If you had the chance to put your Dc in private school, would you?

[Thisyeargflewby]

We may have the opportunity.

We are an average family, not hugely wealthy like some of the families (not all though)

Would you, it you could? If so, why?

If you have put your child in private school, what are your reasons for doing so?

I did. They won a double scholarship so it was a no brainer really. Combined with other awards and bursaries I pay £3500 a year where as normally school fees are £30 K plus - it changed their life. Straight level 9 pupil and now 4 A* at A level, they is loved and valued for who they are- class sizes are 10 and the amount of enrichment is superb 👌 Gold D of E to helping them get a life guard award in the school swimming pool and mentoring younger ones, to poker club, speaking at county events - trips abroad been to Geneva, Iceland - trips all covered in full by their scholarship and awards etc

Yes, I would. I would do whatever I felt was best for my kids.

I would if I could afford it, assuming it was actually a good school. State schools around here don't offer anywhere near enough enrichment for my liking.

No.

dc got 12 A* at GCSE (we’re in Wales). I wondered if he might get better opportunities at private sixth form so did a lot of looking into it. It would have been a struggle for us to find it but if there had been a very good reason for them to go we’d have found a way to make it work. None of them offered a full range of subjects as well as all of the extra curricular activities that he loves at his non selective, state, Welsh medium comprehensive.

It was an easy choice (for Dc) to stay where they were. They’re currently on track for 3 As at AS level this year,

Absolutely 💯 I'm a secondary school teacher in a fairly decent comp, if I could put my DCs in a school with smaller classes and more 1:1 attention then I'd do it in a heartbeat. Add in the fact that many students in private schools make influential connections (for work experience, internships etc), it would be ridiculous of me to make any other choice. I did a temp position in a private school and it was like another world; everyone arrived on time to lesson, homework was done and handed in, the school didn't have a million different rules about paperwork and marking policies. Now I'm back in the land where a register takes 20 minutes as Year 10 arrive in 3 waves of lateness, and I spend 90% of my lesson time trying to manage the rude behaviour of 10% of students. Sigh....sorry I think you hit a nerve!!!

Yes, without hesitation.

I would if the school suited them but I wouldn’t do it “just” because it was private. Private is not necessarily better nor are top results.

Yes, absolutely.

I don't like myself for it but yes I would. DD is dyslexic and there's a local private school that would be just so fab for her in so many ways. I'm pretty concerned about the state school she'll go to. Ds I hope might go to grammar.

No

No. I could afford it for my children but deliberately chose not to as I didn’t want them to face the pressure and emotional coldness I endured in public school. They did exceptionally well and were very happy in the state system.

Depends on the child and the school.
If it were something the child wanted and the school seemed to suit their needs then yes, definitely.
Just for the sake of it even if my child was happy where they were, no. If the school available to me seemed a bad fit for the child, no.
Also if there were any doubt about being able to keep that child in that school for the rest of their school lives then no. It's very traumatic having to move back from a private school to a state school.

I can put mine in private school but have chosen not to as I don’t agree with the concept. However it is an easy decision for me to make as I live in an area with good state schools. If the state schools were rubbish who knows what I would do.

Definitely! If it didn’t mean giving up lots of other things and having to struggle.

Yes. I’ve worked in a prep school (and previously in state schools) and now do supply in state schools. I appreciate I’m not seeing classes at their best as a supply but state education is so depressing. It’s worlds apart from what the kids I used to teach are getting.

I have a clever child in a nice school so she’s doing fine, so we won’t break our backs to pay for private, but I wish I could.

I would. I've picked the best state school option for DD. She's in a small class, her teachers are dedicated and inspirational, and she's happy and has lots of friends. However, they are still bound by stupid rules.

The latest one is that they are only allowed to read books which match their current phonics teaching level. DD has been on the same book band since November and apparently will not be allowed to move up until Year 1, and even then, will not be allowed to go past the "average" for her age group. Her teachers have admitted they don't like it, and recommended I get harder books for her to read at home.

OK, it's not a big deal when it's about Reception level reading bands, but I am worried about secondary school and the relentless drive from successive governments to make everyone average.

Of course

Not unless it was a last resort and for specific reasons. We can afford private school, they will go to state school.

Without a doubt. A good private school is funded at 4x the rate of a state one. Why wouldn’t you give your child that level of resource?

Our experience with private has been much better than state.
However, we have been 100% satisfied with state grammar. It is not an option everywhere.

Yes. In a heart beat.

I used to be adamant - No.

My brother went to a private school (I didn’t) and always swore I wouldn’t put my children in private school unless I could put them both in, which we wouldn’t have been able to do financially. My brother, I felt, grew up differently to me, and in a way that I wouldn’t want for my children. It was also hurtful being the child that “wasn’t good enough” to spend the money on (not the case, I know)

However, my feelings have changed slightly recently when we’ve briefly considered putting DS2 in for his a levels. He has some learning difficulties and I suspect smaller classes would suit him, but we won’t be doing it

No. Absolutely not. I could privately educate my children but choose not to.

What are your reasons not to?

No. DD got 9 9s and an 8 at her superb girls comp with a very socially mixed demographic. More importantly though, they supported her through severe mental illness and kept in touch through her numerous hospital admissions and two years where she was too ill to attend. She is now back on track and has had an offer from Oxford. All her teachers were in tears when they found out about the offer and have made her one of their neurodiversity ambassadors. Can't imagine that we would have got anything like that from a private school.