Be honest - would you send DC private if you could?

[Naptrappedmummy]

If your DC is at a state school and you were offered free places for them at the local indie, would you accept? If so, why? If not, why not?

YANBU - Yes I would send them private
YABU - No I wouldn’t send them private

Me - yes I would, in a heartbeat (DD at state primary).

Yes I would

Yes

One is Home Ed, not that one. But the other one is in primary, and yes, in a heartbeat.

I could and don't. I think a well-rounded diverse cohort of children is better than indie. And you can throw money at tutoring and extra-curricular if you need to.

No. Not for a second. My children are a brilliant state school. They walk to school with their friends and community is diverse. I’d be rid of private schools if I could.

Absolutely! Who wouldn't? The world is unfair and private offers advantages that state cannot. It's not a system I agree with and would prefer a true meritocracy, but that's not the system we have, so if I were offered the chance to springboard dcs chances in life I'd take it with both hands

No but I would home educate with tutors in a heartbeat

It depends which of the local Indies.

One - not a chance. The kids are awful, entitled and totally incapable of thinking for themselves. Results are average and other than the long hours of wraparound and the posh uniform I really don't know why anyone goes there!

One - I'd have to think carefully. It's great, but a high proportion of boarders, and I wouldn't board DDs. Also it's single sex (with no partner boys school), which isn't my ideal. BUT results are cracking and the girls seem really well rounded.

One - in a heartbeat. Fabulous results, great extra curriculars and the girls seem really steady, with a good sense of self belief and good self esteem. Boys school next door for collab activities. I'd snatch their hands off.

So I guess it's like any set of schools - you have to look carefully at what's actually on offer.

It entirely depends on the child, and if the private is a better fit for their needs then the state options

no, they are happy and well educated where they are- and in a private school they would not be anything like as well rounded, in my opinion. I don't want them growing up in an ivory tower unaware of real life, and mixing with snobs - not everyone in a private school is a snob, but there are certainly many more there than in a state school

Yes. But my child's state school was often complete mayhem.

Yes, probably.

My DC are at a fab state primary, so no, not atm. For secondary? Maybe. Our local secondary has just got a Good rating after 7+ years of Requiring Improvement, so it's definitely improving but it does worry me.

Probably, but DS couldn’t have got any better grades than he did and he’s a really nice modest boy. DD sits GCSE’s this summer and also predicted top grades. None of them have ever been any trouble and are so self motivated. I couldn’t have paid 30k a year for the private girls school 2 miles away and academically the results would be the same, and I’d have been hundreds of thousands worse off. Had my local secondary been awful I might have felt differently

No, but my kids go to the very best school in the area, a state school, and beats the four local private schools for exam results hands down. And it sends more kids to Oxbridge.

Nope. Nor did my parents who could also have afforded it. DH was at private. It's pretty much the only significant political or social thing we disagree on.

If we were massively wealthy then yes probably, at least for 11+. We could technically afford it now but it's not a priority for us, would rather spend the money on other things.

My dc have worked extremely hard at a fairly good state primary and have both earned places to local grammars, both with a fantastic reputations and results. I am so proud that they have achieved this on their own backs and it proves that you don’t have to fork out thousands for a good education - it’s not the be all and end all.

I didn’t and wouldn’t.

I absolutely wouldn't. My DC go to 3 different state schools in a big city, one of them is pretty rough catchment but the teachers are good. The other two OK schools. I love the fact that their friends are properly diverse backgrounds
My mates that went to private schools only knew people with money (even if mummy and daddy "scrimped and saved" because they managed to find a few grand a year behind the sofa isn't on the same level as the backgrounds of most people).
They also had a good awful entitled attitude in many cases that I would hate my children to fall into.
I also am strongly opposed to them in principle as why should one child be allowed to have when so many don't, it perpetuates the class divide. I would also get rid of all religious schools.

If I didn't have to pay then yes. The main reason why I would is better behaviour and smaller class sizes. The teachers can be just as good in both as I know teachers who have taught in both private and state.

I don't necessarily think it's worth paying though. DD has a friend who she was at primary with (very good state primary). DD went to local good high school, her friend went to very good private school. They are both now at the same college, DD has done better then her friend did mainly as DD works hard but her friend is more of a coaster. Doesn't put in much extra effort. So it makes a huge difference how much effort your child puts into there education.

As long as I had enough money for all the other costs that come with private school then yes I would.

I'm not convinced that I would but I'm not ideologically opposed to the idea. The bullying in the nearby private school is through the roof and if that's indicative of the others, you can keep them.

Oh gawd yes! Why, you offering? DM for further details 😆

My question is if free places were handed to you, because I was interested in the moral/educational element and therefore wanted to remove the financial considerations if that makes sense.

Yes in a heartbeat.