DS is 2 so schools haven't really been on our radar yet. But the local primary is rated Outstanding so we just assumed he'd go there in due course.
This afternoon we met some friends at a park at 4pm. The park is close both to the state primary and local prep but is not one we usually go to (and we normally avoid parks at school turning out time).
The park is big but was packed with school children most of whom looked about 7 or younger, so was pretty chaotic. Most of the kids were dressed in polos and shorts or summer dresses and looked pretty much the same. However I rapidly realized that the children in one uniform were generally behaving far better than the others, so I looked at the uniforms to see which schools the kids attended.
There was a lot of pushing and shoving between the primary school kids, and one was utterly foul mouthed. These kids were also the ones who tried to shove the toddlers out of the way on the climbing frame, were clambering the wrong way up the slide, not waiting their turn or yelling at/pushing my DS and his friends if they tried to go in the play house. They took no notice of me when I suggested they wait. One picked up my son's toy and pulled the string so hard he broke it, then just chucked it down and ran off laughing. Obviously they weren't all like this, but a significant number were.
In contrast, the prep school kids we met were universally respectful and friendly to the toddlers, waiting their turn and not sliding into the child in front, one said sorry when he ran into my buggy and they generally seemed to be playing much more nicely together and have more social awareness.
AIBU to want to send my DS private after witnessing this or am I just not used to 4-7 year olds and this is normal? Ive looked on the prep school website and we could just about afford it if we scrimped and saved.
AIBU?
AIBU to want to send my DC to private school after seeing kids in park?
Fishnchipsagain · 24/06/2015 19:16
That made me smile op.
My 4 go/went to the big outstanding comp in our town which is bang next door to a huge boarding/day private school.
The kids are generally friendly and lovely at both schools but the ones who really can't behave themselves and get insanely drunk at teenage parties are the ones form the private school. My dd recently had a party and her older brothers had to sling them out for bad and really childish behaviour.
Shame they are generally nice kids but spoilt by wealthy and daft parents.
Btw we could easily have afforded private education but wanted ours to mix with all sorts and it's worked out well for my 4.
Up to you what you do but you may want to look a but further ahead than the snap shot behaviour in a park and you know your 2 year old will be a horrible teen one day. 
Chandalier I am in the very fortunate position of being easily able to afford to privately educate my children. We choose not to.
Tree you do realise that your children will meet those 'chavs' you are avoiding at university and in the world of work...
I grew up in a very 'naice' area, we all knew that should you want to obtain drugs you could buy them from the local private school kids,as their schools were swimming with them.
Also all the state school girls knew not to date and certainly not get in a car with any of the pupils from the local (highly regarded) boys school. Their expensive educations didn't seem to have fully explained the term 'no'.
They all looked jolly smart in their nice uniforms though. 
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.