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

[jinna]

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

I will back coddy up (very rare but i am behind her 100% with that comment

Coddy So noone is allowed to make assumptions about your child but you have no problem doing this for others.

I had the shit kicked out of me in school for being bright, so go fuck yourselves girls. I've had a lot worse done to me.

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Tbh I don't really understand how people are so sure that at the age of four or whatever their children are so much brighter than others.

I spent quite a lot of time at DS1's nursery and all the kids seemed very bright! I think they are all full of enthusiasm to learn at this age and very receptive.

Damn I have to go just as this thread is getting interesting. Coddy, what have you done!!!!!

Anyone who posts a comment made by their child is expecting a reaction. You can't be surprised if that is not always the reaction you want.

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I had the shit kicked out of me for being quiet,but thanks i will go and fuck myself

I had the shit kicked out of me for (allegedly) being jealous (I wasn't).

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I hope noone else makes the mistake of posting on mumsnet when they are proud of their kids. G & T is a special need in the same way as any other need. It's a shame to have the pi** taken out of other peoples kids.

i agree hercules

Oh, I want to defend the mothers.

Why shouldn't little ones be able to practice having opinions - obviously arrogant adults are horrid, but surely people do grow up? Think it's sad that there is this taking down a peg or two attitude for cleverness (when I couldn't imagine it for playing football or the piano).

And as to being boastful, what about all those lovely threads called "Proud" where people are allowed to be just that?

I'm confused. Is Cod also Coddy?

that's not fair hercules

there are Behaviour &Development: Proud threads and Special Needs: Proud threads and any time I have posted about DS1 I have met nothing but warmth

That's good to hear Dinosaur.

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Being beaten up in school is a dreadful thing. I hope that you were OK at the end. I wasn't exagerated I was beaten and badly bullied in school for this.

For the record, dd is as normal as I can make her. We don't hot house and never have. She is just the way she is. Why is it ok to be proud of your kids for being, say good at sport, but not because they are bright?

She is no better than anyone elaes kid, she just is the way she is. this inverce snobery gets on my nerves. Check my posts and you will see that I don't think that she is an angel, she is just my girl.

Yes Cod because it clearly is mine, he's a model already and starts work for storm next year

No cod, I wouldnt as I think that about mine.

Coddy, to be honest, i'd grin and think, 'of course he is,(to you), you're his mam!'
I think it's lovely when people are obviously bursting with pride for their children, i really do!

Dinosaur, I'm not sure that my just 3 year old is especially bright. TBH I assumed her ability with reading/writing/numbers was just a result of having a mum who will read stories for hours but has zero interest in painting and playdoh. However her school also think that her abilities are off the normal range.

BTW, people have posted recently about their child's ability at swimming/bike riding and so on, nobody seems to have found those posts "boastful", what's different about posting that your child is good at maths?

As for the original question, I went to private schools, and some were bad and some were good - probably the same at state schools, although the class sizes issue is pretty important.

All you can do is what feels best, and listen to your son - If you went to a museum and paid £20 to get in, and ten minutes later he announced it was scary, and he wanted to go, what would you do?

You'd leave, of course. The school is pretty much the same, the difference being that in private education you have the luxiury of choice.

My point is that if someone takes the piss, why can't it be funny. It was a joke.People take the piss out of me all the time and i don't start getting upset. I laugh.

My sense of humour isn't what it might be at the moment.