To ask about the advantages of private school?

[longestlurkerever]

This is probably going to come across badly, but I'm interested in hearing people's opinions. I went to a middle of the road state school and then Oxford. I came away with a first class law degree and a training contract at a magic circle law firm. Although I didn't especially enjoy secondary school, I suppose I've always thought that it did the trick and my dds wouldn't lose anything if they had the same education as me. Recently though I've been working through some stuff with the help of a leadership course at work and realise that, even once you bag the job, there are an awful lot of unwritten rules that I am not sure I am fully understand - how to network effectively, how to have authority in senior meetings and just generally how to go through life feeling assured and confident and have been wondering if this is what private schooling is really all about? I still am not sure I'd choose private school for my dds even if it is, and would have to make some tough decisions to afford it anyway, but I am interested in what the benefits are so I can weigh them up.

It's never been true of all private schools, winter.

I had far less sporting and other opportunities in a private school than the children in the local comprehensive had. It was an inner city school and we didn't have a proper playground, let alone playing fields, a gymnasium etc. No music lessons, no extra drama. Everything was academia.

Valerrie that's interesting. I'm just responding to those who feel the private schools offer better extra-curricular stuff as this comes up time and time again as a strong reason for private, coupled with smaller classes (which is undoubtedly true).

Smaller classes are the distinct advantage to me. No matter how hard I try, unfortunately in a class of 33 children, it's impossible to give every child the best learning experience, every day.

In classes of 10-18, it's far easier.

Classes of 10 though are a big problem and I’d only be happy with 18 if there was at least 2 classes in a year. It can work academically but socially anything less than 20 is a problem as there simply isn’t enough of a peer group of they don’t get on. It’s ok -ish in Ks1 but 10-15 in a whole year group by year 4-5 is almost always problematic not to mention there aren’t enough kids for teams etc. My kids at prep had classes capped at 22 with a teacher and TA, I think that’s about the right size so that they get enough attention but there is a big enough pool of children socially and so that they can actually enter teams for matches, do decent plays etc

Classes of 10 though are a big problem and I’d only be happy with 18 if there was at least 2 classes in a year. It can work academically but socially anything less than 20 is a problem as there simply isn’t enough of a peer group of they don’t get on.

Hahaha! Absolute rubbish! There is a whole world of people regardless of how many are in your class at school.

@Yvest I think it all depends on the children. DD is one of 17 in a one form intake.

There have never been the fall outs I was expecting. Most of them have been together since they were 2 and are really close.

Plays/sports teams are done across years which forms bonds with younger/older children.

I must say that my son has as many friends out of school as he does in. We go to other activities and have neighbours whose children do not attend his school.

What tosh. No one in the schools I was a pupil in, or have taught in has ever had social problems.

Our oldest goes to a private school (youngest is a baby).The difference even to good state schools in the area is stunning. PE 3 times a week from reception, weekly swimming in year 1 and 2, 2 teachers and 2 teaching assistants for 24 kids, well maintained equipment, massive library, loads of math and science resources, ... However, this is also because it’s a small private school (non selective), and all state schools around here are hopelessly oversubscribed (so classes of 30, bulge classes left everywhere that the schools really don’t have space for, it’s a mess). Loads of private primaries here, so if you can afford it, people send kids to private primary, and state secondary (really good ones around here). We’re in the southeast.
Friends live rural, local school has 8 kids in reception, and is awesome! So, as usual it depends on the specific school

Classes of 10 though are a big problem and I’d only be happy with 18 if there was at least 2 classes in a year. It can work academically but socially anything less than 20 is a problem as there simply isn’t enough of a peer group of they don’t get on
This was our experience. I actually feel sorry for kids in schools this small. It really didn't suit my dds and we moved them. I think it does kids a massive disservice to limit their social group in this way. Also it makes the school feel depressing as if it must be failing. That is our experience, I think it might be ok at prep age, but as teens it's awful.

Limited their social group?! Do you not allow them to do or see anyone unless it is to do with school then?!

Tiny schools have a way of making small classes work socially, specifically through a meaningful and purposeful house/vertical system.

There was basically one sports team and they had to do every sport going. If you were knackered, it was tough as you would let everyone down if you didn't play as there weren't enough for reserves.

Can't believe a poster suggested it's fine as all the year groups work together! Sport doesn't work like that. They are now at bugger schools, doing well and can pick and choose what teams they are in (and the school can pick the best which means they are more successful!)

Mine finished school at 5 and had Saturday school. They saw children out of school but time was limited.

Whatever floats you're boat. My kids are friendly, social creatures and have thrived in a bigger, more diverse environment

Oh dear, scabbersley. I hope you have told them to keep their backs against the wall

*your

Ouch

Ha ha!! On phone!!!

Hopefully not bugger schools

It’s much worse than a stray apostrophe.

Funnier tho

Classes of 10 though are a big problem and I’d only be happy with 18 if there was at least 2 classes in a year. It can work academically but socially anything less than 20 is a problem

It can be a problem academically as well. You can create very dependant learners, which isn't a good foundation for higher level study.

Agree that there can be social issues as well. I've seen it in village state schools with mixed year group classes as well as in private schools. Boys and girls tend to gravitate towards each other, as do year groups. If there's, say, only three other girls in your year, then your pool of friends is very, very limited.

You can create very dependant learners yes absolutely agree

This is purely my experience but the parents I know who still want this tiny environment for their 15 year old dds are the very controlling ones.

Can't believe a poster suggested it's fine as all the year groups work together! Sport doesn't work like that

I’m a rugby coach. I know how sport works

At DD’s we give them the choice. So the netball team is full of two years worth of kids who WANT to play. As is rugby, cricket, girls and boys football etc. It certainly isn’t a case of making up numbers by force. Mine does netball only. Some do more than one. Some do none at all.

Laughing at those desperately scrambling to try and prove that their overcrowded classrooms are better! Classes of 20 or over are much better for learning said no one ever.

So if you've got enough kids for a netball team, a boys rugby team, girls Rugby and boys and girls football and they can just be in one, then you've got plenty of kids?

Sooooooo jealous!