changing from state to private in early primary - did anyone do it ??

[cora]

Am thinking of changing DS from state to primary as am convinced he will get a better deal. Does anyone have experience of this and what did they find ?? Would be ssooo grateful of a reply.

Sorry missed the air of cynicism lol!!

a fair few children r sent to private school because their home lives are so f**ked up. Parent at each others throats, sent away to board to get out of the war zone. So parents who are wealthy enought to send their children to private school only produce perfectly bahaved young ladies and gentlemen, its only the lower paid people who produce children with behaviour problems and special needs!!!!!! What planet do u live on?!!! and i would question the higher pay for teachers at private school, they have more holidays but they r not payed way over what state teachers r paid. It depends on if teachers r on senior leadership points and other points.I think xenia that u look for threads that look interesting and add bits in to make them more interesting by writing way out stuff, u were on 1 last night doing the same thing.

Xenia - I have to disagree with most of what you say too.

My DH teaches in a selective, reputable Private school. The school struggles to recruit decent teachers in some subjects, mainly maths and sciences. Sometimes, to employ a maths or science teacher who can teach the subject at A level, to Oxbridge candidates, they have to pass over the candidate who would make the 'best' teacher and take on the person who has the highest academic qualifications. Sometimes these people have been pushed out of Higher Education establishments and don't have a clue how to deal with teenagers. Some of them have no clue how to manage a classroom. Some of them have no clue how to transfer the information from their brain to the pupil's brain.

Boarding schools will recruit on the basis of what extra curricular activity the candidate can offer. "Used to play cricket for a county team? Fantastic. You'll do"

Some teachers join the private sector because they wouldn't be able to deal with children who misbehave and like you, beleive that children at Private schools don't ever attempt to mess around or disrupt a lesson.

Please, please get over this idea that private schools have better teachers than state schools. Both sectors have good and bad.

INSET days do exist in Private schools.

Not all private schools pay their staff more. A lot of the smaller ones don't.

"and a parent body which may be is easier to get on with" are you joking here?

and here?

"you don't have mixed ability in many private schools and most children are from homes without problems and no one with special needs."

The pastoral staff at DHs school are severely overworked with pupils who are self-harming, depressed, upset over their parents' break-up, to name a few. There is still mixed-ability and those who have some special educational needs.

It's still a good school with some lovely pupils, parents and teachers - but I imagine there are many state schools like that too.

My ex husband had taught in both sectors. I think I know a bit about it from the inside out over 20 years. I do think the teaching is better. You are allowed to be better because the children behave, you don't have mixed ability in many private schools and most children are from homes without problems and no one with special needs. It's easier to each in that environment.

Also some teachers are tempted by higher pay and in some cases free accommmodation in the private sector and free school fees so you do geta bit of a drain that way, teachers who want to work in schools with lakes and grounds and a parent body which may be is easier to get on with. SO a bit of a migration of good teachers to the private sector.

INSET days. I almost don't know what they are. My children's education is never interrupted for that kind of thing - another benefit in the private sector.

I did exactly that this week. My DS is in year 3 and at his school they mix YR 3 and Y4. Therefore 4 classes are then split into 3. My DS was struggling the class size became 32 and he would it very distracting. He is a very gently child and the whole new system was too much for him. He started his new private school on Monday this week and day 4 into it he said to me this morning Mum I am so happy at my new school I can think the children are kind and all helpful to each other. I just wanted to cry!!! it is a huge struggle for us financially we are not rich people. The point I want to make is that you have to go by want is right for the child and NOT for you. The school is very small there are 9 children in the class everyone is very kind,helpful and polite to each other. I do have another child yr1 at the state school I took DS out from. But he is extremely different from DS. He is very vocal and cope better with noise and distractions around him. DS new school is very encouraging also and builds confident in the children somethind his old school never did. DS needs to be told he is doind well a confidence boost. My advice do what is right for the child My other DS may stay at the school he is now if he is able to cope with it. As parents I do not feel I HAVE to send both to a private school I have to do what is right for each child individually.

Oops - I realise I pasted Xenia's post to the bottom of mine. Sorry.