stopped believing in decent state schools

[innercity]

I guess I need reassurance that in some parts of the country, in some areas, there are good state schools? That actually teach numeracy and literacy?! I don't believe this anymore...

DS is in Y4 in primary, which is a very desirable local south London comprehensive. Their class was consistently failed by a succession of NQT (3 in a row) and supply in between. This year they finally got the most experienced teacher in school.

But what do I see? They have not been taught formal division or multiplication (this is top table, supposedly working at 4c/4b); they do not do basic maths practice almost at all (15*3 or 128-45); maths provision is so scarce, it is safer to assume they are not taught anything.
How can differentiation work if the class hasn't been introduced to decimals, but you (individual pupil) can take decimal addition (choose that sheet) if everyone's doing addition?
OK, I explained to my son about decimals, but what kind of differentiation is that, this is just jumping without any plan?

They write 1 story in two weeks. I have taught DS spelling and he is now the best speller in class (english is his second language) - way ahead of others. How ridiculous is that?

I've checked maths and english papers for 10+ fro some independent schools and unless I work with him really seriously there is no way on Earth he can pass this in a year, not only because the topics asked there are not taught but also topics leading to topics there had not been taught or practised enough.

I am really wondering whether there is a huge cover up and dishonesty and English understatement and double-layered meaning when ppl (here on mumsnet) talk about "not tutoring," and how wonderful their child's school is??
DS school appears so creative, with workshops and art, bla bla, it's just that it doesn't do what the schools are for...

If the little darlings have been tutored intensively throughout the system, they will either crash and burn when that support is removed, or they would have been fine without it.

Shooting, she might have. I didn't consider state schooling ever as I never had it and it just doesn't feel right for me or this family for all kinds of reasons. Also at 11+ there are so very many new girls and you move to a new building etc or site that girls in those 5 18 schools really do not suffer for cabin fever, same school kind of idea. It is like a brand new school at 11+ when all the state school pupils come in. I don't think either of my girls had a problem with staying through. One tried for Westminster sixth form but didn't get in although he school actually often beats Westminster in A levels but that was just an attempt but not anything she desperately wanted. And that child actually was at one school at 2+, then a year at a pre prep, then a eyar at a different prep 4+ and then 2 years at another pre prep and started her other school at 7+ whereas her sister was at hers from 4 - 18.

laura it's a matter of perspective isn't it. My DD would tell you that she is so glad we lifted her out of her Prep and took her overseas. She knows the sort of person she would be if she had stayed there and been prepared like some prize racehorse for St Paul's, and she wouldn't like that person now. She feels that experience has made her more broad minded, more open to new ideas, and equipped with empathy not just for other cultures but people from other backgrounds generally. And she got into St Paul's anyway but completely rejected the perceived arrogance and elitism she encountered there and went elsewhere where she encountered more of that openness and interest in the wider world (I am not by the way saying her perception was objective) just that she felt it wasn't the right school for the person she had become.

I think it's a bit of a generalisation to say everyone at academic schools is all the same. They are a broad range of different people and nurture individuals who are all bright. I have certainly never felt any of that at my children's schools. Anyway the main thing is to find the right school for the individual child.