to wonder why most of the threads on the education boards are about private schools

[kitnkaboodle]

... when only 7% of children go there? Is it just all more fraught with worry?? Do the other 93% of us whose kids go to local state schools just get on with it? Are our lives less complicated? Are we less invested in it all??

I think it's because there is less choice about what to do. You're lucky if your child gets into your first choice school, so other than threads about appeals, there isn't really a lot to discuss.

Ladies of leisure....

But people with kids at state schools must have issues sometimes that they want to share?? Maybe they/we are put off by all the Eton vs winchester debates there ...

Or maybe they do a lot of posting in AIBU instead.

Are there generally more private threads? I must blank them out as irrelevant, I suppose like I do with Style and Beauty. Or maybe this is the prime time of year for entrance exams so there are more than usual at the moment?

Because it's their offers season.

There are far more threads about state schools around the time applications have to be in and when their offers are made.

Also

1. I would not be surprised if the mumsnet demographic means that more than 7% of posters (especially those interested in the education sections) educate privately.
2. If I want to know about my local primary or secondary I ask local parents. Prep schools and private schools in general have wider 'catchments' so you may not know so many parents.

Similarly, there (it seems to me) are a disproportionate number of threads regarding a) grammar schools and b) London schools. Especially the way posters use letters e.g. KES and seem to expect everyone to know the school and the location. You wouldn't see that for SMP (St Mary's Primary) would you?

It stands to reason that people who take a greater interest in the value of education will want to send their children to private school. Given that state schools are not so much centres of educational excellence but creches in which to contain children and impose State-sanctioned opinions into their vulnerable brains.

I never post about school. I just moan to the school mums instead.

Charming scatteroflight.
I have two children at their local schools and care very much if they are happy and doing their best in school.

scatter I may want to send my children to a private school, but as DH is part time and on a low wage and I can't afford to work, I have no choice.

I'm guessing that mothers of children in state education will know some of the other parents at those schools and can poll opinions directly. Quite often parents considering private schools will have a wide choice but won't know any parents there so use MN as a way of finding out what life is really like there - not just what they want you to see/hear at Open Days.

scatter I am massively invested in my daughter's education and place huge value on it...I just don't earn very much money

Surely Scatter was being ironic..

scatter
You seem to have a very jaded view of state schools.
My DDs' state schools are both very good, and I do not believe that private would have served either of them any better.

Can't you put your question in Education?

For many private isn't a easy decision. It means big sacrifices. Hence the soul searching on mumsnet. I speak from experience

*an

Scatterofflight was being sarcastic. Isn't that bloody obvious!

No it isn't "obvious" that scatter was being sarcastic. I hope she was though.

For others, (not going) private is a really easy decision! Can't pay, won't pay. No amount of sacrificing (what, the cat? the hamster?) is going to come up with the cash.

I think state schools are more represented on primary or secondary as this is basically what is offered by state sector, except for the odd middle school.

However, private schools can have mixed ages across both primary, middle and secondary so less easy to include in primary or secondary.

Scatter seemed obviously sarcastic to me.

Probably because the ops second post uninviting posters with kids at private school to post on 'education' because she is put off was quite rude.

Haha this thread reminds me of a comment made by a friend whose DC go to private school (which of course is far superior to any other). She said the pace of lessons at AS in their school was much quicker so that it may not suit the less able pupils (& hence some had moved to my DCs' state school at the end of the year to retake). I had to remind her that it was the same exam board covering the same material and the same exam at the end of it! At the end of the day, it doesn't matter whether it is a comp, grammar or private school, they do the same exams. It is whatever suits you, your child and possibly your pocket the most.
If you look at the GCSE, year 12 and year 13 threads (and the higher education ones), nobody seems to care what type of school it is - they just want their child to achieve the best they can.