What's the advantage of a 'prestigious' school nowadays

[velvetypudding]

I am trying to plan around the school fees for my dc and their prep has just advised us that our eldest can apply to any school they want to because they are bright enough to get in.

Back when I went to school in the dark ages, going to a certain school meant good results but now I am trying to work out the difference between a school like St Paul's or a school that is still a private school but not 'on the map' so to speak. I haven't seen the schools yet so maybe I will see with my own eyes at some point but I'm wondering because my dc a school that is renowned for being excellent with great facilities etc but tbh there's so much that doesn't actually happen when the shiny brochure said it would, the pool is shut half the time and the teaching is reasonable but not exactly amazing, I don't want to start on a huge fee journey again just to be disappointed. I do like our school but it's a slog paying out the fees and some of the senior schools really have some hefty fees to pay year on year so I'm wondering how much value I'll get for them.

Just been reading about the disgraced MP David Warburton @cantatata . No prizes for guessing where he went to school and no doubt started on the path of his really rather disgusting habits.

I'm looking at single sex schools so some of the problems mentioned here should hopefully be avoided.
I'm quite sure there aren't many schools that avoid drug problems entirely.

@WimpoleHat thanks that's a good point,

@Chocalata

Just been reading about the disgraced MP David Warburton *@cantatata* . No prizes for guessing where he went to school and no doubt started on the path of his really rather disgusting habits.

Two state schools...

@nolanscrack A very elite, prestigious grammar with private boarding - exactly the kind of place that posters were suggesting a child doesn’t come in to contact with the naughty things in life. Total nonsense.
We need to stop the narrative that selective schools turn out angels - it is so not the case. They turn out the same mix of personalities that other schools do.
His kids are private - so hardly a great family to send your child home with for an exeat. Creep.

No advantage to a big name school. If anything it’s a millstone around your neck. Things have really changed the last few years. I don’t think admitting you went to Harrow or Eton is going to help get you 99% of jobs these days. Probably work against you. 10 years ago not so much but the world is changing quickly. For the better I think.
Academic records are also a red herring. Any population of children will have some clever and some less academic amongst them. Same at state and private schools alike. Academically selective schools will produce better results. Hardly ground breaking news.
The fees you pay, in my opinion, buy you access but not results. Your child still has to do the work themselves. But you get extra curricular activities the state system does not have the time or funding to offer. Also softer skills like independence and confidence.
Choose a school that your child will thrive in on account of its ethos. Go visiting and see what appeals to your instincts. If elite sport is important choose a school renowned for its sport. Or drama, or art or whatever it is your child enjoys doing out of lessons.
Broadly the teaching at all schools is comparable. There are always crap and excellent teachers. State and private alike!

Britain has a massive inequality gap and private schooling is a major driver.

The major driver in inequality is inadequate state schools, not private schools.

I think you just need to go visit the schools. The feel of Westminster is very different to eg St Paul’s boys or even King’s. City of London very different to St Paul’s on so many levels.

Also if you are moving at 11 plus, Westminster Under feels very cramped for example, compared to many other schools. My son was very, very academic but just didn’t like Westminster Under, for example. It is also very expensive.

I don’t know where you live and travel makes a difference too.
Some schools felt much more like a normal school like Trinity in Croydon or City of London due to the diversity and more relaxed, less stuffy ethos.

I am trying to work out the difference between a school like St Paul's or a school that is still a private school but not 'on the map' so to speak

It's probably curriculum more than anything else and won't affect you that much unless you have a child who would get into St Paul's or wherever pretty easily. I don't know about the boys' schools but I looked at girls' schools in detail and it's things like numbers/choices of languages offered, how many languages you can do at GCSE, does everyone do triple science, are things like Additional Maths available and who can take them, how many GCSE options can children do, how prescriptive are the choices available etc.

The other difference is whether your child is going to enjoy moving at a really fast pace through the curriculum and possibly covering a lot of stuff that isn't actually on it.