Poll? State or fee-paying schooling for your primary children?

[ArsumLardis]

State for us.
I don't want to start a debate (other threads for that!), just wondering where the percentage lies. tia

Uwila that was my point - nothing wrong with faith schools if you have a faith.

You say, schools aren't the most important factor in your move Expectingsummer. Obviously you don't need to respond but I'm wondering how old your child/ren are (I suppose your nickname gives this away?) and whether your priorities will change as they get older. Uwila, I agree that, the majority of us do what we can to give our kids the best we are able to. This often involves compromises of one sort or another (even if it's about spending time at a soft play place instead or sitting at home watching telly or whatever rather than what school to choose). It's incredible how powerful the maternal instinct is and the way it changes you and your priorities and world outlook. It completely took me by surpise and I feel however much you might aspire to be selfless and caring of others most mums become very selfish when it comes to their own kids.

Only possibly the safety of the neighbourhood?! The commute issue is so that dh can spend more time at home with ds (who adores his dad)and yes this is more important to me than ofsted rated primary schools. I guess I'm less middle class than you

I know London well Expectingsummer. In fact, we moved up north from East London some years ago when dd1 was 1 and for many reasons ended up in a deprived area. Schools weren't a priority for me then and we thought we might be here temporarily but it suits us and we would have to downsize considerably to move elsewhere now and make other sorts of compromises e.g. to move to an area with good schools but retain the jobs we love we would be moving to a completely white area. I would agree with you that schools and areas are just much more complicated in London because of the more dense population and council estates being next to million pound properties in some areas etc etc.

My ds is 2 yrs old. This poll is about primary schools. I won't be changing my mind. Just like I won't be leaving the NHS to nurse in the private sector. I did say in my first post that I conceded it would be harder to stand by my principles when he reaches secondary school age but I'll let you know in 9 years time.

'nothing wrong with faith schools if you have a faith.' Actually I disagree as does the majority of the British population if you are to belive last week's Guardian. Just look at Northern Ireland for a start. And how about the fact that, by definition, they discriminate against those without a faith or with a different faith so that many people living in the vicinity of a faith schools don't get the opportunity to go to their local school. Canon Slade in Bolton is one example. I've cited it on another thread but it only accepted 3 kids from its two most local primary schools last year. They also lead to prejudice, ghetoism and conflict (remember the Bradford and Oldham riots?) I think there's a lot wrong with faith schools and I object to my taxes funding them.

ah, London, SE in my case. For our next imminent move (to the house we will be in for the next decade), schools are no.1 on the list - once I know which one dd has got into. This could mean good private as well as state schools - the housing around which is equally pricey. Agree about access to commuter stations, parks being important but I am more willing to compromise over schools. Safety is non-negotiable though

Actually I meant there's nothing wrong with going to church to secure a church place for your child if you want them to have a church education and if you actually follow that faith. Phew! As opposed to finding religion the year before your child goes to secondary school. The wider debate about whether faith schools should exist is not one I am interested in. I am an atheist but each to their own. Whatever floats your boat etc.

I would rank my childrens quality of education above my husband's (or my) commute time. As it is, DH works in irmingham. Leaves on Monday morning and returns Thursday evening. Then, works from home on Friday. It has always been this way, and the kids still seem to like him.

I don't think that putting a high priority on education makes me more or less middle class. I think it is what is best for my children.

Your post illustrates very clearly how very different we are. Completely different values. Needless to say, I don't think either of us would want to trade places

That's fine Expectingsummer and I accept that faith schools are not the subject of this thread but since there are many more faith schools than private schools and they're growing and Blair and co want to use taxpayers money to fund schools which teach creationism in some ways its a more important debate than this one. And, as you point out, adopting a faith is just one of the hypocrisies many parents are prepared to undergo while reviling the moral horrors of private education.

Yes it is hypocritical and I can see why it angers you (especially when it means the state school you teach in gets potentially less funding)

Yes, imagine if there were 'faith hospitals'. While you can choose the ordinary NHS variety or BUPA (without going private affecting the NHS except to save it money) a 'faith hospital' would only treat you if you were a card-carrying member of the appropriate faith and just happened to offer much better treatment than the ordinary NHS hospitals. What a fair system that would be!!

Quite. I thought about posting the very same suggestion.

I recently had a patient who demanded to be treated by a Moslem doctor at at a Moslem Psychiatric Hospital. He was deluded (they don't exist)but he even had us wondering! He was adamant that it existed!

I'm going to say something really controversial. But, I'm genuinely interested in the arguments (both side), so please debate without killing me...

We do actually have a national religeon in this country. What is wrong with government funds contributing towards it? That religeon is of coure the Church of yes you guessed it England. (This obviously applies to England not the whole of the UK)

Some of us find the notion of a national religion in a democracy a bit...quaint.

Uwila I assumed you weren't British (based on your spelling of the word 'neighborhood')

I can understand that. Being American, i am of course rather well versed in the separation of church and state. But, over here, I just acept what is. So, Blu, are you saying that most people would prefer a separtion of Church and state? And remove the Queen from the head of the church?

Yepp. Guilty. Full blown Yank. (spellings and all)

Or just remove the queen

Uwila - yes, That is what I would prefer, and would consider to be more appropriate in a democracy. I see the position of the bishops in the House of lords as iniquitous (along with the non-elected peers, of course), and a complete anachronism, dating back to the reformation.

Oh no, did I open up an anti-royalist campaign? Oh, I've done it now....

I see government as an illusion of democracy.

Uwila..what do you mean you as an American are used to the seperation of church and state.As far as i can see church and state is not seperate in the usa..Bush has said he is fighting a "holy war" and has god on his side!