If you could choose would you opt for private or state schools?

[sportyspice]

It's a while before dd1 goes to school but i can't decide which route to take. It is going to cost a heck of alot of money from start to finish to educate both dd's privately but we don't know whether to take each year as it comes and see how it goes. We can afford to do the junior school bit very comfortably but aren't sure about how feasible the late secondary school years will be..would you just do what you can or would you not proceed for fear of having to then integrate the children into a state school having already had private education and be classed as snobs? Also is it unfair to proceed with a private education if you can't also provide the 10 horses, 5 mansions etc to go with it? are they likely to be excluded by friends for being the "poorer" ones or do other couples scrimp and save to afford this? bit rambly i know but honest advice please

I'm going to be a dimbo here Hulababy - what happened to King Ted's? Is that independent sector then? (Used to live in Broomhill as student aeons ago). The lecturers' children were all at KT or Silverdale.

King Edwards was a very good school buth as slipped down the tables over recent years, and its reputation took a littler battering - was in media for having a "our kids can smoke" policy is one thing I remember. It's actually only 5 monutes walk from here and looks like a fab school - great buildings. No doubt it'll climb back up again though. I still don't think it is that bad - pass rate of 50s/60s I think, but no where near Silverdale now.

ks - how was Sheffield last month?

(Marina confesses to ks that she was a librarianship student in 1986-87, "dorm mother" in beastly all-girls hall of residence, and did not get down to Genevieve's on Wednesday nights. Student charges did think she was a skanky hippy for liking second-hand clothes and Campari though). I think you were probably way too trendy for me hon - year's highlights were seeing Iain Glen's naked rear in Royal Exchange Manchester production of Edward II, and George Melly at the Octagon.

Oh, I know where you mean - fab location!

We arrived in Florida the day before Charley - hurricane 1. But we were fine in our villa and it didn't affect our holiday beyond that one evening at all

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That is such a useful message, thanks so much for posting, robinw.

I suspect one reason the schools around here don't do well in the league tables is precisely as you say - we are near the boarders of a borough with grammar schools, so many of the brighter children end up at these schools. It's so obvious really, but I had never thought of it! So in fact the schools here may be much better than their position suggests.

Good idea about talking to other parents at the open days - I will certainly do this, especially if they appear to have children already at secondary school. Actually, I must make a real point of talking to the parents at my son's present school who have older children at local schools. Thanks for reminding me.

I am also thinking that if my son passes the 11+ and doesn't get a grammar school place immediately, one may come up later. I moved from a secondary modern to a grammar school when I passed the 13+ and I managed to settle in ok.

fisil - thanks for that positive take on your secondary school. I hope I feel the same about the schools we'll be seeing soon.