to pretend that state school is not so bad...

[RichTeas]

We are in an area with no shortage of preps and indies; the state schools are not bad, but for us, definitely not the preferred option. Yet it looks like it's going to be state all the way through. So far DS (Y3) doesn't have any idea of the types of schools that exist, as we have never openly discussed it, but I expect soon he will be clued up enough to question the system he finds himself in. It feels disingenuous to fib that we're happy with just a state education (when we're not), yet we don't want him to grow up feeling he's missed out by over-egging the independents. I suppose it could be worse, he could be in private and then forced to come out, but the issues is the same I wonder how others explain this kind of mismatch...

Eton's got 1,300

Spoons? All ds gets is a plastic fork ( in case they stab each othewr with the real ones you see)

Ds's prep offers archery.

Shit, don't send them to state school. After thirteen years of state education, the only unis I could find that would take me were Durham, St Andrews and Cambridge! None of the polys would touch me with a barge pole! Now I teach in the state sector and Ds attends state primary. He is clearly disadvantaged, being only two years ahead of his chronological age at reading and having free access to choir, music lessons and various sports clubs.

On second thoughts, do send them to private school. At least that way the other parents at the local state school will avoid the garbage you spout.

Benenden isn't much good if your ds refuses to wear a skirt. Although as ds currently wears a dress at school maybe I should be having a rethink about senior schools

Has anyone seen the OP recently?

Richteas in Year 3 your child will only be "clued up enough" to ask about such matters if you or those around him have raised him to be a jumped up little wotsit . I would just worry about that if I were you.

My daughter plays Duck Duck Goose at Beavers. Who needs private school?

Hey, thanks for dissing the type of education that 95% of the country experience.

charley - I thought you dropped duckduckgoose and quidditch into that list to see if everyone was on their toes and actually reading?

I shall be quizzing ds tomorrow morning to see if he plays duck duck goose at school. If he doesn't I shall be making an appointment to see the head.

Yes but charley you are denegrating most of the rest of us whose schools don't fit in the perfect model of your creation.

If you are unhappy with a state education, then work out a way of affording private, otherwise stop whinging...

To be fair, we don't do golf at school, but quite a number of my students are enthusiasts.

Lots of courses round here, & saving the private school fees would buy you quite a few rounds.

Despite being fed evening meals where the protein source is mainly chicken/beef or white fish, my children never say "why can't you give us caviar or lobster thermidor?"

the only exclusively private school "sport" I ever encountered was "are you there Moriarty"

North London Collegiate has over 1000 pupils - cos big schools are just rubbish

So what are you saying here Op? You don't consider the local state schools good enough? Surrrounded by posh schools you cannot afford? Well you will have to suck it up like 97% of the population.

My children's bog standard comp has a brilliant sports department and performing arts department....not to mention all the other departments. So many fantastic opportunities in an official "deprived " area.

My children receive a very good standard of education. There are very good private schools nearby. Why waste my (non-existant) money? My daughter was recently taken with some of her friends to visit the Oxford Universities, as they are considered good enough to get places there.

Op

Please send you child to the private school.
The state option will never be good enough for you and the state school parents will get fed up listening to you moaning about it. On behalf of us all in the state sector, please send your DC to the 'lovely indie' school or however private schools are referred to these days on mumsnet

Blair didn't go to a comp! He went to fettes in edinburgh, seriously posh! Fees are something like 30k a year. He is a prime example of a champagne socialist.

My kids play that in the local park in the hols; there's a Keen Dad with broomsticks.