Are state schools beyond help?

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I see so many threads on AIBU about state schools. There seem to be issues with teachers (specifically the lack of consistent teachers and number of supply teachers), kids behaviour not being dealt with, lack of resources, cost of having to subsidise underfunded schools etc etc.

Is the state school system really as dysfunctional as it appears on mumsnet? Should I be saving up to send my kid to private schools? You don’t see parents coming on here and complaining about their private school.

For those of you with kids in state schools, would you send your kids to private school if money wasn’t a problem?

It’s not that simple.

There are great state schools and dire ones, there are great private schools and dire ones.

Your best course of action is to closely look at the schools that are in your area and bear in mind that “choice” of place in the state system is a myth.

You’re over simplifying a massively complicated issue.

Some state schools are amazing, some aren’t. Some private schools are crap, some are fabulous.

Plus different children have different needs so a great school for one pupil may be a terrible school for another.

Private schools have their own issues to be fair. I'm personally open to home schooling if school doesn't work out for DC.

YABU. People complain about schools when they have something to complain about. People don't post the majority of the time when everything is going smoothly.

wrt Your own children, you need to look at your local offer and go from there.

Our state school is fab. Have no problem with it at all. Kids are doing well, communication with the school is excellent, pastoral care again beyond excellent. Two minutes from home. Kids all know each other. In London.

If money were absolutely not an issue who knows, maybe. For the facilities mainly, the extra activities and possibly the extra subjects. However I would not like the fact that it would not be inclusive and representative only of a certain section of society. So I do not know. But I am not British and We do not do private school where I come from so very against them in principle.

I could and would send my DC to private school, but I don't because they are doing fine in the local state schools (both primary and secondary).

Btw, it is a normal academy.

For those of you with kids in state schools, would you send your kids to private school if money wasn’t a problem?

No I wouldn't. In fact I could probably afford it, but I prefer not too.

People who are posting here are almost always going to be doing so because they have a complaint. You don't see the millions of satisfied parents posting, because why would they?

I've actually been very impressed with our state school - which is a comprehensive and an academy.

The teachers are engaged, very communicative, give great feedback, and really have taken an interest in our girls. They've helped them get up to speed with the curriculum and the subjects that they hadn't taken before.

Yes, they are picky about uniform. So am I, so we get on okay on that one. They are quick to give demerits if they don't have equipment that they should have, that sort of thing - that's been a bit of an adjustment. However, my younger one is a hell of a lot less scatterbrained and more responsible and mindful about ensuring she's got the required kit - so that's actually worked.

They have been so encouraging of my eldest's ambitions, and because she's been pro-active in asking for feedback or more clarification or extra resources she could try, they've been great about giving it.

There's been one 'incident' where non-pupils were enabled by a pupil to bring a knife onto the campus. That was dealt with, firmly, promptly, and with transparency.

Our concerns about casual homophobia, when we respectfully raised them, were addressed on a school wide basis.

Whether or not state schools are beyond help is irrelevant to your decision. Unless you think sending your child to a state school will be the overhaul the system needs?

As others have said, looks at the schools available to you and decide which is your best option for your child.

And no, state schools aren’t beyond help. They need a massive injection of money but that’s not a priority for current government.

Our state school has just set up as a charitable trust and is asking for £5 a month donation from each parent per child - not sure how I feel about it yet

I realise I seem to be oversimplifying a very complex issue but, disregarding the fact that there will be some very good state schools, they have all had massive cuts to funding and the high turnover of staff will affect them all. A recent report said that 30% of new teachers quit within 5 years (I can’t find the link but it was a credible education report).

@JacquesHammer what do you mean when you say choice is a myth? I know this is true of where I live in London because most local schools are faith schools which leaves us bottom of the pile when it comes to selecting the intake.

what do you mean when you say choice is a myth?

All you do on the forms is express a preference, there’s no guarantee because you like Primary A and put it first you’ll get it.

There are very good state schools there are bad private schools. Private schools give you more choice than state schools and the good ones are better funded. However, if you have a good state school nearby and can’t comfortably afford private school then you would probably be better going down the state route and using spare money to supplement if you can.

I say that as a private school parent.

The teacher burnout situation surely isn't sustainable to be fair. That worries me a bit.

I would consider private if the state options were bad, but it would be a stretch financially. As it is, our local state primary was fantastic and they also seem happy at a C of E comprehensive secondary. DD1 is very bright, and maybe a private school could have stretched her more in maths or let her do more subjects at GCSE ( she struggled to narrow down her options, as they have to do RE, English, science and maths then only get to choose 3. If they want to do triple science rather than double it counts as 1 of the 3). DD2 is a little lazy, and may have benefited from being pushed harder if a private school would do that. However, they have both been happy at the state schools and have made some really good friends, and will probably come away with reasonable exam results. DD1 has just done GCSEs and dd2 will do them next year. I think they both plan to stay where they are for 6th form.

I was thinking about this yesterday. I could send both kids to private school but what if I lost my job? Then I would have to pull them out which must be awful for kids when it happens. I bought a relatively expensive house in a good school catchment.

I started posting and then just lost the will to live when I thought about how unutterably shit some days were in my last teaching job. I think schools might be broken. Root and branch reform is needed.

I am a state school parent and I couldn't be happier with the schools that both of my kids attend. (One selective - but with positive discrimination for lower income pupils, one entry by fair banding). The teaching is excellent - as are the results. The schools have excellent pastoral support and they have friends from a huge range of socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds from all around the city. We could probably afford a private school but prefer to pay a standing order to help keep clubs etc. going in the face of swingeing cuts (I appreciate this shouldn't be necessary) and use the money saved to go on holidays, pay for music lessons etc.

I was speaking to a senior teacher in a local private school, who says that they are having to make radical changes because the competition from local state schools it is so hot, i.e. the state schools are so good people are no longer seeing the benefit of paying five figures a year Per child when the education is not much better. In other words, over the last seven or eight years at least in this area, State schooling has improved massively.

So no state schools are not beyond help, but like anything else, there is bound to be variation across different areas, authorities, ethoi

Both our children have been state educated throughout.
We have supplemented this with private music lessons and council swimming courses but from the academic education perspective I have no complaints. I certainly don't see a difference academically between our children and those of friends who have gone down the private route.
Interestingly there does seem (anecdotally) to be a significantly greater problem with drugs at local private schools than in the state sector round us - based on conversations with friends whose children are in the private sector.
I do recognise that the state schools in our area are pretty good.

DCs have been at state schools all the way and have done v well for themselves.

Both are pretty academic and I have noticed that as they have got older they have expressed a desire to be in an environment with other DCs who are committed to learning/ have expressed frustration at being in classes with other children who are either not interested or not able to work at the level they want to work at.

Not sure that this is necessarily a state/private issue but definately something to think about.

I'm glad my DCs have had to mix with many different types of pupils over their school careers - its a preparation for life. But on the other hand, I feel their & their teacher's pain when their learning has been disrupted through no fault of their own.

I think it depends on the area where you live TBH. Many state schools do a sterling job in very difficult circumstances.With budgets being cut and problem families to attend to its amazing some of the pupils do so well .I read somewhere that only about 7% of the population attend private schools .So from the point of view of diversity .they are going to mix with a mainly upper/middle class group of people not reflective in everyday life.Smaller classes will no doubt ensure good results, but unless you are very well off many children may feel a little left behind by friends way of life/holidays etc.