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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Paying for private school a poor investment in kids' future

114 replies

womblesofwestminster · 22/08/2014 15:03

AIBU to wonder what all the private-school-paying parents think of this? (I know MN has a disproportionate amount of them).

"The research shows that a private-school education may help you get to university, but is of no help once you are there and of no help later once you try to enter the workforce"

www.tourismportdouglas.com.au/Paying-for-private-school-a-poor-investm.11742.0.html

OP posts:
KnittedJimmyChoos · 22/08/2014 15:06

Really womble can I share you data on mn having dispro(sp) no of them>

BabyMarmoset · 22/08/2014 15:08

The article is saying that two students who gained the same results at the end of secondary school, one from private one from state, will do just as well financially in life.

So therefore if a less able child can get better secondary results due to good schooling, they will do as well as a brighter student from state school.

Therefore it is worth paying for private school as it will help your child overachieve in later life.

QED

sillystring · 22/08/2014 15:08

The best money you can spend education wise is on private tutoring.

GlacindaTheTroll · 22/08/2014 15:08

You're assuming a main/sole/important motivation in choosing a school is buying later advantage.

Is that really the case?

GlacindaTheTroll · 22/08/2014 15:10

"The article is saying that two students who gained the same results at the end of secondary school, one from private one from state, will do just as well financially in life."

If they are in Australia, of course.

MrsCampbellBlack · 22/08/2014 15:11

Private education isn't just about what children end up doing as adults though is it?

There are many reasons people choose to educate privately, future career prospects is just one of them surely?

uptheauntie · 22/08/2014 15:16

Mrs Campbell, I am interested. I would have thought most people send their DC to private for a 'better education' which normally results in better academic success and career prospects. I am just interested, what would you say are the other reasons? I am not being snarky, just interested!

DogCalledRudis · 22/08/2014 15:21

Maybe just because they can...

dixiechick1975 · 22/08/2014 15:26

Other reasons. No suitable state place offered. Private hours fit better with work. Can choose a school near work and all benefits that has eg can pop out to see assembly.

Smaller class size so receive extra attention - in my case DD has a physical disability. Not entitled to statement/ta etc in state - worried how she would thrive as 1 of 30.

Lots of extra curricular done onsite and no extra cost so no need to be mums taxi at the end of the day.

MrsCampbellBlack · 22/08/2014 15:30

Yes, what dixie said basically. For us reasons included:

  • convenience, we chose school and then weren't constrained when moving house by catchment areas
  • have 2 summer born children so wanted small classes
  • the range of extra-curricular activities offered by the school
  • the excellent and 'free' wrap around care
  • that I thought they would enjoy the school - and this is the most important really.

Of course, I hope they do the very best they can do academically but there were many other reasons I chose the school for them.

thornyhousewife · 22/08/2014 18:31

We are choosing a private school for 'other' reasons. The most important one being that I think they will be happy there. They certainly are so far.

My kid is starting in reception in September and didn't get a state school place near to where we live. The private school is just down the road and is really sweet. Her classmates and teachers are wonderful.

I honestly don't care what grades they get or what careers they have. Just want them to be happy.

LapsedTwentysomething · 22/08/2014 18:39

Yy re private tutoring (I am a private tutor Grin)

Original poster
womblesofwestminster · 22/08/2014 18:40

If they are in Australia, of course.

British studies are referred to also.

OP posts:
Original poster
womblesofwestminster · 22/08/2014 18:41

thornyhousewife would your children not be happy in state school?

OP posts:
sanfairyanne · 22/08/2014 18:46

the british studies seemed just about the fall off in grades at uni - less spoon feeding - rather than future earnings/employment?

certainly doesnt apply to running the uk via government anyway - private ed seems a prerequisite

OwlCapone · 22/08/2014 18:48

The article is saying that two students who gained the same results at the end of secondary school, one from private one from state, will do just as well financially in life.

Would the students both have been at the same state school?
Were the students both of an identical level at the end of primary?
Do they both have the same educational needs?

I don't expect answers but there are more things to consider than their grades at the end of secondary school.

EdithWeston · 22/08/2014 18:50

Which British study (or studies) are those?

And do they refer to life-time earnings, or class of degree. Or A level status of those who have 1st class Oxbridge degrees?

alteredimages · 22/08/2014 18:52

My experience also doesn't fit with the results of the study and I think BabyMarmoset may have hit the nail on the head.

My youngest DS had the weakest academic record but went to private school for last 3 years of school. The extra study, test taking and tipe management skills (and his own very hard work) allowed him to gain excellent A level results and go on to the best university of all of us.

DH is also in a career dominated by the privately educated and you can spot them a mile off. Most seem to have a self assurance and social ease I haven't often seen in those from state schools.

If I were in the UK I would definitely send my children to state schools but it would be naive to suggest that private education and the priveleges it brings are of no benefit.

alteredimages · 22/08/2014 18:53

Sorry, DS should be DB. Blush

atieno · 22/08/2014 18:54

Another factor is the smaller class sizes. DS (aged 8) is in a class of 14 at his prep school. He sometimes finds large groups overwhelming, so this is very helpful for him. He also benefits from his teacher having more time to pay him individual attention.

SomeSunnySunday · 22/08/2014 18:54

We have opted for private school solely on the basis of great pastoral care and lots of extra curricular activities. I have no doubt that our local state school would be at least as good academically, but (and this was very much an assessment made based on the personalities of our children - one in particular - and the specifics of the state and private school in question) I think that our children are / will be far happier in their private school.

TheWordFactory · 22/08/2014 18:56

I don't know what the situation is like in Australia, but here in the UK privately educated students are over represented on the most selective courses at the most selective universities.

They then go on to be over represented in areas such as law, finance, journalism, politics, business, the arts, medicine, the upper ranks of the police and armed forces.

IAMACLANGER · 22/08/2014 18:57

We opted for private education for a more personal service (very small school) and much smaller class sizes as DC was one of the youngest and very shy. It's worked brilliantly. Will hope to do same for secondary. DC not the most intelligent in the class, and never will be, but I believe the smaller classes have boosted confidence and helped achieve more than would have in a different environment. I'll never know though will I!
I also believe that clever children, with the right attitude, will do well wherever they go to school.

Muskey · 22/08/2014 18:57

I had to take my dd out of state primary school as she was very badly bullied. Although we were planning to go private for secondary. All we want for dd is that she is happy in school. Since starting her new school last year it is like having a different child. For us that is worth every penny we pay for a private education

WaroftheRoses · 22/08/2014 18:59

We started in state school, had 18 months of bullying of DS1 with little useful intervention by staff. A very sad, lonely little 8 yr old has now flourished into a confident, happy, outgoing, popular 14 yr old who loves school. My bright DD was left to "thread beads" most of the time at state school as she flew through the work and finished first. She didn't have her reading books changed (which she read at home in one sitting) until I intervened and then she went up 4 levels in one go! She was achieving all they required so she was just left to it. She now has a scholarship to her school, has her days crammed with break/lunch/after school activities, gets fantastic marks in all her subjects and is happy at school. DS2 hated lots of the other boys who were rough and arrogant and received no discipline but reward charts (aged 5-6). He now loves his school and friends and still remembers the kids who made everyone's lives miserable at his first school 5 yrs on.
I went to state school, my DH went private. We have the same professional qualification and looking further back I achieved better school grades then he did. But I wouldn't hesitate to recommend private school if kids are having issues in the state system, as state schools just can't cope with all the problem kids and other issues that it has to deal with now.