If you didn’t go to a private school, what do you think about those who did?

[hanginds]

Do you feel they had an unfair advantage? Do you care? Do you think they don’t know about the real world?

I really struggle to connect with colleagues who were privately educated as they seem almost entitled to the job. They seem fearless about finding alternative work if needs be, yet I just don’t have that confidence. I assume it’s their background as it’s the only difference between us in the academic/work context.

@TheHoover
"i am very concerned about the general drift towards private which is being heavily defended and indeed normalised on this thread."

Why are you concerned? What actual impact does it have? Why aren't you as concerned about the amount of private tutoring of kids to enter grammar schools in those areas which offer grammar? Why are you not more concerned with the lack of investment in state education?
Leave those of us who want to use the private system to use it and in the meantime lobby your local MP to drive up standards of state schools.

Why are you not more concerned with the lack of investment in state education?
have you not read a flipping thing I have written?

Because the old trope bleated on here is that if 'rich' people were forced to use state education they'd suddenly make it brilliant. I'm saying that plenty of rich people already use state education and its still not good enough, so not sure why you think it will magically improve if a lot of people who don't want to use it are forced to. They'd just spend their whole time moaning and emailing the school 🤣

@twistyizzy don't get me started on grammar schools, I'd do away with them too in. Peppadog for PM.

🤣

I would completely support a higher tax more services economy too. I think it would be amazing if extracurricular activities were state funded. I'll keep voting Labour and campaigning for a fairer society.
Not all of us who use private schools are heartless or tories! I'm just not prepared to send my children to schools where I have serious concerns about bullying and violence.

I have family who are privately educated. Some of them are talented and bright but obnoxiously self entitled and arrogant. They believe anything less than five star hotels are 'slumming it'. Many of then have struggled with everyday life and dealing with ordinary people.

They just sound a bit weird tbf. Most privately educated kids cope fine with RL.

if 'rich' people were forced to use state education they'd suddenly make it brilliant.

that is complete and utter straw manning (and i didn’t say anything of the sort). But what I do believe is that once people sort themselves out they lose touch with the rest of the population and cease to bother themselves with issues that affect the masses. And I firmly believe that education equals life chances more than anything else and should be heavily invested in.

its no surprise that Tory voters tend to be older and therefore more well off……

Yes I have and yes I know you are but this doesn't happen by abolishing private schools. Inequality is a part of life, right or wrong, so focusing on demonising private schools is a waste of energy.

What will reluctant ex-private school parents do that they can't?

Exactly. Isn’t it quite patronising to state school parents to think that if private schools were abolished these super capable ex private school parents will swoop in and improve matters?

Well, yes, my career has involved roles which have brought me into close contact with various educational institutions at all levels, including quite a lot of private schools, many of which I have visited and had ongoing working relationships with.

FWIW, I'm not sure if it's right to say that I disapprove of private education as such. I do think it would be better for society if private schools didn't exist, but I would prefer to achieve that by making state schools so good that they go out of business, rather than forcing them to close. Not realistic, I appreciate, as state schools would probably need to be significantly better than private schools before people would let go of their perceptions about the advantages that private schools can offer, but that would still be the ideal from my perspective.

I certainly don't judge individuals for choosing private education if they can afford it and if they feel that's what is best for their own children. I would do the same if I felt that it was worth it. Most of us just have our kids' best interests as a top priority, and I can't judge anyone for that.

I do get irritated by the rather ignorant but common assumption that private is always better than state. I think there are some absolutely wonderful private schools that do a fantastic job, but I think there are also lots of very mediocre private schools that are a monumental waste of money for a lot of their pupils. Just as there are fantastic state schools and very mediocre ones. People should judge the individual schools, not the sector, and they should not be seduced by the slick marketing.

Of course, there are individual differences for children too - some kids understandably need more attention or more pushing than a state school might typically be able to offer, and/or they might have individual needs/specific family circumstances that make private a better option.

If I had the power to decide I don't think I would actually abolish private schools or take away the right of parents to choose. Tempting as it is, benign dictatorship is not really my style. In any case, the much bigger priority for me would be to tackle the massive inequalities that currently exist within the state education sector, as that is really what is holding social mobility back in this country. Private education doesn't help, but it isn't the main problem as far as I'm concerned.

Quite. Tbh one of the reasons I love dcs school is that I have absolutely nothing to do with it. It's so well run and the teaching is so good I just leave everything up to them. Can't imagine anything worse than having to sit on parent committees trying to improve the take up of Latin or whatever or - actually, what ARE these whizzy parents supposed to be doing?

MrsBennet thank you for your detailed answer.
The only thing I’d add is re. the mediocre private schools: Surely, considering the fees nowadays, if they’re that hopeless won’t they go bust?

Well, yes, my career has involved roles which have brought me into close contact with various educational institutions at all levels, including quite a lot of private schools, many of which I have visited and had ongoing working relationships with

Oh god, another one!

In fairness, a lot of them are doing as much as they can to help - whether by volunteering their professional skills as school governors, raising funds through the PTAs etc, helping out in classrooms or at special events etc.

The problem is that there is a postcode lottery for schools, so those with lots of highly educated, professional parents tend to get a lot of help, while those in deprived areas struggle to get anything like the same level of support. I am not sure what the solution is to this.

Yes, perhaps state education should get its own house in order before coming for private schools.

@MrsBennetsPoorNerves thank you for one of the most balanced views of the whole thread.

if 'rich' people were forced to use state education they'd suddenly make it brilliant.

"The rich" will always find a way to stash their offspring away from the commoners. Home educated with individual tutors, or send them overseas if needed. Or just exclusive schools in exclusive areas.

I am actually a governor at a state primary. Plenty of us who plan to use private schools care about state education. I give ours of my time and expertise for free every week to support state education, which I’m sure is more than many of the state school parents on this thread.

Well, some of them probably will eventually. However, I think the private = better assumption goes a long way for many schools, and the marketing is often very effective. Plus a lot of parents probably don't want to move their kids once they are settled, so they stick it out anyway. Many might feel that it isn't fair to send the older one(s) private and the younger one(s) to state. And perhaps some end up convincing themselves that the state school would be even worse because it's far too galling to think that you would be paying out all of that money for nothing.

The problem is that there is a postcode lottery for schools, so those with lots of highly educated, professional parents tend to get a lot of help, while those in deprived areas struggle to get anything like the same level of support. I am not sure what the solution is to this.

I’m sure StarmanBobby will have a solution. Any thoughts, mate?

And I am sure that the school greatly appreciates your support - the role of governor these days is pretty demanding. And yes, you almost certainly do do more than many state parents, including some on this thread. Thank you.

I have also been a governor for years, but I am increasingly feeling that I need to move to a different school, as the school where I'm currently a governor (my dd's old primary school) actually has an abundance of professional skills amongst the parent body and plenty of willing volunteers. I think my skills/experience would probably have much more impact if I volunteered at a school on the other side of town where I know that they struggle to recruit any sort of governors, let alone ones with relevant professional skills and experience. I'm torn, as I am very attached to the school that I work with at the moment and I'm not quite ready to walk away, but I don't currently have the time to do more than one. Maybe when dd goes off to uni next year....

Thank you!

Well, yes, I agree with you. This would be my priority if I were in the position to make any decisions about this.