How many kids do you know definitely leaving private for state?

[Quodraceratops]

I'd be very interested to know how many children people know of who are definitely leaving their private school for a state school - not people with plans to do so in future years, solely those definitely going now / in 2025.
For myself - large Scottish all years school, I only have knowledge of my early primary kids's classes - no-one leaving so far (but I'm guessing early primary may be less affected as Labour have been signalling this policy for a while so you wouldn't start if you couldn't afford VAT).

I'm assuming by the use of "went" that your DC are no longer at school and so the 11+ was taken at least 8 years ago. Times have changed. Competition is fiercer. The number of DC like yours is vanishingly small.

I agree that everyone should have more choice. One size fits all really doesn’t work. Having a policy that results in a number of small private schools closing and making the larger ones more elitist isn’t going to help anyone.

None. But I don’t know anyone who sends their children to an independent school in the first place. I clearly move in the wrong circles 🤣

Johnson and Sunak being the idea of non-elitist equality incarnate and the role models for the people 😂

My comp was far less diverse than either of my DC’s schools. Lots of comps aren’t diverse and it has nothing to do with other schools in the area. They reflect the local population.

How many DC do you have?

I thought you've done private from prep and have been on a bursary for at least one DC and you're now having to move 150 miles away to go to another school?

Haha no I'm not the one who shares the notion of "bright child will be fine anywhere, the family influence is more important anyway", I think it's the opposite - it's easier to sink than swim. I'm just not too sure that banning grammars will improve anything in comp. Any education system is 100% defined by the government's aims, and it will change only if the political system changes (or the economic situation radically changes - e.g. we suddenly decide to have a proper manufacturing industry and space programme and require lots of qualified workforce for that which I don't see happening atm).

Two. I did private from nursery for DC2 precisely because I have had experience of state system with DC1 and couldn't waste another life there. So yes, I had to move 150 miles not to send DC2 to state.
Are you happy now? Completed your records on MN users?

I just don't see how you square the circle of parental choice for everyone

You won't as it's simply impossible in a liberal democracy with market-based economy. This political system is inherently unfair and more industrious people will always have more choice, it's how the fundamentals of the system work. You would have to go proper socialist, and I do mean proper - with state control and distribution of everything and no nobility etc for the idea of fairness to work for some time. I think it delusional to expect fairness and equality in a market economy of a monarchy state. Parental choice is just a tiny, insignificant, superficial example of the system inequality.

I just think it's interesting when prolific posters apparently contradict themselves across multiple threads.

So are you saying that your DC1's super selective state grammar was awful then? Or is it just the primary school that was awful?

@Ubertomusic "I'm just not too sure that banning grammars will improve anything in comp."

It won't. But it will sure as hell improve things in secondary moderns. Or whatever we choose to call the non grammar schools in grammar areas.

And yet still they didn’t push for grammars. Because it’s a dead policy.

This will cost the state money I would predict. The IFS estimate of 3-7% migration from private to state is based on old data regarding elasticity. After the last 3 years of inflationary rises most parents are already really scrutinising the value of private education. The £1.6lbn from the government is based on 0% migration which is (like them) utterly batshit bonkers.

At 10% migration there is no revenue and after that this policy will cost the state money (at 25% migration it will cost £2.5bln.

In current desperate £22bln black holes we only have to know this and dont need to debate the ideology further imho!

"Parental choice" of grammar schools in 11+ areas takes away the parental choice of strong comps

and the idea of parental choice for grammars is bollocks anyway because the schools choose, not the parents. It’s why there’s a huge amount of money being made at the expense of parents desperately trying to ‘choose’ a grammar for their children.

IMO it's just the wrong attitude to view children who fail 11+ as "not clever". STEM abilities required for 11+ are not be all end all, people excel in many different things not related to STEM at all. I wouldn't sit my DC2 for grammar as it wouldn't be a good fit and there is nothing wrong with it and it doesn't mean they are not "clever" 🤷‍♀️

Exactly, but that is exactly what the 11+ tells them, however we all try to dress it up.

No, small faith primary was good, comp was hugely damaging to DC1 mental health, and not because of children but because of staff I must say - and I can see lots of damaging attitudes displayed by MN posters who claim to be teachers in state so I assume it's the norm. Grammar was excellent and very supportive.

Even happier now?

Sure they didn't, they went to public schools, peasants shouldn't be improving their lot in grammars 😂

Sorry won't be trolling anymore. Just found the examples hilarious and oh so telling. "It's fine for the elites to stay elite, but middle classes should know their place".

Ecstatic, thank you for asking.

You think that people who are against grammars are in favour of private schools?

Honestly I don't see how having 'bright' kids who would have gone to grammer staying in a comp influences other children. I was the top of my class and also a quiet nerdy type. I really don't think I made any positive impact on my peer's education. I'm rubbish at some subjects and my experience of being in a university group of more able students in a particular area was that they zoomed ahead and I struggled on - it certainly wasn't helpful being with more naturally able people. They aren't there to teach others and neither are school kids.

Are there any studies showing if a mixed ability group influences outcomes?

Agree with you to some extent, but I know people from less affluent backgrounds who are sitting for grammars now and we'll see how it goes. They did prep themselves though so not 100% like for like comparison, but no tutors at least.

Our secondary schools get great results and the sixth form college (we don't have school sixth forms) sends hundreds to top universities, including dozens to Oxbridge, every year. Rather than re-introducing grammars, wouldn't it be better to look at what counties that have successfully implemented an all-comprehensive system are doing right and adopt that in counties where it is failing?

Any education system is 100% defined by the government's aims, and it will change only if the political system changes

Yep.

No, I just think your comments are rude and offensive to children as one PP said before so I indulged in trolling. My bad, won't continue.