I am writing this contribution because I am passionate about education and believe that some parents may struggle with some of the issues I struggled with. Although titled as this is, it is only my perspective that underpins this posting.
Declaration: I have 2 children. A 6 year old girl at a high achieving and academically selective independent school and a 3 year old son that is about to attend a nationally recognised ad high-achieving state school.
Myth Number One
All Independent Schools Are "Better" Than The Local State School
Definitely not. My daughter attended a so-called prep school in Milton Keynes for a year and a half (starting at age 2) before we moved her to the local state nursery.
Our daughter started speaking clearly at a relatively early age and had a well developed interest in words and numbers by the time we relocated to Milton Keynes and the prep school. There were several areas of disappointment with the prep school but one of the worst was that she regressed significantly during her time there. Colours, shapes, numbers, etc. that she once knew became unfamiliar, and she started babbling like a baby very quickly.
We mentioned this to the school and they advised us that she was a bit advanced of where they like them to be at that age thus, they were trying to hold her back. Hmmmmn!
When at the local state school she did not progress but at least she did not regress. She was also given many opportunities to challenge herself by demonstrating desired behaviour as well as how to do basic math and English
Observations:
The prep school had been set up by a family that owned a building company with no prior or relevant experience. Their results were average and always had been. Paying for education does not guarantee better outcomes.
Myth Number Two
Children Of The Same Family Should Follow The Same Route (State or Independent)
It depends. The choice should in the main, be about the needs of the child and how a particular school can cater to the needs of that child. This should be irrespective of status.
Given the options close to us we felt that our daughter would benefit from a single sex education. Our son is, we believe, better suited to an academically challenging but co-ed school. There are no such independent schools that we like nearby. Thus, our daughter attends an independent school, and our son attends a state school.
Myth Number Three
Only Wealthy Parents Send Their Children To Independent Schools
The profile of our children's classmates parents are very similar. Mainly middle class or wealthy. Many are like ourselves, 'normal' :). My wife is a homemaker (never worked in UK) and I am a salesman working in the pharma industry. We are certainly not rich.
We forgo many things that others deem essential, in order to give our children opportunities that we never had. Many of the parents at my daughters school are in a similar situation.
Myth Number Four
Being "ahead" in one school means that your child is super bright.
Children all develop at different rates. I have heard so many refer to their children as 'super bright', 'way ahead', 'academic', etc. What does this actually mean? relative to what? In what context?
My daughter was performing well in most subjects at her state school but is now pretty average in her current school. We never labelled her in any of those ways. All of the children on here appear to be so exceptional academically that surely, no one can be.
Anyway, just my thoughts.