Would most people choose private education if they could afford it

[mids2019]

My children go to reasonable state schools but especially from my older daughter I keep hearing about a succession of cover teachers and general malaise in the school system (governments fault not the schools)

That for me asking the question would most people choose private education if affordable in their heart of hearts or are there egalitarian parents who would still choose state on ideological grounds?

I am in two minds about this but certainly the private sector locally is attracting quite a few.

@Heatherbell1978 I completely know what you mean. When Labour got in to power, a few of my close friends shared articles about "It is about time Private School parents pay their way". I was like.... what more than we do already. 100% of my children's class are net contributors who are already paying a huge amount in tax. None of the friends who shared the articles are net contributors, with 2 of them are claiming UC and rent top ups.

Could you imagine Conservatives winning and someone sharing an article that about UC being reduced by 20% and me saying "It is about time these free loaders start contributing more".

I'm not judging you as a person. You're a teacher and I'm commenting on the views you express and the way you do it - all this strictly in the context of your profession. There is nothing personal about it, and I wasn't insulting you saying you're beneath me like you did.

Adults cannot hide their attitudes from children so even if you're not "directly teaching" children those attitudes they can still take it from you if they're young.

It's wrong to spread rumours. It's wrong to denigrate your colleagues. I thought it was clear enough and didn't really need any explanation.

It felt pretty personal and insulting and I wouldn't discuss this in front of children.

@Sdpbody you're not wrong. I was about to explode recently during a similar conversation with friends who don't seem to realise that income tax is designed so that higher earners 'pay their way'. And DH and I definitely pay our way. This is an extra tax that isn't even going into the service we're consuming! I'm feeling particularly stressed about it at the moment as DS hasn't started at the school yet so I feel like I'm surrounded by negativity about our decision. A decision which almost broke me as it really does mean a change in our lifestyle. I'm hoping once I've made some friends at his new school it'll be easier. And this is exactly where that segregation comes from with parents at different schools....ironically not from my side!

No.

I would pay if the state school had no kids studying languages at A level (soooo many have zero) or if their staff turnover was high. Or if kids were forced to walk in silent lines in the corridors.

Haha Michaela is oversubscribed so you would have to fight to get a place 😁

@Ubertomusic lots of Ark schools also do this!

@Ubertomusic our local school behaviour policy!

You really only chose private school for a calm learning environment? Really?

Also as my 18 year old recently said 'mum all the private school kids I know aren't going to uni they are going to be bricklayers etc. why have their parents wasted that money?'

@decionsdecisions62
All the private school kids she knows are learning trades? What’s wrong with that?
Your daughter sounds snobby as hell. What other professions does she look down on?

@Heatherbell1978 "Lots of virtue signaling on MN about this but it's clear it's from the 'leafy comp' brigade who have bought into the catchment."

Why is it clear?

@Barbadossunset my kids and almost everyone I know would make same comment about private school fees and then not heading to uni as that's why most people choose them - academic success. Even a friend of mine said yesterday he felt that his sons £100k a year fees were a bit of a waste as the child wasn't sporty or musical and wanted to do a vocational course at local 6th form now.
He said he'd have done just as well at local good comp & had more mates locally which would have helped his social skills which he needed. lol

£100k per year? Wow. Should have gone to Eton and saved 50% 😉

Well I don’t know of any private schools in the UK that charge £100k per year. In any event, for many parents the exam results are not the primary reason for private schooling. My DC1’s state school gets far higher results than DC2’s private school. DC2 is in private school because the environment suits him. If you’ve ever seen a child cover their ears and shake because a noisy, crowded place is causing them severe anxiety, you would understand why large comps are hell on earth for some kids.

Even a friend of mine said yesterday he felt that his sons £100k a year fees were a bit of a waste

@deeprealisation which school is this, please?
Your story would be more plausible if you got some basic facts right.

I am guessing that it is sons (plural) fees at £100k cumulative rather than an individual son’s £100k fees per year.

Or alternatively £100k cumulative over the course of the school career rather than annual fees of £100k

No I really wouldn't & am very opposed to private school.

@Anothernamech
The poster says ‘ the child wasn't sporty or musical’ so it is one son - the apostrophe was missed on the first mention.
“his sons £100k a year fees’ it clearly says a year’s fees.

forget ideological reasons, to make sure they had the best chances then yes i would, because the bottom line is, no one is equal even if the starting point of all schools was the same across the country, some people would do well, some would need extra help, some would need eg tutors etc, so given that there is no point in having all the same type of schools due to how people learn etc then yes if the option is there for private.

I really think the state contribution to school funding should follow the child. Every child should receive whatever sum the state pays for education, but it should be a grant that goes with the child. So if you want an adapted SEN programme, the £4.5k that Cornwall Council deems sufficient for education can be spent as a voucher in the educational setting the parents prefer, to be topped up by parental funds if private school is their chosen route. Otherwise people who pay privately pay twice. Water under the bridge now as DC is mid-20s.

Hmmm, in theory I don't believe in private schools. Everyone should be able to access high quality safe education etc.

However in practice, the educational system is fairly shit. Both from safety, education standards and range of subjects.

I could move to a different area and go to a leafy state or grammar which probably costs the same as private but gives me the moral high ground.

My kid is bright but dyslexic and a bit lazy. He would rather muck around and be one of the cool kids. He would not do well in his local comp. In the local independent school he will get chance to take part in lots of sport, have smaller classes and assimilate to stronger educational expectations. Also, it's probably a more diverse school than his local comp, plus he plays sport with a very wide range of kids from all backgrounds and varying incomes.

His cousins are very booksmart and not as socially influenced so will excel pretty much anywhere with their parents input. (But funnily enough they live in a leafy area meaning an indy is only useful if you care about keeping "riff raff"out)

I can't hate on parents for making choices based on the system they are presented with. I will pay my vat on fees in the hope it makes all schools better. I'd even like to see private schools phased out if it meant all children could receive a better education than what's on offer currently.

I will pay my vat on fees in the hope it makes all schools better. I'd even like to see private schools phased out if it meant all children could receive a better education than what's on offer currently.

My memory betrays me - when was the last time the government (be it Labour or Tory) made all schools better?

I'd even like to see private schools phased out if it meant all children could receive a better education than what's on offer currently.

The fact you send your ex to private school makes them being phased out even more unlikely.