why did you choose private school at reception?

[mumat39]

Hello

there are so many comments on Mumsnet about the fact that Private school from reception age is unnecessary so I was wondering why those parents that chose the private route did so?

We have a few good state primaries locally but all go to Y2 only. there seem to be fewer junior schools and even fewer secondary.

There is a good private school nearby that goes from reception through to a level, so for a number of reasons that is the one I'm leaning towards. But as there are so many views that inthe early years its not money well spent, i'm windering why this one is still popular and what ultimately are the reasons for parents to choose private over state.

I am genuinely confused so any views would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks.

I absolutely agree with you Cortina. A silly anectode perhaps, but the headteacher at our children's school doesn't believe children should start a musical instrument before the age of 8 as she believes they are not "ready".

I would have loved to direct her to the hundreds of videos on YouTube showing under 5 year olds (mainly Chinese) children playing every musical instrument going at a very high level.

An extreme example perhaps, but it just goes to show what we are competing with!!!

Well, being fair, wind and brass can be dodgy before you're 8 because with losing teeth, your embouchure has to constantly change to adjust. I know a couple of teachers who won't take until age 7/8 for that reason.

But for string instruments and percussion, the piano etc. it should be when the individual child's ready, whether that's at 2 or 12.

Cortina I think the west is very complacent about Asia, and especially the Chinese, because of the "Asians can only imitate, not innovate" assumption. There is, to be fair, some truth in it, because the Chinese education system is very focused on rote learning/ not much creative work. Chinese parents don't often see the value of creative subjects like art and drama, for example. If schools in China spent the amount of time on the Christmas play that schools in the Uk do, there'd be uproar . However, things are changing. Wealthier parents are using International schools/ sending their children overseas and there is a trickle down impact on schools in China so I think in 10 years, the system will marry the traditional Chinese focus on the basics (excellent numeracy, literacy and English language skills) with more focus on creative problem solving.

There is also the issue that the world doesn't need that many innovators (and actually, with technology being the way forward, innovators have to know their IT/maths /physics to innovate) but for technology to gather pace quickly, it needs good, low cost, efficient execution/replication, and this is what Asia excels at.

It's hard to see something that Europe really excels at right now- i.e. I'm not sure that our economic woes are cyclical as opposed to structural- the recent boom does seem to have been just a case of "the rising tide (Asia) lifts all boats". They certainly gave us enough rope to hang ourselves.

It will be interesting to see how the world order looks in 10 years time- whether the UK still has a permanent seat on the UN, for example, and whether the world economy is still dominated by Western ways of doing things, or if we're having to fit into an Asian shaped world.

Reallifeisforwimps, I agree about this economic crisis being structural and not cyclical. I also believe that our Western governments do not seem to be able to innovate the economic model and shape it into something that will compete with Asia and/or be successful in its own right.

I was reading very recently a book on the fall of the Roman Empire and there are a lot of traits of what we are experiencing now; failing economy, disgregation of values, lack of motivation in youth, rising corruption...the Romans were not able to turn themselves around yet you'd think our governments with the benefit of history and stellar educations would be able to - it appears not? The reality is that they are too entrenched in their own interests to really innovate for the good of the nations. At least that's what it appears to be like at the moment.

How this relates to investing in our youth is unclear perhaps, however one perceives a lack of motivation all round to do so. All the recent cuts for example that have been applied to the education system do nothing but erode further our future prospects. Certainly I do not believe that privatising education will deliver and the Asian countries understand that, with billions spent in building new universities and schools.

Interesting. To come back re:rote learnin in Asia this (certainly in terms of last 5 -10 years or so) is really much more of a myth than people imagine. Local schools in many parts of Asia have become increasingly holistic with less emphasis on testing in primary schools for example. In short they've extracted the best bits from the international school programme but kept the academic rigour & competitive element. Outside enrichment has also become more creative. Some I know based in China choose local schools over international for the academically rigorous ethos amongst other things.

Many I work with come up with cliches like 'Asians can't think outside of the box' but many Asian friends will say they forget in order to think outside of the box you need to understand it first.

There's a whole new generation coming out of China who are in a very strong position. They are the creditors and we are the debtors & this is not going to change for a very long time IMO. There are interesting times ahead.

My DS2 is starting in YR at a small private school in September, it has 16 boys and 16 girls per class, boys and girls are taught separately for core subjects.

It is a non-selective school if your child joins before 9 yrs I think so there is none of this kicking them out before secondary if they are not predicted A's!! It also has a dyslexia department which is very highly regarded. The exam results are 100% A-C but they are not as academic as the grammar schools.

I like the fact that it is more formal than state primaries and the expected level of behaviour is higher than that in my DS1's state infant (we are still waiting for a place for him - there was a high intake that year so he will join in Yr 3 if not before).

There is nothing wrong with the state infant school but there is the usual level of classroom disruption and as it is becoming more and more popular, numbers are growing and it is no longer the small village school it was when we joined!

I also wanted the boys in there from as early as possible as the learn languages and other subjects they do not do in state schools so I don't want them to be behind at say age 11. They will get to know their class mates and there will be no disruptive moves later down the line.

I like the fact there is the old fashioned competition at the school - ie house points etc, they do PE every day, have music lessons from a young age (not offered at our local state schools) and generally more opportunities.

It will cost around £140,000 to send both my children till they are 16 but I consider it worth it for peace of mind that they will hopefully achieve their full potential (our local secondary schools are pretty grim so it can't be worse!!!)

I am just hoping it turns out to be everything we want it to be, we are not snobs or rich, we both have reasonably good jobs and have come into a bit of money recently so have a bit of back up. We just felt we should give our DC's the best education we can.

I did not do it, I moved mine in Y1 and Y3 respectively.

If I could turn back time, and if I would have the money and the knowledge I have now, I would have sent them to private school from Yr.

It is personal though, and I would never tell anyone to do the same, especially as there are very good state schools out there. Sadly our local state school failed DS1 in quite a few ways. We are still playing catch-up!

Reallife, interesting what you say. I have lived in developing countries for almost 10 years, prior to coming here, and it is interesting how Europe (including the UK) is referred to as "the old world" and the "previous world powers" without any malice, it is just that we are seen as the "have beens". Brazil, China and India will be (or are) economic world powers of the (very near) future.

lou231179 are you sure?? Our prep will cost us £145000 for 2 boys until year 6! Not age 16 and our prep is one of the cheeper in sussex.