Did using state schools over private make a difference in your experience?

[Bulblasagnes]

If you chose to use the state sector when you could afford private, for altruistic or idealistic reasons of wanting to participate in the state sector and support the betterment of the state sector for the benefit of everyone, do you think it actually made a difference to other children at your child’s school? Or to the school?

I have always planned on sending my DC to state schools all the way through. I am confident that with our support they would be fine academically and go onto achieve whatever they wanted. DH and I attended top universities and are both in highly skilled professional jobs. To our surprise after a few sharp pay rises we will be in a position to easily afford private secondary when the time comes. In addition, there is an all-round fantastic private school locally (a boys’ school, for DS, the oldest) which has brilliant facilities and teaching in sports, music, drama and so on, in addition to great academics.

Between the two options we have, I still don’t think it will necessarily affect university options, but I do think DS could have a lot of fun and pursue many activities to a high level at the private school, which he wouldn’t be able to at the state. I also think the private school would help with DS’s confidence issues.

My heart is still with the state school option but I want to be sure that depriving my DC of those experiences and possibilities at private school will really make a difference to others. Otherwise it just feels like I’m making them miss out for no reason.

@Bulblasagnes I went to and taught in comprehensives, my husband went private. It really is up to you what you decide, but if you are thinking about it, go and have a look. When we first went to look around a private school I started to cry - the atmosphere and environment was so different to what I was used to, and I could see the attraction. Both DC are now in private education and whilst I don't think it is right to have tiered systems, or that it would work for everyone, they are happy and thriving, academic success is nothing to be ashamed of and they have lots of extra curricular activities that have been so good for them (and it is all included so no ferrying from A-Z each week which is handy).

It is about much more than exam results and teachers in state schools are exceptionally hard working (and often more qualified than in the private sector) so there is no reason to think they would do better in one than the other. Also local schools tend to reflect local areas, so with bursary schemes you would be surprised how similar the cohorts are.
Basically, I don't think I would have had regrets either way but they are happy, so I am too.

@JunoTurner
I was an Assistant Education Officer. I have since been a governor and governor trainer. I would still love to see the stats on how many DC actively do not like school. I was aware of complaints in my working role because I actually dealt with them. All sorts of issues came across my desk, but in terms of the overall school population, it was tiny. SEN issues and not getting what was required is very different.

I also know plenty of private schools who do not necessariy pigeon hole dc into certain sports. However, they do have a sports curriculum which should be varied but obviously they cannot teach a massive variety of high level sport. Most of it is team sport as you would expect, except tennis.

At my DDs private school, there were talented gymnasts, a world champion junior athlete, county badminton players, tennis players of note, skiers and quite a few other sports where DCs represented the county. Mostly, I think, due to parental interests. That tends to be the very strongest driver. What parents gets DC into before senior school,

Whatever the choice will be either private or public. It's good to take into consideration to add as well online sessions to boost literacy skills and give your children time to enjoy the learning even during this situation. For instance, drama and performing arts sessions, classes that are cross-curricular, tying in well with the national curriculum, and so on.