Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Education

Join the discussion on our Education forum.

Original poster

Would you pay for private education when there is a very good state alternative?

660 replies

alfiesbabe · 12/01/2008 14:29

I know this is a contentious issue, but am really interested to hear other people's views. Our situation: have just moved DS (Yr 9)from private to local state school. (His choice). He had been on a scholarship as a chorister, and finished in the choir, but money wasn't an issue as DH teaches in the private school so we paid peanuts for fees. DS is really happy and likes the wider range of students. He is in top sets for most subjects and reports back that the work is more challenging and behaviour better than was the case in his previous class. He gets less homework, but to my mind what he does get is more relevant (eg in maths he might get set 5 questions to test that he has understood a teaching point, whereas at the private school he'd be set several pages of the same type of question). Results wise, the private school had 85% 5 A-C passes, the state school had 72%. Bearing in mind the state school has the full ability range, whereas the private school is selective, this smacks to me of better teaching in the state school. It seems like a very small difference considering parents are paying about 12K a year for the private school. A-level results are similar - statistically the private school is a little better, but not by much. The private school offers more in the way of music and sport; but DS has gone as far as he wants with music for the moment and isnt bothered about sport. I'm not looking for validation of our choice - we know we've made the right decision - but I'm left with this feeling of 'What were we actually paying school fees for?' The experience as a chorister was valuable, but I can't get my head round parents who pay the full whack, specially if their child isnt musical or sporty. I'm aware that our local state school is outstanding and we're very lucky in this respect. So.... why WOULD anyone pay for private in this situation?

OP posts:
scottishmummy · 19/01/2008 21:51

really you seem mighty wound up hun

glitterfairy · 19/01/2008 21:52

Not at all just dont like your and comment it is rude.

Quattrocento · 19/01/2008 21:52

Saddened that your alma mater didn't show you what to do with an apostrophe

ScienceTeacher · 19/01/2008 21:55

Pretty difficult to provide you with evidence, Seeker (I could ask you the same about your daughter's maltreatment in cafes). All I know is that all the local schools, grammar and secondary, worked with the police to stagger their departure times at the end of term (and they are all kept secret until the day). I didn't know until the day (not a surprise as we were the last school to get permission to finish, so it was the Friday). These are the things that parents just don't get to know.

The notion of all the schools letting out at 1pm on the Thursday doesn't bear thinking about - really, honestly and truly. I'm glad I'm not in that environment any more.

scottishmummy · 19/01/2008 21:55

an explorative open and got yer goat that much ..do elaborate!

Quattrocento · 19/01/2008 21:57

At my SIL's school, they have some fairly hardened criminals, under suspicion of the most appalling crimes. It's true to say the criminals are not often at the school but it's still a risk, isn't it?

ScienceTeacher · 19/01/2008 21:59

Indeed SM. I don't understand why people get riled up when they are perfectly happy with their own situation.

BTW, Seeker, I don't think anyone has said that it is impossible to be successful from a state school. That would be a ridiculous thing to say. I really wish you wouldn't keep making these baseless accusations.

scottishmummy · 19/01/2008 21:59

Quattrocento - who's alma mater are you discussing?

seeker · 19/01/2008 22:19

So if I had a child at one of those schools, Science teacher, I wouldn't know whether he was supposed to go to school on the Thursday or not?

ScienceTeacher · 19/01/2008 22:21

They would just go each subsequent day until they were dismissed.

Lilymaid · 19/01/2008 22:26

On subject of end of term dates - it is normal nowadays for secondary schools not to give a specific date for the last day of teaching before GCSEs (not sure about A Levels) so that the little darlings don't get kitted out with flour and eggs to pelt the teachers/teachers cars, invite in their "friends" who have been expelled to sort teachers/school out etc etc. There was a thread on this last summer.

Original poster
alfiesbabe · 19/01/2008 22:31

I have to say I find the argument that people 'need' private schools because they are working the most ludicrous! As seeker says.... so 93% of the population don't work then??!! I know that childcare can be tricky at school age, but it's not insurmountable. When my kids started primary school, there was no after school club, the local CMs only wanted pre-schoolers.... so DH and I set up an after school club. It was loads of effort to do it - researching employment law, applying for National Lottery Funding, advertising, appointing staff etc.. and of course we were both working F/T too! But it's perfectly possible to find arrangements if you try hard enough- and certainly most childcare options are significantly cheaper than sending your kids to private school. At secondary level, the childcare thing is less of an issue anyway. I think it's a good thing for young people to become self reliant and be able to travel themselves and maybe look after themselves for a couple of hours.

OP posts:
scottishmummy · 19/01/2008 22:33

in my case it is unsurmountable. cant comment for "93%" of others

Quattrocento · 19/01/2008 22:33

See what I don't understand is people being defensive about choosing a good state school. I mean there's no need for it. You're happy with your choice, right?

scottishmummy · 19/01/2008 22:35

Har not needed yet!but contacted them all, done visits, imo whatever works for each parent - no problemo. end of.

Original poster
alfiesbabe · 19/01/2008 22:41

I don't think the central point of the thread is about whether people are happy with their choice; I think it's more the broad issue of whether there is enough to be gained by sending a child to private school, when there is good state provision as an alternative, to justify the hundreds of thousands of pounds spent on it. (Speaking as the OP!)Personally, yes, I am very happy with my son's choice to transfer to a state school, though I realise I am in a fortunate position as we could afford to keep him in the private sector if we thought it offered a better education.

OP posts:
seeker · 19/01/2008 22:45

Oh, so the secretive end of term dates only applied to the public exam years. I was imagining bemused year 7s turning up for their bus to be told that theiry were on holiday only no one had told them! I can sort of understand that egg throwing is an unpleasant fact of life - but surely that applies to the independent sector as well? To quote Belloc "Like many of the upper class, he liked the sound of breaking glass"!

ElenyaTuesday · 19/01/2008 22:46

That is the crux of the matter, alfiesbabe - "when there is good state provision as an alternative". For a lot of parents choosing private education, it is not the case that there is good state provision available.

seeker · 19/01/2008 22:49

And I am not defensive about my choice at all - I am very happy with it. It's not me saying bizarre things like children from independent schools are taught how to treat their servants with respect, and the state sector doesn't cater for the needs of working parents......

Original poster
alfiesbabe · 19/01/2008 22:51

seeker - your posts make me smile

OP posts:
scottishmummy · 19/01/2008 22:52

not this working parent seeker!

Quattrocento · 19/01/2008 23:02

"I don't think the central point of the thread is about whether people are happy with their choice; I think it's more the broad issue of whether there is enough to be gained by sending a child to private school, when there is good state provision as an alternative, to justify the hundreds of thousands of pounds spent on it."

I am bemused by this comment - what have other people's choices got to do with you exactly?

You get to what? Judge them? Castigate them for being profligate? It smacks of someone who is not entirely comfortable in their own skin. I am happy with my choice, you say you are happy with yours, so what's the problem?

ScienceTeacher · 19/01/2008 23:05

There's nothing I value more in life for spending my cash on. Education trumps holidays, cars, houses, clothes...

ElenyaTuesday · 19/01/2008 23:05

Presumably everyone who spends thousands of pounds on schooling thinks there is something to be gained from it - otherwise why would they do it?

Original poster
alfiesbabe · 19/01/2008 23:08

Quattro- if you read the OP you'll see that I am perfectly happy with my choice. I am interested in what other people think they are gaining. And whether it justifies the amount of money spent. Hence the OP, hence the interesting discussion that has arisen out of it! What on earth is MN for if it's not to debate really important issue FGS!!!

OP posts: