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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Private school or bigger house?

301 replies

joric · 21/07/2011 18:05

Less AIBU more WWYD....

Will keep it short...

60/70k will put DD through private school and we would stay in our modest house
or
we could increase mortgage by same amount and buy a similar standard of house in better area with v good state school nearby.

WWYD?

OP posts:
ChristinedePizan · 21/07/2011 20:55

prudaloo - no I don't read the boards. My DS is not even at school. And I'm not saying my friend is a crap teacher but the assumption that private school is better (therefore the teaching is better I presume?) can be wide of the mark. We had an A level biology teacher who burst into tears and locked herself in the prep room for two hours. And an A level art teacher who told us to go back to the pub Hmm. My point was simply that there are far fewer controls on private schools and a second rate private school is probably nowhere near as good as a top state school. Blanket assumptions don't serve anyone well.

joric - yes. I was more musing really on the general nature of private schools. You have already said that you would feel resentful if your DD didn't perform well.

Original poster
joric · 21/07/2011 20:56

Spotty- yes great staff + great children who deserved better.

Lazy management = failing school.

Failing schools are NOT down to less affluent catchment areas IMO,
They fail because the management do not recognise or respond to
the diverse needs of it's pupils. The pupil's become despondent and results drop.

OP posts:
prudaloo · 21/07/2011 20:57

Errr yes you can, for up to four years, after which you have to gain QTS>

floosiemcwoosie · 21/07/2011 20:59

Joric do what is right for your child

The whole social debate doesn't matter as long as you and your DD are content.

prudaloo · 21/07/2011 21:00

Blanket assumptions- such as those you are making- certainly don't christine. Private schools are inspected AND have the parents to answer to. Did you complain about your inadequate teachers?

Malcontentinthemiddle · 21/07/2011 21:03

errrr training in a school isn't the same as being employed by one.

floosie that's the spirit, eh? pull the ladder up, Jack.....

Ba8y1 · 21/07/2011 21:06

I've always thought that if you can afford private school/health insurance etc.. then it takes the pressure off the state system and there would be more places in the better state schools/space on the waiting lists for those that can't afford it....better all round, no?

ChristinedePizan · 21/07/2011 21:06

No of course I didn't! I was an A level student and too cool for school. :o

Plus this was a very long time ago and you just didn't do that kind of thing. You just slagged the teacher off behind their back.

Of course private schools are inspected and have paying parents to justify themselves to but they aren't subject to the same regulations as state schools. Which was my point.

I'm not really dissing them, more playing devil's advocate - I got a really good education at my school on the whole. I just loathe the assumption on MN that private is always better. All assumptions are bad, I'm sure you agree.

floosiemcwoosie · 21/07/2011 21:06

oh right, so she should make choices regarding her DD to, whilst taking everyone into account?

If you notice I haven't advised Joric to go for private school. I have said do what is best for her family, this des not autmatically mean private.

and please don't make assumptions about me. perhaps you should spend time reflecting on yur own issues

Wankers don't just come from private schools

Original poster
joric · 21/07/2011 21:06

Christine...err actually.. I didn't say that at all! Read again:(

OP posts:
prudaloo · 21/07/2011 21:09

Malcolm; I am not talking about being trained. You can work as a teacher for up to four years, after this you have to gain QTS. Info freely available on the internet if you don't believe me.

ChristinedePizan · 21/07/2011 21:09

Christine - I would very much resent fees if she was bored and/or unhappy there yes...

Well she's not going to be getting good grades if she is bored or unhappy is she?

I think you've already made up your mind, so I shall leave you to the people who tell you how utterly fabulous private education is because I think that's what you want to hear.

prudaloo · 21/07/2011 21:10

Oh, and you are employed during this time and paid according to the UNQUALIFIED teachers' pay scale.

spudulika · 21/07/2011 21:10

"The whole social debate doesn't matter as long as you and your DD are content."

I think what you mean is 'social justice doesn't matter as long as you and your DD are content"

ChristinedePizan · 21/07/2011 21:11

Sorry, that first line was a quote from you Joric.

I wish there was a decent quoting facility on MN, it really gets on my wick!

Anyway, I wish you the best of luck :)

floosiemcwoosie · 21/07/2011 21:11

no, I am quite clear on my meaning thanks

prudaloo · 21/07/2011 21:12

Spot on Spud. Why shouldn't the OP do the best for her child?

Malcontentinthemiddle · 21/07/2011 21:13

yeah, it's the money you get while you're still unqualified - the emphasis being on 'still'. Because you're qualifying. And the money you get whilst still unqualified is, as far as I am aware, peanuts compared to the money a trained teacher gets, or an untrained one in the private sector.

Original poster
joric · 21/07/2011 21:14

People resort to stereotypes in order to win an argument... Stuck up 'indies', money to burn, right wing toffs v 'povie' comp scum from the estate...... Neither accurate or helpful.

OP posts:
Malcontentinthemiddle · 21/07/2011 21:15

I will never believe it would be 'best' for my child to go to school only with rich children, believing herself superior to 97% of the population. 'Best' for me is to walk up the road to school with children who live and are educated nearby, some of whom are - whisper it - a bit working class!

SpottyFrock · 21/07/2011 21:16

Secondary schools can and do sometimes employ unqualified staff. However they are almost always shadowing qualified teachers until they gain qts. If is very rare for them to have a class timetable, I've certainly never seen it in recent times. Ofsted would not see it as acceptable either. It does not happen in primary schools or at least none I've ever come across.

Original poster
joric · 21/07/2011 21:16

Christine! I don't get your point but thanks! (:o)

OP posts:
prudaloo · 21/07/2011 21:17

Well, OBVIOUSLY if it's the UNQUALIFIED TEACHERS' PAY SCALE! Where does it say the "NAUGHTY NAUGHTY not STILL unqualified are you PAY SCALE!" I was responding to Christine's assertion that unqualified teachers cannot work in State Schools. THEY CAN- for FOUR YEARS! Got it now?

spudulika · 21/07/2011 21:18

"then it takes the pressure off the state system and there would be more places in the better state schools/space on the waiting lists for those that can't afford it....better all round, no?"

No.
Bright children from successful and ambitious families bring something important to whatever school they attend that benefits the other children and the teachers there.

Imagination and inspiration is catching. As is a good work ethic.

So much learning is done within the group at school - children bouncing ideas off each other and off their teachers. It's damaging for state schools, the teachers who work in them and the children who study in them, to lose the brightest and most dynamic children into the private sector.

ChristinedePizan · 21/07/2011 21:18

I don't know any state schools that employ unqualified teachers. Do you Pru?

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