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Education

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Original poster

As a teacher I need advice ....

22 replies

happilyconfused · 29/01/2006 23:49

I teach at a secondary school and like all state secondaries that is a wide mix of kids. However mixed ability teaching is a challenge to say the least - ranging from the child who does not want to be at school to the one who is very keen. Like all teachers I have my usual selection of horror stories and wonderful outcome stories.

In September I have to decide state or private - at the moment I am keen on private. Like all parents I want to decide what is right for DS but feel that I am too close to the coalface to make an unbiased decision.

OP posts:

Yummymummy24 · 30/01/2006 00:00

If i could afford private i would defo send all my kids. It seems to be the best option but i suppose there are good ones and bad ones just like state schools. I'd say look for a school that suits your ds if its private go private if state- state. What does ds want to do?

Hattie05 · 30/01/2006 00:15

I wouldn't go for private personally. I would find a state school that suits my child and she has some friends going to preferably

Chandra · 30/01/2006 00:20

You already know what to expect... if this school (or the private one) bares a good resemblance to the one where you teach (I'm sure you can pick up the clues) go for another school.

bobbybobbobbingalong · 30/01/2006 01:30

Having worked in private schools they have their own horror stories - just different ones.

Blandmum · 30/01/2006 06:43

I teach in the state sector, my kids go private. The singles biggest advantage that they have is smaller class sizes. the scholl also runs excellent pre and post school care. This allows me to get to all the after school meeting with the minimum of disruption to my kids....this week I have three, for example. My children will play with their friends, do karate and go to brownies, while I get to discuss departmental dicipline

It is a life saver for me, one pick up and one drop off, and much easier on the kids as well, IMHO.

But you have to make the choice that suits your family best. Just because you are a teacher, I don't think your choices should be less than the next person, do you?

Hulababy · 30/01/2006 08:29

I was, until last Easter, a secondary school teacher. My DD is off to a private prep school this September - made the decision when she was a year old. A lot of teachers send therir children to private school. Often it is because of the wrap around care they offer, all though other decsions do come into it - small class sizes, extra curricular activities, etc.

I owould go and visit a variety of schools and see what feel you get. We knew which school would suit DD best after being in the school for a few minutes. The local state school that had a great reputation was really disappointing for so many reasons (shame as we had moved to this area specially for that reason). The school she is going to was lovely and just felt right.

batters · 30/01/2006 08:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

fairyjay · 30/01/2006 09:10

My kids are in early years of secondary school, and have been through private prep schools.

Unless you are exceptionally academic, the choice in our area is pretty poor in the state section.

However, to us, what is more important is not just the academics, but the sports and extra curricular activities that they are offered.

Plus......I'm such a rotten mum, that school on a Saturday is a big advantage!!!!!

tatt · 30/01/2006 09:21

agree with batters that your choice has to be what is the best school for your child. We moved house because there was no school near us (state or private) that I would be happy to send my child to. I'd also say that you should try to decide as early as possible what secondary school looks best and base your choice on that, even if you are now choosing a primary school. Where their friends go is something that matters a great deal. Of course the school may change and you may discover your child has needs best served elsewhere, I'd still think about it now.

My oldest is now in a local state secondary school and we're pretty happy with it. Less happy with the local primary but having friends nearby is important. I just wish we'd moved years ago so the oldest had more local friends.

As for extra curricular activities - we have to do music outside school but I'll trade that for a better education/ less behaviour problems in the school.

fairyjay · 30/01/2006 09:51

I think choosing a school is a bit like a house - as soon as you walk thru' the door, you either feel comfortable or you don't!!

There is a 'state' boarding school near to us, which has an excellent reputation, but neither my dh nor I felt comfortable with it for our ds.

corblimeymadam · 30/01/2006 11:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

robinpud · 30/01/2006 16:44

You have lots of opinions- here's mine for what it is worth. I am a teacher and so is dh. We live in an area blessed with good schools really. 3 primary schools within walking distance, all with SAts results in the 90s and 100s if that matters. The comp is good with a wide social range and reasonable discipline.
It is interesting reading lots of these posts becuase certainly there are a lot of people educating privately on Mn, whilst in rl I only know 2 people( and I do know a lot of people!)
I think state provision varies wildly and you will know what your area is like.
You also know your child. My dd is flourishing at a small state primary with a much more mixed catchment than the other 2 schools locally. She sees that it is not vital to drive a people carrier and knows that she is lucky to have the love and care that she does because not all her class mates are as lucky. She is learning to get on with all sorts of people and never to judge a book by its cover. She sees that if you want to learn the opportunities are there for the taking, but that academic success is only 1 form of success. There is expectation but not pressure. She also sees that school is a part of her life but not its raison d'etre.
Most days I am very very happy with the education that she is getting, once in a while I think something could be improved or done better.. so I let that be known.
Schools change over time , all schools benefit from the supportive parents.
Being able to " choose" your child's education means sometmes you will question your decision, but make your decision bvased on what you know about your child and what you want for them in the future.
Good luck!

fairyjay · 30/01/2006 16:52

I think that what you say about having bad days applies to all schools Robinpud - state or private. There's never perfect - just as near as your going to get - bit like men!!!

mandieb · 30/01/2006 17:04

ok so lets hear the stories then. Please

Rianna · 30/01/2006 17:48

I'm not a teacher, but a mum.I wonder if the pay is the same?
In my eyes: teaching a big classroom is a challenge, teaching rough kids must be hoorible, more so then spoiled brats.
Private schools do put you under pressure though: you have to perform, as the chidlren have to perform and the parents pay an awfl lot of money and want first class service.That might mean lots of discussions with 'pushy parents'.Depends on the school though.
I think for a teacher it is best to teach in a happy atmosfere, might mean something else for everyone.It might depend more on a certain school, then state/private.

robinpud · 30/01/2006 18:49

There's plenty of pressure from parents in the state system.
Class sizes are smaller in the private system, but for instance my friend whose daughter is in a private class of 14 has only 2 other girls so her social sphere is limited.

roisin · 30/01/2006 19:10

My boys go to a state primary: it's a fantastic school. As robinpud describes it has a very mixed catchment area, but if anything that makes it a better school.

However, the choices at secondary level here are fairly limited. We will have to make decisions about secondary education in less than 2 yrs' time, and it is very unlikely we will choose to have the boys in state schools.

Original poster

happilyconfused · 31/01/2006 00:27

well thanks for all the feedback. My DS is in Year 5 and like a third of the class is being tutored 'just in case'. We are in the catchment of a 'nice' secondary and have a very good selection of private schools. Like most boys he loves Science and hates writing. Most of his close friends will be going off into the private sector. Of course, he will make new friends in any Year 7 as they all do.

What is appealing about the private secondaries is the range of opportunities that there is access to. Hopefully he is the sort of child that will do well wherever he goes but I can't help feeling that the state schools will not help him maximise his potential. (guess who has been writing reports!. Years 7 - 9 are so critical in laying the groundwork for everything that follows.

I also worry that if I go 'private' then yes I will expect value for money and if he doesn't come out with a Nobel Prize at the end of Year 11 I will feel short-changed. And I do have a friend who is still getting her DD tutored for subjects in her final year even though she goes to one of the top girls school in the country - now that would annoy me

OP posts:

tatt · 31/01/2006 07:32

I guess they'll all make new friends eventually in year 7 but they can have a miserable time while they do. Two children left our secondary school in the first term because they wanted to go where their friends had gone. The sort of pressure you're putting on your child expecting high results sounds very unwise. Potential is about more than academic results.

fairyjay · 31/01/2006 14:06

My dd's primary head said that if a child needed to be tutored to get into a particular school, it was the wrong school for them.

For what it's worth, my dd and ds are now at a co-ed private school, and are both doing fine academically. However, the choir, CCF, complete range of sports and focus on manners and consideration are what we pay our fees for. Unfortunately there is not a state school able to offer this range, which would also be right for my children's academic levels - if that makes sense!

beatie · 01/02/2006 11:51

happilyconfused ~ if you have the privilege of choice I think it is worth considering which school will suit your particular children's personalities. Some children do not thrive under intense academic pressure and that is what some of the selective independent schools offer.

You ought not to send your child to an independent school expecting them to turn your child into a genius. It still ought to be a 3 way effort (teachers, pupils, parents.)

Some children require extra tuition even when attending top independent schools because they don't have an apptitude for every subject and because it's seen as unacceptable (either by the school or the parents) for that child to get a B or C in Maths (for example) when the majority of the school are getting As and A*.

You do say you have a choice of several independent schools so hopefully you'll be able to find one that is the right fit for your family.

Miaou · 01/02/2006 12:14

happilyconfused - sorry if I am repeating, have only skim-read the previous replies.

As well as looking at the schools, private and state, you need also to look at the child. I went to a state school and had 7 years of absolute hell, mainly because I was academic and wanted to work hard, which was totally uncool. My brother went to private school but swapped to (my) state school in the fourth year - he found the academia too restricting and didn't have enough opportuntities to socialise. I think (although I will never know of course) that I would have fared better in private school.

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