To wonder if schools are just a bit crap at the moment (not teacher bashing)

[Terribleenergy]

Added that caveat as am definitely not being deliberately provocative - it’s more to do with funding and class sizes being too big, and just too much crap than individual teachers. I’m a teacher myself and I don’t know that I’m offering the best ‘diet’ for my students - I do my best but I’m limited I suppose.

It’s similar with the NHS and dentists and so on: just seems services aren’t running brilliantly.

So we’ve bitten the bullet and paid for private healthcare and I’m just wondering if I should do the same for private education when the time comes (dc still little) or if people think there will be an improvement in years to come? I can’t see it myself but interested in thoughts and predictions.

Mine is at secondary at the moment. I'm perfectly happy that she's being encouraged, stretched, supported and nurtured.
I don't think she'd be better off privately educated.

However, support for children with SEN is far from acceptable. It is chronically underfunded and under supported. Sadly, I don't see it getting any better.

I would have thought as a teacher you'd have a better view than most though.

I guess it depends on your local schools, ours are very good so we were lucky. Look round all the schools local to you at the time, read the ofsted reviews, speak to other parents and then make your decision based on that.

I think it's very school and child specific.

It's noticeable that school are asking for more contributions for materials and activities then in the past.

But thr school are doing a fantastic job, really stretching and engaged the children.

So I think it entirely depends to a certain extent on where you live, and how driven and motivated your child is.

I have one dc in state primary and one dc in state secondary. I'm pretty happy with both

I would have thought as a teacher you'd have a better view than most though

Well, no - the problem is it’s so easy to think that in your subject / school / department that isn’t the case but I’m not sure - I only know what I’m doing, if you see what I mean!

But I do have constraints on me as well and how I have to teach isn’t always how I’d choose to teach.

Obviously totally depends on the state school. Local one to us is pretty terrible- I know this as work there. One on the other side of town is like a private school but state- but super affluent parents who seem the donate money to school non stop! One year the parents raised £48k which goes back into the school resources

I dont think there's a way to know. And that's the problem.

My dd2s primary school was previously quite open.

They'd be a random open hour.

Parents evening in the school hall.

An array if after school clubs

General mixing in the playground at pick up/drop off.

The odd assembly or event.

But with covid it all changed.

Parents just haven't been able to be present as much.

Staggard timings meant you didn't see anyone outside your year

Now I'm not fir a second saying schools are taking advantage of the lack of parental presence to have standards slip.

But they theoretically could if that makes sense. And we wouldn't know.

I think that's the biggest worry

I’ve got a child with SEN who needs a lot of support. In mainstream they were not able to offer him or others like him the support they needed due to lack of funding. It was crap for him and had a knock on effect on the rest of the class. That seems common at the moment.
He’s now at an independent specialist where the classes are much smaller and he’s thriving. I would think that most children would benefit from being in a small class rather than 30, for that alone independent school is worth considering if you can afford it.

The how and what to teach is mainly driven by the exam focused curriculum rather than a resource issue.

And the perception from friends and colleagues is that private schools are often even more exam focused I'm their curriculum

Chronic underfunding aside, there are a few key issues dragging schools down in my estimation:

1. off-the-shelf behaviour management schemes like "Ready To Learn", which destroy the identity and morale of school communities, undermine teachers' ability to develop their own practice and relationships with students, and create a hostile environment for ND students and those with other difficulties.

2. off-the-shelf curriculum tools and teaching modules - these have a similar effect, deprofessionalising and disempowering teachers. Rather than skilled professionals who plan and execute their own practice according to the students they teach, they are reduced to identikit figures who "deliver a curriculum" rather than actually teaching. Some schools now use "look-cover-write-check for ALL homework, in all subjects. No essay writing or research skills or critical thinking. A computer could do the marking, and I believe that is the eventual destination point.

3. Academy chains and "superheads" who are gradually transitioning schools from educational institutions to businesses, with leadership drawn from the world of commercial management rather than from experienced teachers of excellence. It's quite common now for a large secondary school to have a "headteacher" who isn't there every day and doesn't know the kids - that isn't their job any more.

All in all, the effect is one of dehumanisation, and kids are suffering. I would have hoped that in the 21st century we would be moving away from an education system based on factory farming people with no critical thinking skills and no agency, but we are hurtling at speed in a very unpleasant direction.

My sons school (state) is doing a fab job. Can’t fault a thing. Some schools are struggling -so many variables

Depends on the school, and the child. And therefore getting the right school for the right child. It's a bit of a lottery. We are at our second nearest primary and third nearest secondary. Tons of research and preparation for upset if you don't get the one you want.

I don't know if I am easily pleased or lucky but the school's my boys are at are perfect. I wouldn't move them for a million pounds.

We have good local schools but mine are at home just now and the difference in their progress is incredible. It does make me wonder what they did at school.

sad

Agree with everything you said. The whole " package" thing is very worrying. You try and take a.peek.online and you need teacher ir school codes or a subscription.

Much of the material is only accessible to the teachers. So us parents only really see what teachers want us to see/allow us to see.

It’s interesting as some of these I relate to and others not so much. I am very inclined to opt for private but the cost is, well. A lot

I know a few children very let down by their Indy expensive schools and are now under qualified adults struggling to catch up....quite the opposite with the stat educated ones tho'....

State.....obvs

I suppose that while any child can be let down by any school, the smaller size and the smaller class size is a big part of the appeal - and very well qualified and stable staffing too.

'@Bearnecessity under qualified? I'm quite surprised given the amount of cheating private schools have done in awarding exam grades over lockdown (have a read of the newspapers from last weekend for an idea)! This, in itself, of course, is a let down. You want your child's school to be respected, not outed as an organisation with no decency or regard for fair play and truthfulness.

This is pure anecdata, but my DD (4) is really happy at her state school. They're excellent with her, and she's learning a lot and enjoying learning. Her teachers both seem really thoughtful about how they teach, and they're really keen to explain stuff to us parents. OTOH, a family member has a daughter the same age who's at a private school, and I have been absolutely shocked by some of the stuff she's experienced - bullying, sexism, etc. Really worrying.

Wartywart...I know what you are talking about. The people I know left their schools just as Covid hit....

I think it is very, very variable and area/school dependent. Many schools are doing a brilliant job in very, very tough circumstances - like the swan analogy, it’s perfectly possible for a school to be both excellent and struggling, with everyone frantically paddling to stay afloat. Many teachers are in their knees, and recruitment and retention is becoming a big issue in many areas.

I do think that many schools, particularly those whose local demographic are least able to contribute/fundraise/otherwise support the school are becoming increasingly ‘no frills’ and utilitarian in what they do (fewer trips/visitors/extra curricular options; focus increasingly on core curriculum to the detriment of other subjects; shorter break and lunchtimes due to poor behaviour and lack of funding for staff). Things are becoming more polarised, and Covid has exacerbated this.

I’m still not tempted to pay for private schooling for DD, as that route isn’t what we want for her, but I will be monitoring things closely and choosing her schools very carefully, even if that means moving to another area in future.

I know what you mean I think.

DD is at a state primary. She has some SN. Not severe enough for an EHCP, but bad enough to need support. But she's used up her allocation of support for the year as there's just so many children who now need it, so she will spend the rest of the year with no support.

I am very tempted by the private school nearby where class sizes are capped at 25 and there's a TA in each class right up to Year 11, but I'm worried about the cost. So I put it off for awhile longer.

Also agree with everything @sadpapercourtesan says - the creeping corporatist, ‘one size fits all’ approach was a big part of the reason I left teaching myself several years ago now, and it’s much more pervasive now.

And yes, @Whatwouldscullydo, there has been a lack of scrutiny over the past few years which could potentially mask a drop in standards, although like you I don’t for a moment think that schools have done this on purpose. I’m so glad I we were able to visit in person this year for DD’s Reception place, and that I know our local schools well.