Calling all teachers.....

[GirlySwot]

....if money was no object would you send your kids state or private? (and why?!)

I send mine to a local private school.

If the local state schools suited their needs I would send them there. But local schools are poor, and ds gets 10 hours of 1 to 1 SEN support in the school that he is in, and I know that he would get next to nothing in the state secotor (he has dyspraxia).

The school they go to is small, the pastoral care is excellent (which I need atm because dh has a terminal cancer and they have supported the kids astonishingly well)

In addition they have excellent pre and post school hour care, which allows me to go and do my teaching!

I don't do it because private schools are always better, that simply isn't the case.

But this school suits my kids and my situation best. I'd love it if it were a state school, but it isn't

Private

I would, purely because of smaller class sizes - IMO 30 to a class is too much, but dh and I are not terribly certain of future finances and therefore don't want to commit to something that might cause big problems later.

sorry ignore me didn't read properly am not a teacher .

everyone has the right to an opinion!

Meant to add...

my reasons for private are small class sizes, good discipline, and traditional values.

I also like all those things

I would send them to the nearest school that best met their needs. As things stand at the moment it will be the school I teach in as its one of the best state schools in the country, but by the time they get there I may have moved on, so it will be the local comp, which is on the up, unless it goes back downhill again, so then I may have to consider private, if that is what would be best for them

Private again here.

For exactly the same reasons as ExplosiveScienceT. We are fortunate in that we are in the catchment for a very good state school, but I'd still go private if we could afford it - can't see that happening unless DH's business suddenly does very well!!

If you have a very good state school near by, why would you send them to a private school?

private if over 28 in a class at the good state school

possibly for the extra things that private schools offer, some of which I've mentioned, eg pre and post school care and clubs. Mine do brownies, karate, music and sports as after school clubs, which only involves me picking them up from school at the end of the activity, not having to pick them up from school and drive them to the activity, then pick them up at the end of the activity.

1 pick up, 1 drop off. Life saver for me on times

state school ... but that's because of several reasons:

1 - we're Welsh-speaking at home ... the private sector doesn't cater terribly well for Welsh-speakers.

2 - the local state schools (English and Welsh medium) are all very good ...

4 - The school ds goes to (Welsh medium) offers all sorts of wonderful in-school and after school activities - music, sport and drama are all really well supported by the Welsh-medium system - the Urdd organisation means that there seems to be a lot of kudos in getting involved.

4 - I would have great difficulty (ethically and politically - although that doesn't seem to bother some socialist politicians!) coming to terms with my DCs going to a private school ... having said that, I'm fortunate not to have to worry about it!

I had a Mr Urdd badge! [nostagic smile emoticon needed]

The Urdd is just wonderful ... and we're only just coming into the Urdd days ... and it has been said that the Welsh-medium system does tend to be like free independent education (can't fault it! )

There's been an Urdd football camp on this week (we're still on half term) - unfortunately ds has been ill, so couldn't do it ... maybe next time!

mmmm this is a tricky one.

I teach (and so does dh) in a very good (and very big)state school, our local state school is ok - and the dd's will probably go there, but I do think that being in teaching opens your eyes to the very worst in the education system - then again.... oh I dunno, finances will dictate our decisions at secondary level to a large part I feel.

mine go to state but in hindsight I wish I'd gone private when they were 4. In state class sizes are too big and children's individual needs are not met adequately.

state.

My kids are bright so believe they'll be fine academically.

The school is fine.

It's local, easy to get to, their friends will be going, sense of really being part of local community.

Having spent the last two years doing contract/supply work, including about 5 months doing 3-4 days a week in a school that scored 'outstanding' in all Ofsted categories (and I was there the day they flew in), I say 'private, private, private'. It really is a no-brainer to me.

inamuckingfuddle - would you not be concerned that when your children got their timetable you would look at it and inwardly groan at the one teacher they'd got that you knew wasn't up to scratch / was truly hopeless?

cos I've only been at our school for one half term and although it's one of the best in the county - I know which teachers i would hate my dd's to have

We are both teachers in 'challenging' state schools in North London. And without a doubt would choose state. Best value for money IMO. Never say never but really really cannot ever see private happening. Against principles as well as thinking it's a waste of money (and I want her to have a good social education as well as learning her ABCs - which she will most likely learn from us anyway).

That said I will be looking for the smallest school I can find locally.

But wouldn't say no to the money no object - we would spend all the extra cash on fabulous holidays and extra curricular type stuff .

Lucycat - couldn't that also happen at private schools though?

mummymagic - divide by zero, get infinity

Hmmmn..... examining conscience here. Have been fortunate in that local state primaries very good - DCs in an outstanding one. Used to think state primary, private secondary, but actually, now ds at good comp and could in theory send him private (changed circumstances) we're leaving him where he is. But, TBH, both bright and will prob do OK wherever. Nephew at private and huge pressure re: homework etc.... Can't be doing with it!

OR...... go private for primary to stand a better chance of selective place at a state grammar? Depends where you live and how academic your child is.