Employers hate private schools?

[5329871e]

In the fortunate position of choosing between one of the best private schools in the country, vs one of the best non-selective state schools in the country. Private school is affordable with sacrifices, which we’re happy to make, and it has all the expected advantages of better funding and selective intake, but the state school is also lovely.

To avoid this thread being bogged down by all the nuances of our choice, I’ll keep the question simple:

DH is convinced that employers dislike privately educated applicants. All things being equal, they’ll pick the state educated person. In other words, job applicants are disadvantaged by a private education.

Is this true? If so, how much better does a privately educated applicant have to be, for you to pick them?

@puffyisgood

About half of all FTSE 350 CEO's were privately educated (see www.suttontrust.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Elitist-Britain-2019-Summary-Report.pdf), compared with about 7% of the population, and with about 20-something % of the population of who get Oxbridge standard A level grades (e.g. AAA) (see www.ox.ac.uk/about/facts-and-figures/admissions-statistics/undergraduate-students/current/school-type) and about 30-something % of the people who get into Oxbridge (see previous link).

So, yeah, whilst there probably is potential for discrimination against the privately educated, it hasn't started happening yet.

I accept that privately educated people are still disproportionately represented in high-earning careers, but there’s definitely been a sea change over the last few years. From 2018-2021 the proportions have shifted in favour of state schools. I wonder if this shift will be even more apparent over the next 7-10 years.

That isn't my experience. At all. I have been out of recruitment for a little while though. My organisation recruits blind to school name/type.

I find it hard to believe these schools are completely identical. I'd pick purely on the feel and fit for your dc, and the headteacher.

The only employers who would be likely to have the slightest interest in the school you went to, or be influenced by it, are the sort of employer who would actively seek out the privately educated, imo.

It depends entirely on the industry and the views of the selection panel. There's no doubt that some people attach negative stereotypes to privately educated people, and value the achievements of people who have not been so advantaged more highly. But there's plenty of occupations where this isn't the case. It's probably not the best way to approach the decision though given you've no idea what your child will want to do in the future. Better to see it as paying for an experience rather than an outcome and weigh the two against each other on this basis.

I went to a very minor public school and although it is named on my CV I imagine most employers would probably just assume it was the local comp. I conduct a fair few interviews these days and I don't really care what school an applicant has attended although I do take note of what university they went to.

Well then if you’re so very worried about your child suffering discrimination from their private school education, and have the choice of two entirely equal schools, choose the state school and use the money saved to pump into extra curricular stuff/tutoring to further enhance their education.

It honestly seems like you’re making an issue of absolutely nothing and that’s why it seems goady.

Two schools that are apparently the exact same. One private, one state. You are worried about discrimination from the private school in the future. Pick the non private one.

Bollocks!!! Excuse the language!

www.itv.com/news/2019-06-25/britains-most-powerful-people-more-likely-to-have-attended-private-school

There are similar articles for other professions.

I would love to see data that supported his theory that on average, fee paying school attendees did less well overall than state school attendees, even when family income was taken into account.

Unless what you mean is you’re concerned your child won’t be placed at a significant advantage from attending private school. In which case it still comes down to choose which school is best for your child.

@5128gap

It depends entirely on the industry and the views of the selection panel. There's no doubt that some people attach negative stereotypes to privately educated people, and value the achievements of people who have not been so advantaged more highly. But there's plenty of occupations where this isn't the case. It's probably not the best way to approach the decision though given you've no idea what your child will want to do in the future. Better to see it as paying for an experience rather than an outcome and weigh the two against each other on this basis.

This is a good way to think about it, i.e. the journey of childhood rather than the end result. Nobody can predict the future.

Yes you'll notice it mostly in government, no one ever votes for someone privately educated.

@Kanaloa

Well then if you’re so very worried about your child suffering discrimination from their private school education, and have the choice of two entirely equal schools, choose the state school and use the money saved to pump into extra curricular stuff/tutoring to further enhance their education.

It honestly seems like you’re making an issue of absolutely nothing and that’s why it seems goady.

Two schools that are apparently the exact same. One private, one state. You are worried about discrimination from the private school in the future. Pick the non private one.

They’re not exactly the same though, I never said that. They’re both excellent in their own sphere. Obviously the non-selective state school has inferior exam results, leavers’ destinations and facilities if you make a direct comparison between the two.

lol your husband is HUGELY wrong.

However, when it comes to Oxbridge applications - and an Oxbridge primary degree WILL help your child significantly in many if not most careers - all other things being equal (i.e. grades, quality of applicant etc.), A-levels from a state school WILL help.

If your child is in any way lacking in confidence, I would absolutely prioritise that over anything else at this stage and choose the private school, because that is where they excel above all else, but then perhaps consider a state school for sixth form.

If your child is a confident, outgoing and academically able child, you might be better off taking advantage of your excellent local state school - just be prepared to throw some money at tutoring nearer the time for exams to compensate for the class sizes/individual attention deficit.

In terms of GCSE and A level grades, private school pupils are at a huge advantage, small class sizes, extra facilities etc. Universities have realised this and hence many of them have schemes involving lower entry grades and extra support to enable students from less advantaged backgrounds to access higher ranked universities. This means if a pupil has the same grades from a bog standard comp versus a private school, it should be now a bit easier for the bog standard school pupil to access a top university.

@5329871e

I knew this thread would attract some sarcasm, but I’m really grateful for the serious replies, so thank you for those.

Out of the serious replies, there’s some disagreement, so I guess a private school education can be a disadvantage in some situations but not others.

I myself had a very positive experience at private school (bursary), so I need to decide whether the positives outweigh the possible disadvantages for my own kids. It’s a hard decision to make.

What do the voting options mean?

Okay, well if both schools are different weigh which one will fit your child and family situations (and finances) the best. Will your child do best in a state school with more financial options eg tutoring and clubs? Or in a private, more selective school?

Consider your specific child rather than wondering if they will possibly be discriminated against in employment as an adult due to their primary/high school experiences. Which is unlikely.

@astoundedgoat - thanks, that sounds like really good advice!

@daimbarsatemydogsbone - sorry, I didn’t mean to insert a poll. Just ignore it.

@BellesBells

I look at schools in recruitment choices and would take a state school applicant with good qualifications and experience over a private school applicant with the same. All else being equal I'd say a private school applicant would need a set of grades one grade up on the state applicant at GCSE and A level or equivalent for me to consider them as equal candidates. Also take into account that work experience is generally easier to come by with privately educated applicants due to parents networks.

I would do the same, the private school candidate is likely to have been spoon fed throughout their school life, small class sies, extra support etc. If they can't do better than the state school pupil then they are probably not as good

This is a generalistion, don't think that you knowing one person for whom it was different doesn't mean the generalisation isn't true.

It honestly seems like you’re making an issue of absolutely nothing and that’s why it seems goady.

But of course it is - it's already been pretty much established that OP's lying about her circumstances to create a thread topic? Advanced search has shown that she's either lying about not being able to afford PS or was lying before

On a related note it does now seem that privately educated pupils are at a real disadvantage when it comes to getting a place at a top university - the Times had some interesting coverage and stats on this a few months ago. We’re likely to send our kids to a state secondary and for me that’s the main reason I want to do so.

So I think that indirectly a private education may impact negatively on ability to get graduate jobs.

In addition, the big city firm I work for is bending over backwards with access schemes and the like and is keen to recruit people from more diverse backgrounds.

(I should say I do appreciate not everyone does go/ wants their kids to go to university!).

Did he goto the University of Life as well?

Despite all the anecdotes about private school applicants being disadvantaged on application to Oxford.. the privileged 6% take up 40% of the places.. so your odds of being accepted are greater if you attend private school! cherwell.org/2020/06/29/inaccessible-why-oxfords-latest-state-school-statistics-shouldnt-be-celebrated/

Exactly which two secondary schools are we debating?

If your child is clever enough to attend a top Grammar school then go, if you have pockets full of cash burning a hole in your riding a jacket and cashmere sweater go independent..

Your child will encounter more social bias if your child is male vs female. Most corporates are seeking out diversity to level the playing field
from those truly disadvantaged or overlooked for years.

Only choose a Grammar schools if your child can meet the expected grades and you are happy meeting other regular folks at the front gate or socialise with .. or let another child take that place who cannot afford “the best secondary school in the world”.

Alternatively, Choose independent if your educational philosophy/ wallet/ and desire to tell everyone your DD/DS attends the best school money can buy.

I suspect your debate is more about the aesthetics of the school vs the actual education and long term job prospects at recruitment.

@girasol ... the statistics do not support this viewpoint.

I recruit lots of people in a professional setting...I don't even pay any attention to what school mummy and daddy could or couldn't afford; its no measure of what that person is like as an individual. I'm looking at grades to see they meet the minimum requirements but I'm mainly looking for passion, interest, gumption, character, personality, skills, work ethic, unique perspectives, etc. So, in my experience...and in my particular job market...it neither helps nor hinders.

Get. a. fecking. grip.
Take a look a round you, at your government, politics, the art world, finance, law, the medical profession, journalists, publishing... I'm mean I could go on but if you're really that unaware of the advantages and privileges that private education affords then perhaps there's no point.