To feel jealous of friends/family able to educate their kids privately

[NewDay10]

Just that really. I know IABU to feel this way. I could go back to work and pay school fees and educate my kids privately. We've chosen for me to be a SAHM. I've just been looking at Facebook and can't believe how many of my friends educate their kids at prep level privately. Also I don't know how they afford it?! E.g. One couple both are teachers (state school) but still educate their kids privately. I'm feeling bitter. IABU and need to be happy as it really is a first world problem. We have great state schools here. I also know this debate has been done so many times on MN! So sorry to the veterans!

But really it's just a cost cutting exercise.

Many sixth form colleges seem to be fairly transparent that it is about money.

user that's interesting.

The schools I've visited were very much spinning it as a positive. Whilst at the same time looking to the universities to solve the access gap . Funny that.

Presumably your DH earns a lot more than £90k if YOU were the one that gave up a full time job paying that much to stay home.

Are you sure you couldn't afford the fees from DHs salary?

Whilst at the same time looking to the universities to solve the access gap.

Well, it's obviously entirely our problem and nothing to do with them, right? I mean, we continually point out that certain subject combinations are better than others, and that some subjects don't lead into many degrees and it's clearly entirely out fault that this advice is ignored.

The county I am involved with is pushing hard for fairness in school funding/reversal of cuts to 16-19 budgets. Perhaps this is why they are so much more willing to admit that their choices are forced on them by finances. (Mostly Tory MPs but Tory MPs who are pushing for shifts in school funding from the backbenches.)

Parents in my neck of the woods seem to be pretty clear that costs are being cut in the 6th form at our local schools. I don't know if they have been told directly or if they are just savvy.

And quite a few parents who didn't feel their family budget could stretch to going private for secondary are now discussing whether they could stretch to private for 6th form as it is only 2 years.

Personally private education doesn't appeal. My Dc will be going to state school and I am happy about it. The research I have read suggests that parental involvement / encouragement is the most important factor at primary level

The research I have read suggests that parental involvement / encouragement is the most important factor at primary level

Absolutely and you'd be hard pushed to find people who disagree. I think though that good (for want of a better word) parents combined with the benefits of public school (resources etc) is even better.

Most of the research in this area is quite old.

The study most relied on found that maternal educational level was the greatest predictor of educational acjievement in offspring. Though 'achievement' was a little loose IIRC and no distinction was made between working mothers and SAHMs etc.

Another study did get underway and looked to be very interesting, the likeliest outcome seemed to be that a family's income would be the greatest predictor, having quite significantly overtaken maternal educational attainment. But the research ran out of money ( oh the irony ).

"But "He went to my old school?" So what?"

It must be an incredible coincidence then that all employees of a well-known private equity firm's Eastern European division are not just from Cambridge but from a particular college in Cambridge.

There is an excellent, and recent, French meta study that digs right down into data about family composition and the drivers of academically successful DC. IIRC the secret of success in the French context is to have a teacher mother and a CEO or professional father. Brains, school knowledge, money, time...

But "He went to my old school?" So what? It must be an incredible coincidence then that all employees of a well-known private equity firm's Eastern European division are not just from Cambridge but from a particular college in Cambridge.

The latter indeed implies nepotism, but remember that Cambridge graduates already passed a high barrier to get in to Cambridge in the first place. Lots of Cambridge graduates in one company should not be compared to many alumni from one specific school being in a company.

My Cambridge college is massively over-represented in maths related professions but it is one of the most over-subscribed for undergraduate maths, i.e. it selects at 18 based on very high maths ability.

People do business - especially high-stakes business involving lots of money - with other people they know and trust. It's inevitable that the worlds of P/E and hedge funds are populated with teams who have a long, shared back story.

although research does show that teaching quality is far more important than class size

I have heard this and it does puzzle me. In my DD class she has always had excellent teachers and yet huge disruption due to the usual suspect DC. So surely smaller classes mean perhaps less disruptive pupils also? I dont know....when you increase percentages you also increase negatives?

We all have our own reasons. We all have our own values. And what value we place on our DC's education is entirely subjective

Of course, I have born witness to many a poster describing in painful detail, hideous school experiences and therefore choosing the best route they feel they can for their own DC to spare them, these have been derided and mocked by certain posters.

I am lucky, I had parents who were usually opposed to each other on every aspect of life from religion - atheist/catholic, politics - soft Conservative/Hard Labour, down to the garden Veg patch /flower bed. It caused so much friction but its given me the benefit of hearing two sides of arguments both sides fought with equal passion.

i know some posters have openly admitted coming from backgrounds were perhaps behaviour was extreme in some sense and its almost like brain washing.

Also I feel something gets lost in all the number crunching, studies, and arguments - which is basic happiness.
Where is your child simply going to be the most happy, whether they come out with great grades or not? Does this count for anything>

although research does show that teaching quality is far more important than class size

I have heard this and it does puzzle me. In my DD class she has always had excellent teachers and yet huge disruption due to the usual suspect DC. So surely smaller classes mean perhaps less disruptive pupils also? I dont know....when you increase percentages you also increase negatives?

We all have our own reasons. We all have our own values. And what value we place on our DC's education is entirely subjective

Of course, I have born witness to many a poster describing in painful detail, hideous school experiences and therefore choosing the best route they feel they can for their own DC to spare them, these have been derided and mocked by certain posters.

I am lucky, I had parents who were usually opposed to each other on every aspect of life from religion - atheist/catholic, politics - soft Conservative/Hard Labour, down to the garden Veg patch /flower bed. It caused so much friction but its given me the benefit of hearing two sides of arguments both sides fought with equal passion.

i know some posters have openly admitted coming from backgrounds were perhaps behaviour was extreme in some sense and its almost like brain washing.

Also I feel something gets lost in all the number crunching, studies, and arguments - which is basic happiness.
Where is your child simply going to be the most happy, whether they come out with great grades or not? Does this count for anything>

although research does show that teaching quality is far more important than class size

I have heard this and it does puzzle me. In my DD class she has always had excellent teachers and yet huge disruption due to the usual suspect DC. So surely smaller classes mean perhaps less disruptive pupils also? I dont know....when you increase percentages you also increase negatives?

We all have our own reasons. We all have our own values. And what value we place on our DC's education is entirely subjective

Of course, I have born witness to many a poster describing in painful detail, hideous school experiences and therefore choosing the best route they feel they can for their own DC to spare them, these have been derided and mocked by certain posters.

I am lucky, I had parents who were usually opposed to each other on every aspect of life from religion - atheist/catholic, politics - soft Conservative/Hard Labour, down to the garden Veg patch /flower bed. It caused so much friction but its given me the benefit of hearing two sides of arguments both sides fought with equal passion.

i know some posters have openly admitted coming from backgrounds were perhaps behaviour was extreme in some sense and its almost like brain washing.

Also I feel something gets lost in all the number crunching, studies, and arguments - which is basic happiness.
Where is your child simply going to be the most happy, whether they come out with great grades or not? Does this count for anything>

although research does show that teaching quality is far more important than class size

I have heard this and it does puzzle me. In my DD class she has always had excellent teachers and yet huge disruption due to the usual suspect DC. So surely smaller classes mean perhaps less disruptive pupils also? I dont know....when you increase percentages you also increase negatives?

We all have our own reasons. We all have our own values. And what value we place on our DC's education is entirely subjective

Of course, I have born witness to many a poster describing in painful detail, hideous school experiences and therefore choosing the best route they feel they can for their own DC to spare them, these have been derided and mocked by certain posters.

I am lucky, I had parents who were usually opposed to each other on every aspect of life from religion - atheist/catholic, politics - soft Conservative/Hard Labour, down to the garden Veg patch /flower bed. It caused so much friction but its given me the benefit of hearing two sides of arguments both sides fought with equal passion.

i know some posters have openly admitted coming from backgrounds were perhaps behaviour was extreme in some sense and its almost like brain washing.

Also I feel something gets lost in all the number crunching, studies, and arguments - which is basic happiness.
Where is your child simply going to be the most happy, whether they come out with great grades or not? Does this count for anything>

although research does show that teaching quality is far more important than class size

I have heard this and it does puzzle me. In my DD class she has always had excellent teachers and yet huge disruption due to the usual suspect DC. So surely smaller classes mean perhaps less disruptive pupils also? I dont know....when you increase percentages you also increase negatives?

We all have our own reasons. We all have our own values. And what value we place on our DC's education is entirely subjective

Of course, I have born witness to many a poster describing in painful detail, hideous school experiences and therefore choosing the best route they feel they can for their own DC to spare them, these have been derided and mocked by certain posters.

I am lucky, I had parents who were usually opposed to each other on every aspect of life from religion - atheist/catholic, politics - soft Conservative/Hard Labour, down to the garden Veg patch /flower bed. It caused so much friction but its given me the benefit of hearing two sides of arguments both sides fought with equal passion.

i know some posters have openly admitted coming from backgrounds were perhaps behaviour was extreme in some sense and its almost like brain washing.

Also I feel something gets lost in all the number crunching, studies, and arguments - which is basic happiness.
Where is your child simply going to be the most happy, whether they come out with great grades or not? Does this count for anything>

although research does show that teaching quality is far more important than class size

I have heard this and it does puzzle me. In my DD class she has always had excellent teachers and yet huge disruption due to the usual suspect DC. So surely smaller classes mean perhaps less disruptive pupils also? I dont know....when you increase percentages you also increase negatives?

We all have our own reasons. We all have our own values. And what value we place on our DC's education is entirely subjective

Of course, I have born witness to many a poster describing in painful detail, hideous school experiences and therefore choosing the best route they feel they can for their own DC to spare them, these have been derided and mocked by certain posters.

I am lucky, I had parents who were usually opposed to each other on every aspect of life from religion - atheist/catholic, politics - soft Conservative/Hard Labour, down to the garden Veg patch /flower bed. It caused so much friction but its given me the benefit of hearing two sides of arguments both sides fought with equal passion.

i know some posters have openly admitted coming from backgrounds were perhaps behaviour was extreme in some sense and its almost like brain washing.

Also I feel something gets lost in all the number crunching, studies, and arguments - which is basic happiness.
Where is your child simply going to be the most happy, whether they come out with great grades or not? Does this count for anything>

although research does show that teaching quality is far more important than class size

I have heard this and it does puzzle me. In my DD class she has always had excellent teachers and yet huge disruption due to the usual suspect DC. So surely smaller classes mean perhaps less disruptive pupils also? I dont know....when you increase percentages you also increase negatives?

We all have our own reasons. We all have our own values. And what value we place on our DC's education is entirely subjective

Of course, I have born witness to many a poster describing in painful detail, hideous school experiences and therefore choosing the best route they feel they can for their own DC to spare them, these have been derided and mocked by certain posters.

I am lucky, I had parents who were usually opposed to each other on every aspect of life from religion - atheist/catholic, politics - soft Conservative/Hard Labour, down to the garden Veg patch /flower bed. It caused so much friction but its given me the benefit of hearing two sides of arguments both sides fought with equal passion.

i know some posters have openly admitted coming from backgrounds were perhaps behaviour was extreme in some sense and its almost like brain washing.

Also I feel something gets lost in all the number crunching, studies, and arguments - which is basic happiness.
Where is your child simply going to be the most happy, whether they come out with great grades or not? Does this count for anything>

What does "P / E" mean bobochic?

Private Equity

Actually, P/E means Price/Earnings (Ratio).

Private Equity, if you must abbreviate, would be PE.

Thanks :-)