I have just visited a Prep School and I am in shock...

[WerthersOriginal]

My DH and I went to state school. We have done ok and have good steady jobs with a modest income. We have 2 DCs aged 2 and 6. We have always been anti private schools, not sure why as we had never set foot in one. I was watching a thread last week about private schooling and a lot was said on there that made me question my views. DH and I agreed that perhaps, we ought to visit a couple for interests sake.

We have just done that and OMG....

This schools is great. The facilities are incredible. We toured the baby room (nursery), the Pre-Prep Dept (2.5 to 7yrs) and the Prep (7 to 11 yrs) and I was surprised that at the class sizes, the resources they have, the curriculum, the sporting, art and musical facilities. The school calender itself is something else.

Our local state school is absolutely fine but miles away from this school. Surely, having specialist subject teachers at Year 3 is an advantage!

We have 2 more to visit but we are hooked. I am ashamed to say that I knocked pvt schools without actually seeing what they have to offer.

What's your problem Hullygully?

Your muff is both threadbare and florally passe.

I am neither rich nor beautiful, but they have promised me that it is my turn next to be Ruler of the Known Universe.

And then you'll all be sorry.

at muff abuse

crystal - Ah, where to start? Would you like my interpretation of my problem, or the official "diagnosis?"

No, Blessings, but the system should be fairer. I'm not having a pop at parents for using a private school.

If I had the dosh I probably would too.

The fact the state system is so disadvantaged isn't your fault. but it isn't right.

see, clearly your muff is better than mine but I'm not complaining!

Only the russian mums are allowed fascinators in our school.

State schools are not disadvantaged because a tiny 7% of the population go to private school. Have a go at the years of reckless tampering of the state system not the private schools.

paggy - this isn't quite (in any way in fact) related, but it is funny. One of my dearest dearest friends who also has many, many problems (ah, there's the link), asked me, in all seriousness, the other day, if I had seen the story in the paper about Elton and David getting their lovely surrogate baby...courtesy of Nicole Kidman.

So fab.

one of my nephews was hideously bullied in his (private) school - never occured to me it was because it was a private school because having money is no guarantee of being nice.

I am not at all anti private school (its irrelevant to me as never likely to have enough money on my salary) though for average children at secondary they do appear to be given more leeway when getting into university from state schools than private.

Around here lots of people who have the money to go private choose the state system because the primary school standard is very high.

I think people over-estimate the impact of schooling on their children's happiness and success. I believe that research shows that if you take two kids with similar backgrounds (esp household income, and their parents' education) you get very similar outcomes - regardless of where they went to school.

Well a lot of the facilities may be unnecessary. I have heard of some private schools having science laboratories for primary school. Ridiculous. Private schools are over-resourced whereas public schools are under-resourced. I wish there were a middle ground.

You tell em, Blessings.

I'd like a list of Blessings Galore's blessings galore if there are going to be any lists.

"you wouldn't be able to get a cleaner for love or money" - yes you would , we'd pass legislation to make it a men only field.

hatwoman - I would be intruiged to see if they managed to find statistical samples to make that work - there are so many factors.

Oh hully, I love your friend.... Can I borrow her when all the strange people have finally left mumsnet.

Blessings, the thing is that i realise that the quality of my muff does not reflect upon how happy other peoples muff make them.

You chose the muff that suits you and don't try to pretend that because their muff is different from yours does not mean that theirs is crap. Nor that you are better than them, or will be happier than them.

over-resourced ?

What is so terribly wrong with having a science lab in a primary school ?

I have too many negatives in my muff manifesto.

But you might be furrier.

a common affliction, pag, if painful.

I agree with you hatwoman. what's important is that our dc enjoy their schooldays. My dc has done no better or worse than friends who sent their dc to state schools and that is how it should be. However our friends have a similar income and educational background and we live in an area where most children aspire to go to university.