal with her outbursts and the problem went away within a term.

It's not that these things don't happen in a private setting, but they aren't allowed to get so out of hand. The smaller classes allow behaviour like this to show up fast and something is always done about it as soon as possible. Yes, there are probably costs to the parent involved, but personally I'd rather have the problem dealt with than have to transfer my kid to the local kids borstal at the age of 6. What hope is there for that child then?