Quick background: I've taught at independent schools for 10+ years. Recently, a parent at my son's nursery has been asking me questions about what happens at these schools - what makes the education different, what gives some children advantages.
While I can't (and wouldn't) give advice specific to my school, our conversations made me realise: there are certain skills - conversational confidence, critical thinking, cultural literacy, self-advocacy - that independent schools develop systematically but state schools often leave to chance. (In my experience - as state school educated) Not because state schools are worse, but because these things aren't part of the formal curriculum anywhere.
The thing is, these skills aren't actually exclusive or complicated. They're just... intentional. And they can absolutely be developed at home, regardless of where your child goes to school.
I'm considering starting a free newsletter sharing practical, actionable insights on building these skills with your children. Think: conversation frameworks you can use at dinner, question types that develop thinking, ways to build cultural capital without spending money.
My question: Would this actually be useful to you? Or does it feel like solving a problem that doesn't exist?
Genuinely interested in honest feedback before I invest time in this. If it's something you'd find valuable, what would you most want covered?
Thanks for considering!