To wonder if you are against private schools…

[Unsrr]

Why is this? As in against their existence?

I was brought up in a reasonably poor area and my education was not good. I sometimes went to the nearest private school for swimming lessons and remember being in awe of it. We have one dc now age 7 and can’t afford private but there is maybe a chance we could for secondary. I wouldn’t give it a second thought if we could make it work.

I have never felt private schools should disappear because surely that’s what we should be aspiring to? An education that is excellent (yes I know not all private schools are good and lots of state schools are better), isn’t that what we should aim for?

I feel sad that this country has now made it harder to access this education. What is the reason people are against private schools existing at all? I don’t think it can be jealousy, I think many people are genuinely opposed to it from an ideological perspective and I can’t understand it at all. Just interested really as there’s been so much talk about schools recently.

Which is why parents looking to get their children into their local state schools are being told they are number 35+ on the waiting list, the lists are closed and that the only choices are the schools which are in special measures.

I went to a very good state school, and even so, there was no comparison to the kind of education my ex-H received at a good top private (public) school. I don't have kids, but if I did and could afford it, I'd have sent them private. I'd have felt some measure of guilt about it, because it definitely isn't fair that some parents can buy superior education for their children, but ultimately you want the best education possible for your children, so...

And yes, if you compare badly run cheap private schools to the top state schools, of course the state ones are better. But, generally speaking, the education, attention, development, and facilities at good private schools are miles ahead of good state schools. It's an unfortunate truth, and I don't like it, but that's the way it is.

I think that this a personal vendetta on the part of Reeves etc al.

It is.

@Chocolatelover13 "Which is why parents looking to get their children into their local state schools are being told they are number 35+ on the waiting list, the lists are closed and that the only choices are the schools which are in special measures"

That's not how state school admissions work.

Which countries are Taliban and Boko Haram?

Did these “countries” have private education and government and media attacks like here.

Maybe I should have said “non-Islamist” terror run “countries”

@Mosalahiwoukd I thought when I looked back on it someone would take it like that.

Gumption - or the ability to decide the best thing to do in a situation. They simply have to take responsibility for their actions. If a child at said school misbehaves, cheeks a teacher or doesn't do homework they aren't told it doesn't matter, there are consequences. They are given sanctions and yes, often other kids know which often means they don't do it again. In the state sector behaviour is often shit, the kids play up in class and because the teachers are frightened of being told that they break some rule by telling the child off nothing will be done meaning a child never learns to make good decisions.

Self sufficiency and independence. They are given guidance. They are given a lot of opportunities but it's up to them to make use of them. Many public schools (like ours) don't actually specify a child has to do this or that at a point in time. In fact, they actually have spare time at a young age. This means they need to think about what they need to do to get the results they wanted means the child is making decisions for themselves. I accept that having exposure to this often doesn't happen in the state sector but as I say, that's why I buy it in.

But it’s fine if “mummy and daddy” can afford to buy a house in an expensive area to give their child the best education?

The delusion that all private schools have “amazing facilities, a swimming pool, huge playing fields and kids who look like they are from an Enid Blyton book” is the problem, most private schools and children that attend them aren’t like that. Some are, yes, and I agree is unfair because every child should have a right to an equal education, but it’s way more nuanced that that.

If you don't understand why more teachers and money for basic building repairs are an absolute critical necessity in state education right now, then you haven't a clue what you are talking about.

Why's that?

It’s happening in Edinburgh just now, the parents are having to raise with the local council to get it resolved. The issue is disproportionate in Edinburgh due to the number of children in private education.

Not helped by the local council stating the number of available places which is complete nonsense.

Spot on!
And there needs to be more investment in state education. I received excellent state education as did my siblings and our children. Private education creates greater diversity and widens the gap.

If you don't understand why more teachers and money for basic building repairs are an absolute critical necessity in state education right now, then you haven't a clue what you are talking about.

And if you (general you) think the VAT paid by 4% of parents is going to solve that you (general you) haven't a clue what you are talking about.

How many of you;

Read with your DC every night?
Sign up to free maths websites and buy cheap books from WHSmiths and do it with your kids
Take them to free museums, art galleries etc.
Plan your holidays so you take your kid somewhere interesting, so they can see it with their own eyes

I bet its very few

It’s really easy to teach your kid stuff yourself, their greatest teacher, but many of us don’t. Then when someone comes along and makes the effort whether that’s doing all the above or saving to pay for school fees, others whinge that it’s not fair.

When I actually see some decent parenting in this country I might feel bad for sending my kids private.

I believe that too, and I'm sure most people do, but sadly, it's not reality.

At least Labour is trying to address these imbalances by raising lots of money for healthcare and education in the latest Budget.

One of the main arguments I hear from parents of those who are privately educated, is that they have the right to choose. But what about everybody else’s right to choose? That’s what is fundamentally wrong, that only the rich have choice when it comes to education.

And I was privately educated.

Loads of parents pay for their DCs schooling.

But only a minority pay via private school fees.

Most who pay do it through housing - they spend, sometimes as much, if not more, than the cost of school fees - by buying a house near a well regarded state school (pricing out poorer families in the process).

Affluent parents in Finland absolutely do send their children to boarding secondary in the UK, as do parents from across Europe.

Just because Finland gov regulates curriculum and don’t facilitate private school does NOT mean that parents with money don’t send children abroad.

I just don’t believe that the existence (or not) of private schools will fundamentally impact inequality. You still have grammar schools, intake by catchments, and varying levels of family wealth impacting access to tutors, extra curricular activities, good nutrition and more stable home life’s.
Surely a bigger question is how do you adequately fund state schools, improve outcomes and fund a bigger array of activities. And most importantly, improve parental engagement and responsibility.
I’ll take a guess that none of that will be by abolishing private schools or adding VAT to fees.
To add - I went to a terrible comprehensive and my oldest currently goes to a state primary.

I so agree with this. We take our DC regularly to free museums in London and other places, we have NT membership, and RHP. We go to the library a ton and read every night (to the younger DC). Most of my older child’s friends have never been to any close by museums (and yes most of them are free!).

but I am a migrant from a poor background, education is everything for me and I value the opportunities in this country so much.

Just looked them up - looks like an incredible school! I would probably choose that if I lived in the area and had kids who got in.

@Nasyan

I was replying to someone saying removing grammar and private means it's harder

But do you live in an area with a good state school? You might well do, if you could have afforded private.

I think the issue becomes less clear when a private school's results dwarf those of the local state schools, and if you can afford private, you then have a moral dilemma: Do I sacrifice my children's education for morals?

Please list how you interpret “more teachers” and “fixing crumbling schools” equates to better educational outcomes?

Maybe it’s me. But I need to be promised something measurable when it’s describing education … not just “better”

A repaired, freshly painted school, with more teachers than classrooms ? Doesn’t say much about what’s going on at school.

I’d be more interested in a politician saying “funding for expanded tech/ coding /healthcare curriculums at GCSE/alevel” to meet challenges of modern workplace.

UK has nearly doubled skilled visa in past few years … why isn’t UK interested in developing its own workers?

://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-system-statistics-year-ending-june-2023/why-do-people-come-to-the-uk-to-work

I think that one reason private schools are better that isn't related to having more money is the attitude they have towards parents and students.

My son's allegedly outstanding state school just ignore me if I try to contact them about anything and they treat the students in a very punitive way too.

@LiceoDolce I think it depends on who you talk too. I think there is a move towards more " client and customer"