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?

Sharbie

Ditto. And I also got a pretty good job. But I had five of the most hideous years of my life. So I would continue to back my decision to chose a school I hope my child will be happy in.
Whatever type of school it is

Are you actually curious?

State + motivation. I went to the local shit comp, and I got a congratulatory first from Oxford aged 19.

yes i am curious just asking - i loved my time at school, they were very happy days.

Oh and the state school dd was offered would not have really suited her the children were from very different background.

Sharbie, yes maybe it would be cheaper to move to a different area. And have a long commute to work. We are fortunate in that we don't have to choose the cheapest solution, and very happy with our choice, thanks.

Private so far.

But you know every school has tis good and bad points and I feel sorry for the teachers at my dc's school as lordy there are some very pushy parents there.

But generally its a sweet school with small class-sizes and lots of after school clubs which means I don't have to trek all over town for cricket etc [lazy]

We'll be doing state. No need to pay for the excellent school near us. If all the nearby state schools were poor, we'd consider private (and then rule it out as we can't afford it.).
I went to two brilliant state schools. My cousin went to a very snooty private school. We put on the same play at our respective primary (or prep) schools. My school went all out - costumes, lighting, loads of props - a proper play. My cousin's school picked the cast, who then stood in a line and recited it. No moving around, no attempt to perform it, just a read through. It made me decide even then that just because you paid for it didn't mean it would automatically be better. And I thought it even more when he made a patronising comment about 'poor people who couldn't even afford to pay for their schools.' He's grown up now and he's lovely but if I can get a decent education for my kids which doesn't involve them thinking they are better than everyone else I will. And I'm lucky, because at the moment where we live, I can.

And am loving 'I don't believe in state'

Nothing wrong with mixing with children from different backgrounds in my opinion magicmelons..
As for the op question - state for us. [Would not be able to afford private anyway].

God, you lucky thing. Mine was grim.

My main priorities were single sex, walking distance and lots of games/pe/activities within the school day and under school supervision as I was not in a position to do any after school stuff. Plus fun, noisy, busy, happy environment.
I am a bit obsessive about range of activities.

Oh and I am undoubtedly influenced by the utterly miserable years I spent at state school until moving to lovely day school on an assisted place.

State.
Though I'm really panicking after reading tiredgranny's post - what if DS comes out not able to read or write?

He's in Yr 5 and can read and write v well indeed atm, but will this last?

Private, I'm fortunate my mum helps

I just couldn't send DS to the ONLY school I was offered; I went to look around (on a normal school day not an open day) with an open mind as I had heard bad things. I left in despair for everyone there; teachers and children.

The state school I live closest to (5mins walk) so oversubscribed I'm now slipping further down the waiting list from 4th to 9th and now 11th and they have increased the intake.

Yeah, I know it's a long way from scientific. It's not much more than idle curiosity really!

Lynette:
The Pros and Cons of Private and State education in my humble opinion:

State Pros - free, keep children grounded in the real world, can be an adv for some unis nowadays, give you more family time.

State Cons - large classes (often), (on average) more disruptive behaviour, (on average) poorer academic results, national curriculum

Private Pros - better extra curricular opportunities (generally), smaller classes, individual SEN lessons, freedom from national curriculum, often acres of beautiful rural grounds, leadership training, longer holidays, still an adv for some unis and jobs, (generally) better behaviour, ability to select the 'right fit' of school for an individual child

Private Cons - Longer School Day and Saturday School can eat into family time, teachers aren't necessarily qualified, children can pick up snobby or bigoted ideas.

oh missed 'expensive' out of the private cons!!

Why wouldn't it Blu? Plenty of people manage to go through the state system and come out more than capable of reading and writing.

My children are at a state primary. I teach in a private secondary.

Oh and I'm qualified.

As an aside - not sure how many unqualified teachers there are nowadays in private schools. DS's school advertised for a reception teacher last year - over 200 applicants - pretty sure they were all highly qualified.

everyones entitled to their own free choice nimpy but personally i just couldn't bring myself to spend that much money on education

State

We are very lucky to have our children in good state schools, despite living in an inner-city....

But we never even considered private anyway

Sirzy, thank god - you have put my mind at rest.
He's at an inner-city state school in a notorious London borough. There are higher levels of almost everything bad you can think of in our area (teen murders, gang activity, fried chicken shops, poverty etc), and yet the schools are improving and achievement is neck and neck with the national average. Something has to prove how awful it is, and I'm worried that in due course it could be my science-mad son who wants to go to Oxford to study physics and then work at CERN.

But he's only 9, plenty of time for it all to go wrong.

Private we live in a small village with a big private school,it is very hard not to do it when it is right under your nose.
However my 3 at school are all very happy.They are doing well.I love all the extra activities as they do it all at school.(1 more to go in 3 years time)
Then I can look after the garden !

2boys nothing wrong with it at all but i didn't want my dd to be the only child who was different in her class.

I grew up with reverse snobbery after my dad left and we had to move to a different area i didn't want that for my dd, it was hard work always trying to fit in. Where she is now she's happy i'm happy and its all worked out very nicely. We live in a catchment for the best school in the city and have just turned down a place for ds as he will be going to prep. The way i see it we've made another family very happy

MrsCampbellBlack - I'm not sure about the general figures but where I work there are 3/29 academic members of staff who aren't technically qualified. One is doing her PGCE now though and the other two are long standing and very experienced.