The Public School ‘Secrets’

[DadAManger]

Does anyone else have some experience of one of the top 9 public schools as a parent and feel they are beginning to understand the secrets of such institutions? What I observe (broadly) is:

1 - Incredible resources and facilities, which allow the pupils to receive very high standards of teaching and to try lots of different activities and pursue them as far as they possibly can
2 - A no-hiding culture - everyone must contribute to their (small) classes, do serious amounts of additional study, undertake several assignments per week, do activities each day (four activities per week). Everyone - no exceptions
3 - An expectation of excellence and a mindset that the best is expected from everyone each day. Successes are publicly celebrated swiftly
4 - A camaraderie among the boarding houses that is actively encouraged, so that close friendships are quickly formed
5 - Extras such as speaking assignments, debating teams, moots - all of which are aimed at increasing confidence
6 - The PLU factor. Children from similar backgrounds (regardless of nationality) and supportive parents that expect the best to be provided

I did not attend such a school myself, so I notice the differences between my DD’s school and my own rather starkly and find it interesting .

Any other parents observe the above or see other things I have missed?

@lnsufficientFuns

They are regulated. My children are at a public school.

My contribution is: bullying is pretty firmly crushed but it’s still really hard to get a child expelled - our school is being sued by a family over an expulsion 🙄

Many do not have the full Ofsted, they have the independent school version- self regulation by the sector aka the Sherry around the piano inspection

Networks of people for life.

A possible easier progression into higher education institutions. Certainly, teachers know what to do and when.
In a certain secondary school I know from of old, there was a new 6th form teacher who was not even aware back then, that possible entrants to Oxford and Cambridge had to get their applications in earlier than normal Unis.{hmm] If I am remember correctly.

it's a bit of a standing joke at DD's university that the only catered halls at her university have a significant number of ex private school/boarding school students.

Depends if their parents encouraged them to cook or not. Nothing to do with what type of school they went to.

So much of this would go straight over my head. I wouldn’t know what was special about @stanford.

PLU to me is price look up code on retail products.
I think I might be on the wrong thread

@Indiana2021

Mr Attlee made one serious error when PM: he did not abolish the public schools which in my opinion have undermined the educational system in this country by creaming off the rich kids (whose parents would have been effective in improving the state system e.g., Holland Park Comp when Tony Benn's kids were there) and snaffling many of the brightest poorer middle class kids, thus depriving the state system of their peer contributions. The public schools prolong privilege.

I find the adulation of the top level of 'hyper-selective' public schools slightly odd. If you select the brightest, very wealthy children via entrance exams and exhorbitant fees, and you have a policy of continually weeding out those failing, then of course you'll get exceptional exam results.
Those children however would almost certainly do exceptionally well anywhere.

Bugger - Zombie thread.

Not too sure it makes much difference @Grantanow

What happens is that the rich parents price out the neighbourhood of the good school. So they come in and push for improvements, yes, but next thing you know the place has been 'gentrified' and too expensive for everyone else to live.

I believe that is the reasons that Labour at some point got rid of grammar schools in central London. Rich parents were tutoring their DC to go in, taking up spaces for naturally bright DC from council estates and then saving on fees in the process.