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?

Oh you probably would come & would probably be utterly delightful! It's an area that really runs the gamut of people, I promise.

I was careful to say things like 'tend' because it's definitely not everyone, like absolutely not, there is just a clear difference on balance & one you (all of us) are not likely to see among your (everyone's) peers cos by & large we keep the same sort of social groups. State schools are a real mix of ppl from all backgrounds, private schools are not - with rare exceptions obvs.

Trust me, though, arseholes are everywhere in all shapes and sizes & their colours are most obvious when you're serving them or cooking for them. Unfortunately that means it plays out exactly as I have described often enough that it becomes A Thing for private school families more than for state schools.

@Boswelian Do you really not understand the difference money makes to class sizes, food and so on?

@CurlewKate Of course I do. It's often spouted that with parental involvement etc state is a perfectly good option. But it's just not even at it's absolutely best enough. I suppose that's what surprises me.

David Cameron stopped the school rebuilding scheme. Many schools fundraise for books, educational visits etc. Termly fees at Harrow are £16,850!

Mine is at state school not even a particularly high performing one and got 5 As at higher without us having to pay £££ for the privilege. So no, not in our experience, but maybe if your child was less intelligent it might be an issue.

"Less intelligent", what a cruel thing to say. So much for the cliche of the snobby private school parent, also exists in a state school eh?
There are lots of factors that impact a child's education and abilities - it's not because someone is less intelligent.
I've lived abroad in Singapore where my DC attended a state school, the level of investment from the govt was impressive. The lack of funding in state schools is embarrassing, the government should be held accountable.

How is it cruel? Some people are less intelligent than others so maybe need somewhere like private school to get them to achieve more highly. Yes ideally state schools should all have the funding so all children get an equal chance but given this country keeps voting for a government that’s not going to do that the choice the parents face if they can afford it is private or the state system we have. The OP is clearly considering private, so I felt it was a valid point I made.

Caerulea - looks like you may have hit a nerve

@Boswelian- what do you mean not good enough? Obviously state schools don't have private schools bells and whistles-they can't. But all my children's friends did well, got to the universities (including Oxbridge) and into the careers they wanted. Seems good enough to me!

@LemonAidG less intelligent is a thing. I know we don't like it these days but some people ARE generally brighter than others. I say this as someone who really isn't that bright, only did well in one subject and don't have other skills l can point to as evidence that I am intelligent in different ways. There's loads of us average kids who aren't SEN, and aren't ever going to get 5 A's at any level. The constant failure that still persists to recognise that we exist, we aren't just 'lazy', we just aren't that good at stuff doesn't help. Sure, we would probably do better if we weren't the fobbed off majority of middle-grounders nobody is interested in, but it actually helps if people don't keep pretending average people with average abilities don't exist. We AREN'T all equal. And these days it matters more, because there are fewer and fewer jobs for the 'average' that will pay enough to live on.
I was fortunate to have led an average life at a time when it was easier to live on a low wage, and to have a DH. We both earned, we both got a mortgage, now paid off.
These days, you need skill or traditional academic ability just to make ends meet, but still we just ignore the 'average' in the state system.

Tbf my son gets a better education being home educated than state. State left him with ptsd.

I dont see playing out when its pissing it down as something worth paying tens if thousands for.
One of my dc studied maths at cambridge and another physics at oxford and i spent not a penny on theirv education.

And private left my brother deeply traumatised. A lot of the teens at his private school were taking huge amounts of drugs and it was a quite unpleasant environment behind the shiny brochures.

I didn't have such a bad time at private but much preferred state. So many of the girls at my private school were very avaricious and obsessed with comparing each others homes/cars /holidays. Educationally I would say the experience was very similar between private and state (top sets admittedly)

The thing is that individual cases are completely useless. The worst case of bullying I have ever encountered was my godson and happened in a well known London prep and followed him to a top flight public school. But I wouldn't dream of saying that means there is a lot of bullying in private school. Interestingly, one case of bullying in state school seems for some to condemn the whole sector...

Tbf I wouldn’t and couldn’t choose anything but home education now

but I would have absolutely hated having to do PE everyday. Especially in the rain!

So would DD. I don't think you can argue that private education does offer better extra curricular activities, especially at secondary age, however, DD went to an outstanding primary school that offered excellent extra curricular activities, especially in music where the school orchestra played at the Albert Hall, and recently the children sang on CIN on Friday, and a good secondary school. She did extremely well academically at secondary school and in higher education.

@Boswelian you don't say how old your child is or whether you are talking about primary or state education

The prep kids having access to significantly more sport/PE means there wasn't an overweight one among them.

Funnily enough, we were all skinny in the 70s - most of us had to walk or cycle to school and we didn’t constantly snack and eat UPF crap. No need for lots of cross country runs and lacrosse (although both were available at my very much not leafy comp for kids that were that way inclined).

The increasing levels of poverty in the UK (despite all the various promises of “levelling up” over the years) has resulted in a generation or two being fed on cheap, non nutritious factory food, with all the accompanying health issues.

TBF I wouldn't and couldn't choose home education now. The thought of being with DC 24/7 and never being able to work, go to the hairdresser, visit the GP etc is not something I would want to do.

It is all academic now as DD graduated last year, but I just don't have the skills or deep enough pockets to pay for tutors.

@TooOldForThisNonsense

That's a very big question /subject.
In my experience children wouldn't get as for many people many reasons and surprisingly intellect is not a main factor...

The playing field isn't level because we have many issues in the system.
Mainly around sen and undiagnosed issues and teachers who are not taught anything about sen.

Thank you for that sounds great!

My DD has only just started secondary (actually hasn't started as I got her into her school through appeal which has only just happened!) so I can't comment on that yet. But it specialises in Science and Art. My DD is very creative so is looking forward to all those types of subjects that she will do there Art, Photography, Dance, Textiles etc.

This, they’re trying to sell you a service.

Where I live in England we have.a Grammar school system and then also Faith schools. This leads to very poor Comprehensives. And we have an illusion of choice. They tell us to make 5 choices, but what is the point when you know all the schools are oversubscribed so your DC will only get a place in their catchment comp unless they get into a grammar or faith school.

Thank you for that. Most of our schools in my city are academies so they don't have to follow the national curriculum either. My DD is only just starting secondary so I'm not sure of all the lessons yet but it specialises in Science and Art so they get a lot of those subjects and can choose them at GCSE.

They do a modern foreign language plus Latin and then can add a second MFL in Y8.
Music is once a week plus an instrument lesson (if they wish and you pay extra). Choirs and bands/orchestras as clubs.
Drama once a week but again drama/musical theatre etc as clubs.

Currently for P.E they do Dance, Gymnastics and Netball (3 sessions a week) lots of sport/dance clubs.

And all taught by specialist teachers.

I do like the focus at your school on drama and music etc. DD loves art so would love more than once a week of that but she does get to do textiles to which she can be creative in. What hours are they at school for? One of the reasons I chose DD's school was because it has an hour lunchtime when most of the Comps are only half an hour. I wanted time for her to eat as well as taking part in a club to give her enrichment.

Hope she has a wonderful time and takes full advantage of all those opportunities!

Thank you so much! And good luck to your DD too.