Moving from private primary to state secondary? Advice please

[Hf289]

We relocated areas to send our daughter to private primary which links into the high school also. (The schools in our old area were not great) Everything was great but now the school has relocated to a new site. My daughter was at the school for 3 months prior to the move . The new school facilities are excellent but the feeling and ethos of the school feels like it’s changed. I’m not the only One to have commented . I’m well aware private schools are business focussed but they have created additional classes , for example 3 year 5 classes with 23-24 in each. The behaviour of the children in general is not the same as it was. The boys and girls divisions in the senior schools have now amalgamated (not an issue for myself), but looking at the manners they have doesn’t fill me with confidence I can’t imagine paying for senior school for what seems to be a state Comprehensive with better facilities.

I’m in two minds to look for another Private school locally or send to state school. I’m not a snob , I didn’t go to private school but I like the range of extra curricular that a lot of private schools can offer.

Has anyone sent their children to state after a private primary school education. Was it ok? Or did you regret it.

Thanks in advance.

I'd always say from working in education as a manager, (not a teacher but working very closely with teaching staff) that my rule of thumb would be if you can't afford to send them privately all the way thru then probably best to not bother. Bit late now I know.

You've been paying for the luxury's private education offers of smaller class sizes, extra classes, brilliant extra curricular activities and "as a business" there is an expectation for this and children get used to this and find the transition into state schools very hard as they are very different.

I worked in a secondary academy group and we had this all the time.

Try asking the school to give your child a "buddy" and ask what they can join in terms of clubs etc...

@tiredmum2468 thanks for your reply. I don’t mind paying the fees if she is getting a good education. I feel a little bewildered why I lot of parents are jumping ship to other schools for high school. We haven’t been here long so I haven’t been privy to much apart from apparent bullying issues but I’ve read this is common through both private and state.

In what way do you feel they are very different? I only went to state high so I’m unsure really. I certainly don’t want her to struggle through high school and if keeping her on in private is best then that’s what I’ll do. I’ve read some old threads and it’s a mixed bag, but I value your comments seeing as you have seen it first hand .

My elder daughter moved from private primary to state secondary.
It was a difficult move in some ways as the majority of the children came from feeder type schools so knew each other - thankfully all classes mixed up so she made friends eventually.
We chose the state option as it is a very good school (we didn’t get in initially but eventually made it) I don’t think her GCSE results would have been much better at private. (She did ok)
Definitely look around and find the school that suits your children whether that be private or state. We have no regrets if anything she found certain aspects of the move easier - homework she was used to a lot! I know her peers struggled with the increase. Also she had already experienced subject teachers and moving from class to class - all really helped with the transition.

It's really a postcode lottery on all schools state and private there are good schools and bad schools in the public and private sector

I worked as a compliance manager and common "complaints" and "notebable issues" were" things like:-

• why is there 30+ children in the class we feel s/he isn't getting enough attention

• Why dont staff reply to emails quickly (probably because they teach for more hours and have more pupils to deal with)

• why is my child mixing with children who aren't polite and have no standards etc etc (some parents thinking their children shouldn't mix with others from all works of life)

• the school dinners seem very dull at their old school "the chef" did X, Y, Z

• why isn't there very many extra curricular activities or UK only trips (the schools I worked for had a mixed intake and they tried to make all activities accessible for everyone not £2k ski trips to the swiss alps)

If classes are smaller and extra curricular activities and trips are targeted to a specifi market children get used to that. I remember one girl asking me why we couldn't run a trip to go on safari her cousins had been and when I said that it wouldn't be viable it would be too expensive she just didn't understand.

Private education gives children an expectation of what education should look like I guess

If schools have moved sites it's unusual about the ethos but I'd go and speak to the school and voice your concerns.

I hope you get something sorted x

*all walks of life that should say

@Todaytomorrowyesterday great insight thank you. I guess much depends on the child also. That’s the thing, I don’t know what to expect from her. I just go with the flow. I know a lot of Parents have x y and z planned for them already in terms of expectations but I genuinely just let her crack on. Like you said, pros and cons. Thanks for your balanced view. Much appreciated. X

@tiredmum2468 I get where you are coming from. I’m definitely going to have a chat with the school but also have a good look around at other Options too.

Thank you both. X

I think you need to look at all the options if you can afford it - state and private - and then make your decision. If you’ve been used the extras of private education, then you want to take a clear look at the differences, don’t just jump systems because you don’t like your current school.

The problem at the moment is that state schools are generally not having any open days or tours around the school. Makes it very difficult to decide! The most noticeable differences are larger classes (30+) and much poorer resources, especially IT and sports facilities. Everything else depends a lot on the schools in you area. All our state school residential trips have been between 1 and 2k (and have friends who’ve had more than that!) so not sure whether that is a valid difference!

I went from being in a private girls school for 9 years and then went to a very a large mixed comp for 6th form. I was actually far happier at the state school had no problems settling in at all...

Funnily enough my experience is the exact opposite of previous poster. 6th grammar after whole school life at a sheltered private single sex school. I totally failed to adjust and there was no net to catch me. I didn't do well at A Level and I wished I had stayed where I was... but I think you are a lot earlier in the process so I would sit tight before you make any hasty decisions.

In my area a lot of people send their children to private primary and then to the state grammars.
They all settle just fine. I don’t think it’s such a big deal personally...

If it's the extra curricular stuff you're after, look at what extra curricular options are available not at school in your area and the logistical pain of facilitating them (Flexi time, part time working?) vs the cost through school.

I'm heavily involved in a niche sport and there are a number of good school clubs but the skills gained from involvement in a "not school" club are definitely relevant (and kids tend to stick around longer from a non spoonfed environment as they're used to sorting logistics for themselves).

Depends where DC's interests lie, I'd be more confident sorting out of school music and individual sports (and probably dance) than any kind of team sport other than football, but clubs after school not through school may well need parent taxi duties...

I think if you have read the papers in the last 10 days you will know that for all the fees in the world private seniors are no guarantee for a perfect environment. You could have the best teachers in the world but if there is bullying or sexual harassment you aren’t going to learn. ALL schools have issues because they are full of teenagers and teenager are full of issues. Find one with zero tolerance, good relationships with local police, good safeguarding and a good local reputation. That could be either sector. If a child is happy they will learn and flourish, whatever the class size or extra curricular offer.

What are the local state schools like op?

The most noticeable differences are larger classes (30+) and much poorer resources, especially IT and sports facilities.

These things are school specific; not sector specific. OP - I'd suggest you need to compare the schools that are actually available to you. Individual private and state schools will offer different pros and cons. The fact that School X doesn't offer Y is immaterial, if you're not bothered in Y.
I also think you need to be more explicit in what you personally mean by "a good education" (which will mean something different to every single person) and try to find somewhere that offers that.

@ UserTwice, I think it’s hard to argue with figures. State schools get 3-4 times less funding per pupil than private schools. However, there are some “for profit” private schools, owned by hedge funds. I wouldn’t personally go for those. If a school is a charity investing in itself with an independent governors body it’s impossible for a state school to have better resources really

@Frogusha In general private schools may have better facilities than state schools due to having more money. However, at an individual level, state school A may have better facilities than private school B. OP should certainly not assume that her local private school must have better facilities than her local state school - she should check this out for herself!

My DC go to a state school. It has the best performing arts facilities and some of the most extensive all surface sports facilities of any school in the area. Including the private schools. It can afford these facilities because they are hired to private businesses out of school hours i.e. school funding doesn't really come into it.

@BungleandGeorge

The problem at the moment is that state schools are generally not having any open days or tours around the school. Makes it very difficult to decide! The most noticeable differences are larger classes (30+) and much poorer resources, especially IT and sports facilities. Everything else depends a lot on the schools in you area. All our state school residential trips have been between 1 and 2k (and have friends who’ve had more than that!) so not sure whether that is a valid difference!

This is a bit of a sweeping, unhelpful generalisation. Every state school is different in the same way as every private school is different. As a parent with experience of both sectors, I have seen private schools with very outdated ICT facilities, as well as state schools with incredibly up to the minute facilities. Ditto sports facilities. Each school (private or not) has to be judged individually as to whether it suits YOUR child. My DD moved to a state school from a private prep and had no problems at all. Her results could not have been better ( literally) if she had stayed in the private sector. I admit we had to spend more time taking her to after school activities than if she had stayed in private school, but the huge compensation was a much larger network of really local friends (ie within 5 mins walk) which was a real help when she wanted to become more independent- she always had someone to walk home with. Her old friends from private school had to be driven to friends etc because they were scattered over a much wider area.

I think it varies. My friend has just moved her daughter from a private primary to a state secondary. The secondary is a supportive faith school and child has taken to it like a duck to water. I think it depends on the child in question and the ethos of the school. I'm sure you'll find the right school whatever you decide. Trust your gut and good luck.