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Original poster

thinking of sending ds to a private school - advise needed please!!!!!

323 replies

jinna · 25/03/2004 14:30

my ds is 5 and has been in a state school since reception - we are now thinking to send him to a private prep school - the reasoning being that hopefully he will be able to get into a good grammar school later on . This grammar is heavilky oversubscribed and we feel the only way he would be able to get in is if he gets a lot of support. He is doing well at the state school but with more personal attention at the prep school he should progress well.

My husband and myself went to see the prep school and were surprised and the differences in the schools - the class size was smaller and the sports facilities were great - but the atmosphere felt very disciplined and formal - is this the norm for prep schools - we want our DS to do well but don't want him to lose his personality.

Also the prep school has its own curriculum and also have their own inspection - how do you tell if they are teaching to the right standard. We have no experience of private education and independent schools - so please any advise would be great

OP posts:
hmb · 25/03/2004 20:59

To be honest with you, I don't know! I teach science, which is setted. It may have something to do with the numbers of kids that take the subject, especialy at GCSE level. this will affect the numbers of staff employed. There will be more children doing science than, say, Geography, because science is compulsory, and geography is optional.

There is still quite a push in favour of unsetted classes in the educational establishment. If I were in a cynical mood I would say especialy in teacher training establishments and educational theorists who haven't taught a lesson in a state school in years.

In theory unsetted classes are supposed to help the lower attainment children, while not disadvantaging the more able. In practice I have not found this to be the case. It might well work if the classes were smaller, teachers given support staff, and the children well behaved. None of these things are in place where I teach.

hmb · 25/03/2004 21:01

Agree 100% hercules. The two nicest classes I teach are top and bottom sets. I enjoy teaching kids who want to learn, doesn't matter at what level. The problem is when the kids have a bad attitude.

roisin · 25/03/2004 21:01

Thanks. Have you taught a mixed-ability class? Ds1 is bright, but VERY easily led, and can be very badly behaved if not given strict boundaries, and if not challenged and stimulated. I can imagine him being an absolute nightmare in a mixed ability class at that age.

hercules · 25/03/2004 21:02

Are those the same theorists who say that if a child misbehaves it is because of your lesson plan?

Ha ha! I remember feeling so crap during my pgce being told that.

hmb · 25/03/2004 21:02

ROTFL! Yes, thats them!

hmb · 25/03/2004 21:03

You could drop some kids in Alton Towers for the day and they would still say it was all crap and they were bored!

hercules · 25/03/2004 21:03

I am lucky as the only subject teacher of my subject in my school that i usually get a good mix of classes ie the bottom and top. Seen lots of stressed teachers who have taught mixed ability though.

hmb · 25/03/2004 21:04

I teach one mixed ability class a week for extension studies. Awful!

hercules · 25/03/2004 21:05

We took a lot of our nice kids to a large theme park for the day and they thought it was crap!!!

hmb · 25/03/2004 21:07

ROTFL! Did they realy! Amazing! I sometimes think we should let those that want to leave school at 14 and get whatever job they can. then give them the chance to return to full time education when they realise that they hate their crappy low paid job and they want to get some qualifcations.

hercules · 25/03/2004 21:08

If that happened then i'm sure it would solve the teacher shortage problem. Imagine, kids who want to learn.....

Hulababy · 25/03/2004 21:13

ROFL! Kids at my school are just the same! Although here they would just call everything "gay"

hmb · 25/03/2004 21:17

Yes, what is it with 'Gay'? Same in our school. I thought that these kids were supposed to be more open minded than our generation. Yeh, right!

They don't tuck their shirts in because,'That is what gay people do'. What??

hercules · 25/03/2004 21:18

I have really had to bite my tongue when certain kids says to me they're never coming to my lesson again. All I want to say is thank god. They actually think they're punishing you by not turning up!

hercules · 25/03/2004 21:19

It's amazing how critical they are of gay people. They are far more judgemental than most adults i know.

Hulababy · 25/03/2004 21:23

Don't get me on uniform!!! I invigilated today. So boring (as you probably know) so I spent part pf my time reading the big poster baout uniform. Then studyied the kids there. There were over 60 Y10 children. TWO had the correct uniform on, wearing it properly (shirts in, toed done up properly, buttons fasten, no trainers). Only SIX managed to have just one fault - top button undoen and tie not right up. Most had shirts out, buttons undoen and tiehalf way down chest. Argh!!!

hercules · 25/03/2004 21:25

In my school we are not allowed to have any kids in our class without a perfect uniform including top button done up and tie correct length. It can take up a large part of the lesson and you have to keep reinforcing it throughout even in summer. We get spot checks done by senior staff.

Hulababy · 25/03/2004 21:29

We did that at last school but it did work. This school is just a nightmare - nothing is done if you complain. Can't see point in having a uniform if it looks so bad

hercules · 25/03/2004 21:31

I was "teaching" in an inner london school and it was a nightmare getting the kids to leave at the end of the day as so many didnt want to go home as home was so shite. School was the only secure thing in a lot of their lifes.

Hulababy · 25/03/2004 21:34

Oh how sad

I have one Y8 girl like that at the moment. When she goes home she just goes straight to her room - doesn't even eat with family or go out to meet friends. She did used to visit her grandad but he died this year. Heart breaking really and you can kind of understand their behaviour for some of them. Doesn't make it easier to teach them though

hercules · 25/03/2004 21:36

That's true Hula. There have been lots of times when I've heard about a childs homelife and it makes me realise that their behaviour is not really their fault and they are doing an amazing job even making it in to school.

hmb · 26/03/2004 06:34

I've just done a PT meeting. There is one girl with a few behavioural problems and I would have liked to discuss these with her father, but couldn't as I had been warned he is handy with his fists. If he gets told she misbehaves she gets a beating. So I told him she was fine Poor little kid.

Sonnet · 26/03/2004 06:50

whats G&T???????????????????/
very intreguied after reading this thread....

hmb · 26/03/2004 06:54

Gifted and Talented. The top 5-10 of a school are supposed to be identified as G & T and given work/experiences to extend them. Gifted are all round good, talented may excell in music/sport/art/languages, but then be aveage in all other topics. It isn't supposed to be just 'hot housing', it is supposed to support and extend them.

Like a lot of educational initiatives it is a very good idea that isn't followd through for lack of money.

Hulababy · 26/03/2004 08:29

hmb; how sad. I would have said the same too

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