AIBU to discuss A level success without private school spending?

[Absorbthecost]

Parents/carers who have not spent a penny on Educating their children and they have just received great A level results.

The sacrifices made all the struggle,

I’m interested to discuss families where the child has succeeded without need for private school

https://www.gbnews.com/money/private-school-fees-soar-vat

https://www.ft.com/content/091b214d-231b-414a-8f3e-9ef9fc021926?syn-25a6b1a6=1

Those who did pay,

presumably to secure great results at A level

The same kids off to Uni, placements easier to secure as less international competition. Uni the playing field evens.

And now time to pay for Uni,

https://inews.co.uk/news/education/university-tuition-fees-11000-2030-4705197?srsltid=AfmBOorss52PSHD6xJzisWMdeNxcXDen3IrCGS49nnGH1ZyDnmvTOh_k

A child who did outstanding (without spending a penny) the same result as a family who spent £250k + The above article is a low estimation for a selective U.K. day/ boarding.

The kids holding the same result off to the same Uni, How are families feeling!?…. Did you save to help towards the Uni Fees/accomodation.

Same here.

Private school really isn't about exam results for most people. It's the overall experience of having a wonderful time at school - which is why it's so strange when parents keep their unhappy children at private schools.
Obviously, you'd expect your child to do their best at private school, but I'm sure mine would do equally well at a good state school. It depends where you live though. Our local state schools are pretty bad and I don't want my children to have to battle their way through every day. I'm sorry some children do, but no one deliberately makes their life horrid when they can pay to avoid it. No one deliberately chooses to live in a crap house, when they can afford a better house. No one drives around in a clapped out old banger if they can afford to replace it.
For many, private school is just a way of avoiding a bad state school, if you have enough money to do so.

Is there no bullying in private schools?

Home should be the number #1 safe haven, sanctuary for kids mental well being.

Families depressed, anxious, stressed financially stretched is the biggest worry a kid will pick up on.

This is not the forum for your thread!! @Absorbthecost

My daughters cohort were all motivated and worked really hard, local state school. She wouldn't have done better in private, we couldn't afford it anyway.
She got 3A* and into Uni of her choice.

We did win the lottery when we moved here we came from the North West to the South East with absolutely no knowledge of the area. Lucked out on where we landed.

You pay money for private school to increase the probability your child reaches their full potential, not to guarantee any particular results outcome.

If your child is very able then they will probably succeed in either environment.

It's the more marginal cases where private school makes a difference in terms of exam results.

My daughters say there isn't at theirs. Obviously the boys sometimes get into fights and the girls can be verbally vicious, but any really bad eggs are just asked to leave. The school gets a report from their prep school and doesn't have to accept anyone they don't want to. (It is a very large school and won't go out of business.)

@SkyLark79 why is this so hard for people to understand ?
State schools are two large and crowded and overwhelming for many children.

The lack of international university students might lead to some universities closing or pairing down their course offerings. But this really has zero to do with private primary or secondary education?

Private school really isn't about exam results for most people

This is nonsense, it is important for many parents hence the hierarchies within the private sector.

So my daughter's best friend now plays sport for her country because of the opportunities she received. Again - hugely unfair in society terms - but the reality of many private schools is that they give that boost. My kids were never like that but they had such an amazing time playing with their teams up and down the country and making extra friendships across their year group in the process. Not the main point of the exercise but it undoubtedly also built confidence and other transferable skills that employers like. It also gave them a ready made hobby to take on to uni and make friends there. It's not that state schools parents can't create these sports opportunities - of course they can - it's just they are less likely to be so extensive in the school and an 'in-house' part of the package.

I'm not sure I entirely believe people who say it is not about the grades.
Why are people so keen on grammar schools, for example, if it's not about grades?

If children from the same sort of background and ability range got better grades at the state school down the road, would all the parents still be paying for the smaller classes, better environment, more sport and music etc at the private school? I suspect they wouldn't. They are paying for these things because they believe they will enhance their child's education and, whether they openly say it or not, they do think it will improve their child's grades or life chances.

OP you sound obsessed with this. No one is going to look at what you have written and then decide you are correct.

You do you! I did state school as did my siblings. Low expectations, teachers more interested in how they can do less than actually supoorting their pupils. I didnt want this for my children.

I used to live in a grammar school area and the amount of parents who claimed they didnt use tutors was laughable. Some parents even on Mumsnet saying their children werent tutoured to pass the 11+ and got the highest marks ever.

Agreed - there’s plenty of private tutoring going on for state school pupils - some of my ex-teaching friends make a good living from it. What I find more surprising is the number of private school parents who pay for tutoring on top of eye-watering fees.

Why are you still paying for something that is tje biggest waste of money?

My post is recognition of those students who have not spent a penny. Off to the same Uni with the same grades.

You have to be big enough to recognise that achievement! That Win. I am 👏🏻

They can, or they can have the experience I had at state school where I was bullied so badly at age 5 that the school admitted they couldn't guarantee my safety and the private school (paid with an assisted place and bursary assistance) supported my parents for the years it took me to be able to speak above a whisper.

Children do get better grades at one of the state schools in my area. We could have chosen to move into catchment and send the kids there. Instead they’re at private school, for many of the reasons other people on the thread have already given.

And for grammar schools - my nephews and nieces are in a grammar area, they’re all in grammar, and my brother was quite open that they were tutoring and practicing to get them in because the pastoral care is better, and the behaviour is better. Those kids aren’t all there for the grades either!

The bitterness is strong 😂😂

My DD got 3A* and an A and is at Edinburgh University. Never paid a penny for her education.
I went to Bristol and got better A levels than a lot of my peers from the top public schools

I didn't pay for private school to get good exam results. I paid for a better overall experience, and a school where kids don't throw chairs in the classroom or fight and spit at each other in the playground.

I have no idea what you’re asking here. Many international wealthy families still do send their kids to UK independent schools, I agree the numbers have declined and would attribute that to rising costs here, rising hostilities to immigrants here, more disruptions to international travel etc rather than a perceived drop in grades if that’s what you’re getting at?

We could afford private school but decided not to. The local state school is highly regarded and my DC have lots of opportunities re sport, music, trips etc. I think the money we've saved is being well spent on holidays and experiences and will be used to fund them through uni (if they decide to go) and beyond.

Is there an entrance exam for private??
Or do they take anyone who can pay? Just curious!