Politics aside, is private school usually a better experience of education for kids compared with state?

[Isitbetterb]

Just that really. We have no political views on private v state and whilst we can afford private, neither of us have ever been to one nor have family who have.

Not really bothered about grades but more the environment. Is it really better than state? And if so in what way?

I agree with this. I think it would be vanishingly rare for a LA to pay for private provision for one pupil. It will happen but very few and far between.

As a teacher with some experience in both sectors, I believe you'll find a much better environment in private schools. Class numbers are limited ( no more than 20/21 where I've been), the grounds usually offer lots of green spaces and well-looked after buildings, there are plenty of facilities you wouldn't expect in state schools (pool on site, proper sports play courts etc...), no issues with equipment and supplies shortage ( in state schools, glue sticks ,whiteboard pens and rubbers are rationed. Pretty much everywhere right now). The school dinners are definitely better than in most state schools: different options , always nice vegetarian ones , lots of fruits, a salad bar and puddings. I even went to a private school with a cheese board ! .

It depends on the ethos of the school but some private schools , especially primary schools, are not as strong academically as you'd expect. They catch up in secondary school as the numbers are further reduced and it's more selective after Y6.

In primary private schools, you'll find a lot of children with SEN : their parents choose that sort of school for many reasons but mainly for the small classes and the extra curricular activities, which are great at enriching a child's experience.

The main problem people have with private schooling is that overall there is a disproportionate number of privately educated individuals in the most prominent jobs and positions of influence, such as Government roles. It makes social mobility difficult and keeps the divide between the rich and poor.

Would I send my kids to private school if I had the money? Yes I probably would but that’s because on an individual level we want the best for our kids but objectively, it can perpetuate inequality.

I said it is rare in Wales. I believe it happens much more often in England because due to the academisation of schools, many are deemed not able to meet need, and there is a bigger market in private (for profit) SEND provision. Also I believe education spending in England is controlled by central government, but footing the bill for SEND kids' education sits with LAs. This is creating massive issues.

To bring the conversation back to private schools. There is a real risk that many private schools in England which depend on LA funded SEND pupils to make their business work will fold. The current government is trying to cut SEND spending radically, and the most efficient way to do this is probably by giving LA maintained schools the funding to set up specialist schools, units attached to mainstream schools and more TAs/classroom support.

So if I were thinking about choosing a private school now, I'd be wondering how the above points affect institutional viability in the short to medium term (which is relevant to school years of DC), or long term viability if it's for a "through school" (3-18).

To give some perspective,
regarding England, it would be almost unheard of, for a child with severe dyslexia (the example used by a pp) to be given a place, paid for by the LA, in a private school. Perhaps in the past it would happen but getting an EHCP for even severe dyslexia would be difficult now, never mind the LA spending £23,000 for the education of one child for specific learning difficulties (despite it being severe)

There is provision for the most severe cases of Learning Disability special schools) where the children are never going to be independent, such is the support requirements. The rest are placed in mainstream and if they’re lucky there is a unit attached for SEN provision. There is no money, so often what happens if the LA say state is suitable and the parents take them out, particularly of tehu have ASD for example. It’s a sorry state of affairs, so I don’t believe it’s anything but vanishingly rare for the LA to pay the sort money it would cost for private education for one child, when that amount could help 4 children… here in England.

@GreenSox , sorry to be pedantic, but many SEND kids in England benefit from private for-profit placements, otherwise the market would not have been worth £1.68 BILLION last academic year. This figure goes up to £2.41 Billion if you include private not-for-profit providers.

See extract below from a report by https://www.laingbuisson.com/press-releases/independent-sector-special-education-market-valued-at-2-41-billion-in-england-as-continued-growth-in-identified-special-education-needs-drives-pupil-numbers-in-special-schools-to-record-levels/

• The total independent sector special education market is valued at £2.41 billion (2024/25) – out of a total market value for special education provision in England of £7.11 billion (1) (2)
• For-profit special education providers have a total market value of £1.68 billion, with the remaining £733 million delivered by not-for-profit providers

It's really interesting to discuss this with you (I have skin in the game with my DC), but I don't want to take OPs thread any further off topic 😉.

It’s fine, let’s discuss. I like your style as we don’t agree but you’re nice with it. I’m sure OP has the answers already and we’ve tried to be helpful but as per on here, things get sidetracked (within context) OP forgive us 😘

Right @Gair I too have skin in the game being English and having a child with an EHCP. DC has severe dyslexia, developmental co-ordination disorder and a couple do other diagnoses I won’t divulge as don’t want to be outed. DC is 13 and can read to level of a 6 year old and their writing is more representative of a 5 year old. Its illegible. Dad has a degree as was informed in his second year he has severe dyslexia and I also have a degree - no SEN for me.

I also have child who had the potential to exceed academically as they were ranked #1 for their MidYis score out of 300 kids. According to some sources one of my DC would fit the description of ‘gifted
and talented’ but would be devastated for such an ‘accolade’ because it’s not cool! 😎

The SENCO looking after my child with SEN is the SENCO for the largest school in “England”, so is more than accustomed to it tban us average joes

@dizzydizzydizzy Interesting. Can’t think of any other UK school with its own 50m pool.

I'm not sure if it's been mentioned but if your concern is your child's happiness rather than academic you'd perhaps like to research 'human scale' or democratic/ alternative schools.

We've done stints in several state schools and several human scale schools in London and the south west and can honestly say that they've been life changing for our children and our family.

They're built on respect and developing a love of learning without unnecessary pressures. My children have never not wanted to go in (three children over 16 years), whereas in state school whilst they were 'fine' there were often tears in the morning and they described being scared by shouting teachers (not directed at them but not something they were used to being around).

They generally fair better than state academically due to small class sizes amongst other things but obviously not the straight a's of selective schools and they aren't expected to as there's a higher level of self directed learning and giving things a try. There's also a much broader range of pupils and backgrounds than most private schools for various reasons (sliding scale fees and payment plans, children who've not thrived in mainstream etc).

It's a huge privilege obviously to afford such things but I'm really happy with my choices. It absolutely won't be for everyone either as we all have different priorities and expectations. My children are quiet and well behaved by nature and could easily have been overlooked, instead they experienced school in a home from home community environment which has given them confidence, self respect and a love of learning which my state school education absolutely did not (although I appreciate some will have had better experiences!)

@Gair yes but these are primarily specialist providers.

I think the qualified teachers argument is a bit overblown because in state you can have a teacher with a PGCE teaching maths but their degree is in PE, geography, politics etc. Whereas in an independent school, they may not have the PGCE but they may be a maths teacher with an actual maths degree.

My PGCE was at a very lefty institution and honestly, it was a waste of time. It was just educational theory, from a highly biased perspective. I had to write a long essay on inclusion, when it's clear that the real factor behind children with increasingly complex needs staying in mainstream schools is cost cutting, not ideology or what's actually best for those children. None of that made me a better teacher.

The classroom practice part was where I learnt how to teach, but you can have that part without having a PGCE.

Yes it is. Almost universally. Using examples of my own children…

My oldest is academic. She is stretched in small classses and alongside this there is the capacity for public speaking and project management qualifications that mean she’ll be able to use those qualifications in a job setting easily and be able to show how it’s done.

My second child has SEND. He struggled as a young boy and I know that people could write him off. He is participating in school events that are worth press coverage that few children do because he has been supported so well to be able to develop and thrive. His academics will never be as good as DD1 but equally small classes mean he will get the best he can.

DD3 is sporty. Properly sporty. She has the facilities she needs to be able to train so the world is her oyster.

We pay a lot of money especially as they all choose to board… but they choose to do and enough of my money will go to Rachel Reeves in tax or inheritance so why would I not spend it in this way.

I am even future planning for any grand children. It’s not just about the academics but the way of thinking. Public schools can concentrate on education and development as opposed to enforcing ways of thinking.

You can't say "universally" and then use 3 children to make the point. It doesn't make your point at all. You'd need numbers and statistics to show how the system is better wouldn't you. Also, you are claiming to have put Rachel Reeves in your will. Did you mean to? Why, if you dislike her policies on tax by the state to the public purse so much?

@Poppingby I plan on passing as much as I can down using all mechanisms available but I can’t give it all away so when I die she’ll get her grubby hands on a good amount

It is totally variable and depends both on the schools and the parents’ situation.

The main features that distinguish private schools are smaller classes and a pretty homogeneous class environment (yes, there are a few bursary students, but very very few on full bursaries). In addition, there are a myriad of extra curricular clubs and support classes for struggling pupils.

The downsides, however, are cost and, in my opinion, a failure to develop genuine resilience for many pupils.

It is definitely true that, if you are someone who may be on target for a bunch of 5s and 6s in state, private will probably get you 7s and 8s, as you will end up in a small bottom set of 8-12 pupils, with fantastic support.

OTOH, if you are a resilient pupil on target for 7s to 9s anyway, you will be in a top set of 24 (sometimes even 25 or 26), not that much smaller than the 30 at state, and most state schools don’t have behaviour issues in top sets.

In addition, the savings on state schools, if parents have the time and interest, can but pupils far better extra curricular experiences at specialist external sports clubs, music tuition etc etc.

And private schools do spoon feed! There is a trade off between teaching inspiring science, say, and optimising GCSE grades. Private schools add extraordinary value at GCSE (partly by sitting the easier IGCSEs) but that is harder to carry over to A levels.

Ultimately it is about the right school for the right child and family.