To think State education is really poor?

[Boswelian]

We sent our eldest to a taster day at a private school. He was agog. His school don't allow playing on the grass when it's wet. The private school change them into waterproofs and wellies for break. PE 3x a week. Sport every day. Dedicated specialist teaching in art, DT, languages, sciences etc. 16 in a class instead of 30. The difference in the quality of life between the two school has really blown my mind. The state school is "outstanding". The private school reckon DS is 2 years behind their curriculum. We've been told in state that he's meeting expectations. How is this remotely acceptable?

Because a typical prep school gets 3x more funding than a state school per pupil and can pick and choose who it accepts, maybe?

It’s not acceptable but will carry on as long as this lot stay in power !

… they do not want an educated working class!

My DD was at private and now at state (change due only to relocating). In our experience the academics and sporting side were better at private, but the social and emotional provision was not. It depends on the particular schools and what your child needs.

Her current state primary school tells them to change to wellies if they want to go on the grass, has a French French teacher who is fantastic, and does clubs just like those she would have had (public speaking, netball).

My DD went to an outstanding state secondary school and did fantastically.

However, there was nowhere near the extracurricular opportunities there would've been in the private system. We are able to pay for extracurriculars outside of school so this wasn't a concern of ours.

Our other child is at a different state secondary school rated good. The sheer gulf between the good and outstanding state schools is something to behold too.

If I could afford private and my only other option was a "good" state school, he'd be in the private system in a heartbeat. If he was in an outstanding state secondary, I wouldn't pay for private.

That’s really sad and sobering to experience both systems like that. We need a return to the days of ‘education, education, education’.

My children go to an outstanding school where the results are consistently higher than the private school in the same area. They have a max of 30 in a class and teach 2 hours of maths and English extra on top
Of the curriculum. ( per fortnight)

Our school also doesn’t appear to have the significant drug problem that is so rife in private schools where the students have too much money and not much sense. That Is apparently very evident at the private school here.

So how did I end up a solicitor from a working class back ground. I know many working class background doctors and lawyers.

If you want something badly enough you'll work for it. It's all too easy to blame someone else for what you wouldn't work for.

You don't need to be changed into waterproofs and wellies for break.

It isn't acceptable but when state schools get 1/3 of the funding per pupil that private schools get you can see why.
I despair of the narrowing of the curriculum at the expense of sport, art, music etc for kids.
Education should be about the joy of learning not churning out kids with a narrow skill set.
The state system is at the point of collapse.
That's why we chose private.

Education education education for the rich rich rich under labour.

Your precious Blair ... the first thing he did was introduce university tuition fees. How short a memory you have.

Lovely.

New poster, or namechanger? If the latter, then why?

Dd goes to state primary and it is fab. Feels like a tiny private school, but is actually an inner city primary. They have forest school twice a week, trips out every 4 weeks, swimming, piano lessons, choir, sports etc.

My favourite thing is it’s so diverse. There’s children from all walks of life and that was so important to me.

So it really does depend on the schools around you. There is a lovely prep school near by but I don’t think it’s worth the thousands a term considering what Dd actually receives in state school.

It's a grotesquely simplistic assessment to say private = good, state = poor.

There are comprehensive schools in this country which significantly outperform highly expensive state schools so it's impossible to make this sort of black and white generalisation. And there are myriad reasons why certain state schools are excellent and certain private schools are awful.

Obviously, though, funding for state education is lower and its unusually challenged at the moment. So I can understand your frustration.

We’ve used both. You can pay and you’ll get more but we were happy with state too

Dc did well and is at a good university doing a decent degree. No regrets not paying in that case

To think State education is really poorly Funded?

Fixed your title OP

Ok, you patronising internet oddball @Ballsbaill I’m not a Labour voter (not Tory either) but I have been a state school teacher under both governments and know which I’d prefer for my children. I certainly haven’t forgotten about tuition fees

Why oh why must people be so rude on the internet

Lots of those facilities don't necessarily mean a good education.

There are lovely shiny prep schools like those where i live. Our bog standard state primary has the same % of pupils head off to the local grammars as the preps do, except without all that stuff and for £15-20k a year less.

Oh and private schools always harp on about being 2 years ahead. Its bollocks. 2 years ahead of the bottom of a state school class maybe.

They aren't going to tell you they are about the same, are they. Ask how they quantify & evidence that gap.

If your child is in the middle at a private school they will usually be pushed to excel whereas due to financial constraints etc the state school may not have the capacity to grow then. In primary the kids with SEN will also be given extra attention, IME

In our area, the very deprived town is next to a very well to do town. The state high school results are world's apart. The top sets in the deprived school area, perform the same as the bottom sets in the richer area.
That's been the same for decades.

Don't forget the attitude difference.

Private schools aren't trying to teach children basic manners and behaviour, they're not fighting with parents who don't value education. They're not also trying to clothe and equip the children. They're not dealing with many generations of poverty and unemployment.

State schools would be very different if all the children & families had the same attitudes, aspirations, backgrounds and financial security that private schools have.

And the funding. Imagine what could be done with 3x as much funding.

Frankly, you should be amazed at what good state schools are achieving in these situations. (There are badly run schools, I'll admit).

*them not then

It will be interesting to see if you apply for a place, and whether or not he will be accepted - private schools can do this as they are selective. LEA maintained ones can't.

They put wellies and waterproof trousers on and play in the rain at my daughter's state school