Private education

[Blackcelebration73]

I’m not a fan of private education- I think it perpetuates a privileged 2 tier society where money buys opportunity etc.

DD’s friend has been taken out of school & privately educated because the parents felt it wasn’t good enough but the child hasn’t settled. My DD has found it difficult because her old friend now has a different life & different opportunities & doesn’t feel like she has much in common anymore - my DD has moved on a bit.

It’s really tricky- aibu to ask how to manage this. Is it harder when kids go to private school to keep the same friendships going? It’s all expensive skiing holidays etc that we can’t afford.

My Y4 son has special needs and currently attends a small unit specially set up for autistic children. He can't cope with a mainstream environment, we've tried two different schools with full 1:1 support. He has multiple issues and he's still in nappies at age 9. However, he is quite bright academically in certain subjects. His memory and recall is phenomenal.

What this means is that when we reach secondary school age, we face a battle. There are no units of this type at secondary level as they've all been shut down. In my son's unit he's able to follow an academic curriculum but in an environment he can manage, and with a different style of teaching better suited to autistic children. To get into a "proper" special school, you need to be at least two years behind academically - or so we've been told. My son isn't behind....but still won't be able to manage secondary school.

We can battle for a place, and we will. Our SENCO supports the fact he needs a place at special school. However, even if awarded by the local authority - it's a big IF - then there's still not enough to go round. Last year there were 42 places short for all the kids awarded a place in special school. let alone the ones going through appeal. What do we do?

Now, there is a local private school. A very small private school with much lower fees than many other private schools. They aren't a special school but have taken many children who are autistic but academically able - and these kids love it there.

You talk about all kids having equal opportunities. My son cannot access a fair education under the state system because there simply aren't enough places to go around. I don't even care about him having an advantage - I just want him to be able to access an education, just like any other child his age. This little private school may well be our only option - and it will put us on our arse financially but needs must.

Our education system is broken right now. I don't blame parents for trying to protect their kids' future by making different choices.

DD has always been privately educated. She's now in Seniors. Her BFF is state educated. We're good friends with the family and always have been. Our DC are inseparable.

They couldn't give a hoot where each goes to school (and neither could we), they love each anyway. Is the OP jealous? IME if parents can afford private education then most (not all of course), will consider it.

Imagine being a child who just goes to school, doesn't have a clue about the difference between his school and the two on the same road.

Mine is always saying how she isn't in a boarding school, her school is for musicians and she boards out of necessity and practicality. She refuses to be labelled as attending a boarding school. Oh, and she hates being called posh, because apparently she isn't

I’m not quite sure why PP’s are saying the Op is bitter, jealous and envious, like she shouldn’t be.

Everyone wants the best for their children and knowing a whole tranch of children are having an exceptional education because their parent have the money to fund it is bound to raise heckles.

There is no way a huge swathe of the population can afford private education even if them gave up holidays ( what’s that 3’000 tops - buy you a term if you’re lucky).Of course the wealthy want the best for their children too so I’m not sure there is a solution to the two their system.
I think the gap between private and state can be quite marked though so many friendships get lost between the extra hours private school demand.