Would you prefer private school?

[Dontbeamenace]

I'm sure I would prefer private school for my children. Would it matter to you if money was no cost?

This is the most pro private education thread I've ever seen on MN! Genuinely shocked.

Very true that 'Outstanding' doesn't mean what you think it does. Ofsted is not fit for purpose.

CatPancake · Today 09:46
This is the most pro private education thread I've ever seen on MN! Genuinely shocked.

Maybe you’d better post some anti private school stuff then for balance.
Incidentally, why are you ‘shocked’ by the thread? Should mumsnet limit posts to pro state and anti private school?

I don't think my kids must or must not go to private as principle. But local school was not a good fit for them, and there were no other suitable state options.
I don't care if this is elitist, but yes I'm quite OK they don't have classmates whose parents publicly declared that school is useless and who needs education anyway.

I'm not pro or anti, just stating some points from experience as a teacher and parent.
Paperwork might be important like safeguarding but for outstanding much of it will take away from teaching time.

Interesting thread - we're in the fortunate position that we could consider private for DS3 next year, but I'm hoping he can get into one of the smaller primary schools near us.

The private schools near us look amazing, and offer huge amounts of extra curricular and wrap around care; but would he really get more out of that setting than a smaller primary?

The teaching is no better and often much poorer, unless it us a sen school the sen provision in private is often shocking. I def know teachers who we wouldn't hire at my good state who now teach in private. If the state school is not a sink school they'll prob do fine, with tutoring if needed in core subjects etc.

Not true in my experience. Massive teacher shortages in state schools, and to some extent in private schools now. A decent private school is likely to be better at attracting staff and therefore have their pick of the better ones.

I have known quite a few good, highly-qualified teachers who are just so sick of the poor behaviour and leadership in state schools that they have gone to the private sector - small classes and less tolerance for disruptive behaviour. The private girls' day school I worked at had very, very consistently good teachers.

It’s easy to say you wouldn’t send them if you have a great state school but when the state school on offer is crap then minds can very much change.

I have a friend who huffed and puffed and tutted at me sending mine to private (I hated the local state school). Roll on a couple of years with her son at the state school and she put him in private. Being the good friend I am I never said a word 😊

My kids are getting the train to a very good comp as over my dead body are they going to the local one. Now that is because I know what I am looking at when I visit on open morning. And the local is also good ofsted, the staff do not understand pedagogy and the mastery ideas are implemented very badly. The train ride one the teachers and books showed they can teach. The local one no way.

Honestly don’t waste your money on private juniors (prep). If you’re going to send them then do it in seniors.

Myself and siblings were at state school, then private for many years, then back to state for one year, then straight back to private.

Private is so much better, it’s not just the quality of education. It’s the experience, the environment and the people you meet.

No. My kids all did well academically and socially from being at comps. They chose their own secondary amd sixth form choices, went to the nearest state primary.

easy to say you wouldn’t send them if you have a great state school but when the state school on offer is crap then minds can very much change.

Absolutely, although I'd probably use the money to move to an area with better schools rather than pay out for private. Not saying that's in anyway ethically superior, but just what we'd more likely do.

DS was badly bullied in Y7 at local ‘excellent’ large high school. School were hopeless in dealing with it. Eventually had to pull DS out and only option was private (no room elsewhere).
Moving to new school was the making of DS, it was excellent. DS was already A* student but this school helped him build confidence too.
Financially it has been difficult, had to give up extras inc holidays, changing our very old cars etc. But definitely worthwhile. Now all happy DS moved.
Interestingly since being at the new school heard so many similar stories from this High School both from other parents at new school and other local parents.

Yes, I was never pro or anti either way. For me it all came down to the choice of state school on offer and if private was affordable if needed.

I would happily have put them in state if it had been a good school but it wasn’t (my original concerns being proven by my friend pulling her child out of it).

Well my and others' DC have learned with peers who've been consistently disruptive, so they've witnessed physical fights, bullying, swearing, pornographic and sexual content, and animal cruelty among other things. The school deals with it as best they can without expelling the children. My DC is only 10 and I wish in hindsight he'd had more of an innocent childhood tbh.

Years ago I would have said no, I oppose private schools, and it’s wrong that some children are given a better standard of education/better facilities simply because their parents are wealthy.

Now my children are at KS2/KS3 age I’d send them private in a heartbeat. Both autistic and would benefit so much from smaller class sizes, for starters. Sadly, it’s not an option.

There's no point for primary. I don't like that private schools exist, but if I was rich enough I'd maybe consider it for secondary school I suppose

@underneaththeash that may be your experience, but I don't think it's universal

Where I live, we have excellent state schools with well behaved pupils and the exam results are better than the two closest private schools (and of course, exam results are only one measure of success anyway)

It's virtually impossible to get a 3 bed house in the catchments of the few good schools in our city because so many people do this. We'd need £1m and a chummy estate agent. Private would be cheaper!