Which school?

[Pamelaaaaa]

I'm usually the sort of person to answer these types of threads but given it's my own child I keep going round in circles. Without wanting to turn this into a state vs private debate which would you choose?

Child is in year 2 and in an infant school so needs to move for juniors before hopefully getting into grammar!

School A- state school next door to her current infant school, 7 min walk from house, all her friends will be moving next door to this school. 30 kids per class min. 2 classes per year. School has good ofsted and is regarded very highly by locals. However (you knew it was coming didn't you?) everyone views the school as 'chilled' and comments on their wonderful pastoral care. Their results aren't great, below national average. Considering the demographic of the school their results should be way better. The demographic is almost what you'd expect at a private school. If dd goes here, with her friends, I will have to educate her at home too and tutor her for the 11+. I like the teachers, location and children here, just not the academic standards! Going here we could afford a comfy life, go on holiday etc.

School B- private prep, 15 min drive away. 20 kids max per class. 2 classes per year. Outstanding in every respect. Nearly all children who attend end up getting into grammars for year 7. Uniform alone is over £500 plus multiple other expenses but with that comes experiences you don't get in state schools. Academic standards are superb. Obviously there are fees which a relative would help us with but we'd have to be more careful and holiday less frequently, if at all. I wouldn't need to teach my daughter at home and only do the minimum 11+ practise of she goes here.

Notes:
Daughter is very studious, academically able and keen to do work and please.

I'm a teacher so educating my daughter wouldn't be a problem.

Sorry, I shouldn't have said bright. I bright pupil will be stretched in most good state schools. A gifted (top 1%) child rarely will be because of budget constraints. Its a fact I've discussed with friends who are governors. Budgets are tighter and tighter to accomplish what was feasible even 10 years ago.

I'd go with school B. If she's bright she should cope with more challenging work. Your evenings and weekends would be more free rather than worrying about having to top up her learning.

Thanks for all the replies, it is very interesting that there is quite an even split and lots of food for thought.

I know she will do well wherever as she's that type of child, it's just whether I'm OK with the provision in state being sub par.
I won't need to pay for a tutor wherever she goes as I'm not paying someone else to do my job! Especially when I'm as good as I am at it
Thankfully she loves me teaching her and we both loved lockdown.

Just in case anyone wants to know where my head is after digesting everything- I've completed the online application for state putting school A first. I've also spoken to the head's pa from school B who has been very helpful. Applications for B are early next year and they are obviously waiting to see what's allowed with regards to covid before they make final admission plans but she outlined the possible options right now. I'm probably going to apply to B and then if she gets a place make a decision. I'm swaying towards A but we'll see.

If she likes working with you, I would say go state. I have a bright dd who at that age liked working with me. She was in a very poor state school but she was happy and sailed through 11 plus. (Now she would never work with me but she is 15!). I have exp of private prep with my other dd and I can tell you that most people tutor as well, Yes they offer sport and music but nothing compared to sports clubs which you can sign your daughter up to ( which they all do outside school aswell). If money is no object go for the prep, but otherwise definitely state. At secondary level my opinion would change.

Dallasdays I’m intrigued by this as well. I got straight As from a very mediocre school and no parental pushing. I’m astonished by kids in prep schools having tutors on top just to keep up. I wouldn’t be paying the fees if I felt I had tutor as well.

Pamelaaaaa In your position I’d be very tempted by B but it would be good if you could do some digging to find out more about how widespread tutoring is. The main advantage I’ve seen between my primary and the local prep is the music offering and extra curricular stuff. If you’re providing that anyway you might not need to be paying for the rest. But, I’d be worried about the results from school A and how many children do go onto the grammar if that is your name.

Never heard of a 6yo child getting bored (or being unhappy?!!) because the school's not pushing their boundaries.

In my opinion you're over thinking this, private primary schools make very little difference to able children in academic terms (unless the school is truly appalling). The real difference has in the softer skills and confidence.

It does seem that you've already made your choice (the private school), and just looking for validation?

We have 2 at a prep school and the 7 yo is bored out of his mind. He isn't gifted, but he has been assessed as 2 school years ahead. The school refuses stretch him. His sport of choice isn't done by the school and he isn't particularly arty or musical (although enjoys both). I can hand on heart say that he gains nothing extra from being at a prep school. Other child is very musical and arty and loves that side of school life. The teaching is dreadful....and we are paying for a tutor for both of them.....and looking to move schools quite possibly back into the state system where we can put the school fees money into a Trust and hand them a healthy house deposit aged 25. Honestly, if my lifestyle was going to be significantly compromised by having to pay school fees I wouldn't even consider it. its VERY common for private school kids to be tutored on top.

We've used prep and state and I’d say state.

You can always reassess and move her across.