Why on earth would you go state if you could afford private?

[Schmedz]

This thread is for Maisie and happygardening . I like dares!

Yes, many times. Why?

Tasmania Sun 24-Feb-13 17:46:24
"They don't wear uniforms on continental europe. Why on earth should what they wear make any difference?"

You'd be surprised at how many kids in Europe would actually prefer a uniform. For now, they do wear "uniforms" based on what they can afford, i.e. posher kids wearing similar clothes while less well-off kids wear the same things, too. It's extremely "divisive", seeker. I'm sure if you were there, you'd have a rant about it, too. "

Maybe in some countries. I have discussed this with numerous Swedes and they are fairly bemused by the uniform thing. Never found a Swedish child who wanted one unless they can be Harry Potter and it comes with a wand.

I quite like them. But then I have quite come to like English food too. And I don't think most Continentals hanker after that.

You did happy but my comment (not hugely serious) was in reply to teacher. Who admittedly did apply the caveat of 'real or Victorian'.

If not liking Victorian Gothic makes me a philistine, then I'll run with that. I also dislike Scottish Baronial. And 1960s and 70s too. But I'm not convinced that one has to bill and coo over absolutely everything artistic to avoid being labelled a philistine....

Well, cory, you're spared excessive dill in English cooking. Got to be a good thing.

The boarding public schools took off in the late mid 19th century. Loads of impressive but aesthetically beastly buildings.

As I said, grovel, I do actually enjoy English cooking. Dh did a Shropshire fidget pie the other day that was absolutely scrumptious. Still licking my chops.

Just not convinced that the Continent is full of children hankering for shepherds pie and black polyester trousers.

Cory, I was limiting my observation to Swedish cuisine! Often delicious but marred by dill (I've got a thing about dill - you may have noticed).

It would be a good thing for French boys to wear black polyester trousers.

I didn't have a uniform at school and having visited the UK lots as a child (had family here) thought they were horrendous and was eternally grateful we could wear what we wanted. As a parent of course I do appreciate uniforms as they are easier and get rid of the stressful "what can I wear today" routine. I do largely agree with the uniform concept from that point of view.

What I don't agree with, is that a uniform raises standards - coming from a country that had no uniforms and very high academic standards, I find this idea complete tripe. I went to the best school in my country and we all wore tracksuits and scabby jumpers to school, I always laugh when I look at the old pictures, we looked a complete mess!

There are also some (rare) private schools in this country that don't believe in uniforms and do rather well, I am thinking of Bootham in York as one example.

Culturally though I think the British are obsessed with uniforms, I remember noticing uniforms everywhere in this country, estate agents (!), travel agents, banking staff, everyone seems to have one! So I do believe is largely a cultural thing, but really it has nothing to do with raising academic standards.

PS in answer to the OP, I think the overwhelming majority of parents would rather send their child to the local school if it had anything between an ok and excellent standard of education, as opposed to abysmal. There are too many failing schools out there and this is the real problem. There might be a few snobs here and there, good luck to them, but everyone I speak to just wants a decent education for their child and will do what they can to achieve it.

Sending your children to boarding school because the buildings! Never heard such rubbish! Also, where is this school with its own country house in France, planetarium and looks like a 5 star hotel. Must be very very unusual! Wonder if it is grammar...

Some state schools have had great sucess when introducing a uniform. Stops all the pressure to have the latest stuff. You come to school to work, not to show off your latest trainers or jacket.

I went to a primary school in Cambridge back in the 1980s that had no uniform. It was great and I - incorrectly - anticipated that uniforms would phase out in the UK.

I am wrong because all the secondary schools around us are bringing back ties and blazers (having worn sweatshirts for years). It's puzzling; the work place has got more relaxed for professional people but my children will be more formally dressed that I ever was.

When I look back at old school photos we all look very scruffy. We also all wore the same outfit everyday. I always wore my favourite top and skirt combo, a friend always wore the same old sweatshirt.

I would love my children to have the same opportunity as we did to slum around in jeans and jumpers!

I might be completely naive here... but what does "re-imagining in a middle class image" entail?!?

yellow not sure if Im not making my self clear or your not reading my comments very thoroughly. i feel that only a "'Philistine" could possibly be failed to be moved by mediaeval gothic architecture not Victorian Gothic architecture.
So seeker were you moved/inspired etc. by Lincoln Cathedral?

It certainly was thought in the 70s that uniforms were on the way out. The UK has always loved them since the times of our empire - remember all those different one Victoria servants wore and army etc. It gives people an immediate clue about status and class and who someone is. If you don't have them then you have to use other clues. On holiday last year we could tell without their even speaking who in the swimming pool was working class or middle class and the definitive things were the 3 working class families had tattoos and jewellery, particularly earrings and their swim wear was not from the same shops as the middle class families. I can do the same tests at the gym pool not that it's anything other than a game.

More parents than not would pay fees in the UK if they could afford it studies have shown. It is of course the morally right choice as then you free state resources to educate the poor.

maisie I doubt it's a state grammar. They tend to be less well funded than comps.

Doesn't Samantha Cameron have a tattoo? I don't think you could describe her as working class in a million years.

However, mention of the Camerons gives a clue to why one might send your children to a state school when you could (easily in their case) afford private. This is the Camerons making a statement that they are like us, we are all in it together etc. etc.. [cynical emoticon]

maisiejoe123

It's probably one of the schools listed on the State Boarding Schools Association page. It has some gems such as the Royal Alexandra and Albert School (which is in a big park, has old buildings, stables and boarding facilities), Cranbrook School and Old Swinford Hospital (School) that many would mistake for a private school given the buildings and playing fields. Parents only pay for the boarding element, so you save at least 50% (or much more) when compared to your typical independent boarding school. So it's well worth thinking about it, if you want DC to board.

Of course, for some of the ones down South, if you only intend to send DC to the day school and not boarding, you need to live within spitting distance from the school.

From the description given by the poster, it could be The Prior Academy in Lincolnshire.

^^P.S.: The above mentioned schools are free when not boarding.

I don't know how long the Junior Camerons will remain in state education!

The irony is that - if everyone went to a private school - private schools would then have to start differentiating themselves from each other.

Since lots of people choose a private school so that their children are in a socially selective environment or an academically selective environment, if the school took everyone, people would then start avoiding them.

Well yes, without the 93% to be superior to, they'd slightly lose their appeal, wouldn't they

TOSN Why would they slightly loose their appeal?

cat - irony is not the word I would use to describe your observation.

cat - irony is not the word I would use to describe your observation.