Grammar school or independent school

[SaSa28]

Which one is better in terms of academic results and ethos? Will grammar schools still not as excellent as independent school in terms of university destinations, though better than state independent schools?

Schools vary enormously in every sector, so I don’t think it’s possible to answer your generic question in a meaningful way. Consider which schools are available to your child in your area (assuming not boarding) and visit them to get a feel for their ethos. Academic results vary according to both selection and value-added, as well as pastoral support. Universities can be applied for from any school, so what really matters is where your child will do best.

So: visit, ask lots of questions, get a feel for the leadership and choose schools which will bring out the best in your child(ren), with their particular abilities, interests, challenges and personalities. My experience was that we had strong gut reactions about which schools would be a fit and which wouldn’t, even if they had similar stats on paper. Our instincts have been borne out as time has gone on.

Yeah, it really depends on the school. Some indy schools basically exist for the children who didn't get into grammar school but whose parents don't want to send them to the local comp or secondary modern. Others are very academically selective and have the benefits of a grammar school (motivated kids etc) as well as extras like smaller class sizes and great cocurricular provision.

Impossible to say without viewing the actual schools. There are good and bad in both sectors.

Just compare the results? It's pretty easy to do. Unless you are interested in other outcomes. Eg it's obvious a selective grammar will get better results than a comprehensive school as they have creamed off the top students, simultaneously ensuring their results will be better and the comprehensive school's will be worse. However, it doesn't necessarily follow that student progress will inevitably be better at the grammar, just that they are starting a bit closer to the finish line.

Obviously independent schools are similar; some will exclude most students because they are academically less able and inevitably the schools which mop these students up are varying in their effectiveness and you will find some which are better than state schools and some which are not.

Grammar schools are broadly similar to each other. They all have academic children, with fairly or very committed parents, who cannot or will not pay for private education. Few children will be from very deprived backgrounds, few children will be from super rich backgrounds.

Private schools vary enormously. Some are very similar to grammar schools, some are full of academically average kids, some are full of very rich kids, some have no children with SEN, some have a high proportion of kids with SEN.

In my city, there's basically a pair of private schools that are almost indistinguishable from grammar schools, several actual grammar schools, a small number of private schools that are for average kids, and a range of comprehensives from the incredibly high performing, to the classic sink school. I would say that the grammar schools are much better value than any of the private schools and even if money were no object I'm not sure the private school is the better choice. But no child is guaranteed a place at any of them.

It may well be very different where you are.

Impossible to say. Independent schools vary massively, as do grammar schools. For example I've taught in two independent schools and one grammar. I would rank the grammar school in between the two independents (one of which was absolutely outstanding in every way, and the other one I wouldn't have sent my dc to for free). The grammar is great, but can't compare facilities-wise. Or results-wise, but there are good reasons for that, which have nothing to do with quality of teaching imo.

For grammar school, any comment on St Michael's Catholic Grammar School in North Finchley?

Round my way, the private school is for the children who didn't pass their 11plus, but parents can afford it. The grammar school is the coveted school.

Is your family Catholic?

Yes

Any concern?

As @Fairislefandango said, it depends on the school. We're in a grammar area. There are a couple of independent schools that many people (including us) choose over the grammars - better results, better facilities etc. Then there are loads of other independent schools which are largely used as a back-up for kids who don't pass 11+ (or who do pass but don't get the grammar school of their choice). If you were putting together some sort of ranking (which would of course be a bit subjective, unless you're purely looking at hard data) then you'd probably have a couple of the best indies at the top, followed by the super-selective grammars, then perhaps another couple of good indies, then the normal grammars and the very best secondary moderns, then a whole mix of the less popular indies and secondary moderns. Roughly.

Then purely on St Michael's Catholic Grammar School, any one has comment on this school?

@SaSa28 , if you look at elevenplusexams.co.uk Forum section North London you will see that St Michaels has a few threads and if you post the question there you may get a better response.

Impossible to say without viewing the actual schools. There are good and bad in both sectors.

This! Just go visit the schools and form your own opinions. Have a look at the published exam results too

My son went to private and is now at 6th form selective grammar. The grammar school teaching is far superior but he had opportunities at private school. For clarity he went to a small village primary school in an affluent area.

if you want comments on a particular school, start a thread with its name in the title. The chances of a poster on a generic grammar v independent thread knowing that school are remote.

Hi All,

DD got into both Abbey reading and Wycombe high. And I am confused where to send her. Any experience/comments to share?

Thanks
V

@Vs123 start a new thread - Abbey, Reading vs Wycombe High.

Started a new thread as suggested!