arabella weir on why we must send our kids to state schools

[nowirehangers]

Arabella on why she would never send her kids to private schools
What do people think?
Fwiw I find the tone unbelievably smug. I also disagree with a lot of what's being said. I don't think all parents send thier kids to private schools so they can avoid the great unwashed, though some do. I would love my dcs to go to a state school for the reasons she mentions.
What puts me off is the fact the teaching is so often mediocre - as the Chief Inspector of Schools admitted this week. Of course there are so incredible teachers in the state system but I fear there are a lot of second-rate one too. I went to a state primary where the teaching was awful then was moved in to a private school and couldn't believe how much more stimulating the atmosphere was and how much more inspirational the teachers were. I dislike the idea of my dcs mixing only with posh kids, so I'm going to put mye experience down as an unlucky one and give the local state school the benefit of the doubt but if I feel they're being taught badly I will remove them and remortgage the house or whatever to make it work. Anyway, that's my opinion, interested in others.

There's no evidence putting the 6% of private pupils into the state system would have a great effect on the state system and as said above it would mean fewer resources in the state system and our own individual children, those at the top 10 schools in the country anyway would individually lose out.

Obviously there will alway some not to good private schools and some good state ones but on the whole private schools are better and they educate 6% of children or up to 10% at sixth form and yet get 50% or more of the places at the best universities because they teach so much better and even for not so clever children they value added can be massive in terms of confidence, development of skills other than the academic, connections, contacts, accent and all the rest too. A very good deal and cheap at the price.

Mrs Mattie, you are entirely wrong.

You make the point "yes, of course a school is going to get fabulous results if all it's pupils are posh, rich white kids". Which is nonsense. Because if that were true, how do you explain Prince Harry?

The reality is that there are a huge range of private schools just as there are a huge range of state schools. There are plenty of private schools that cater for the "nice but dim" and are not in any way academically selective.

The best results are achieved by academically selective schools. You want to pretend that some children are not brighter than others - that I am afraid is fundamentally nonsense. Some children are brighter than others, just as some are prettier, sportier or more musical.

The private schools that do well do so because they select out the dimwits and disruptive elements, and they are unashamedly elitist. Not socially elitist. Academically elitist.

connections

contacts

says it all really

I'm an author, Bundle, though I'm not getting with it today am I?
And I do agree I suppose about small differences adding up but sometimes it does seem pointless. Low energy today, sorry.
I also worry that it's a very middle class notion, you know, the idea that their simple presence will have such an impact.
I see it all the time at the Law Centre and to a lesser degree at the needle exchange ( not most Boden Mummies' first choice I grant you). They arrive and expect to turn around people's lives. When it doesn't happen they leave.

No I don't work harder because I get paid more money. Obviously I expressed myself badly. As a family we get more money because we work harder. I work 50 hours per week. DH works 37.5 hours per week. That's a lot of hours for two parents. Tis done to pay the bills - the largest one of which is the school fees.

fiction?

I would have thought that a needle exchange would go beautifully with a johnnie flippy skirt

Bundle, what nonsense

I am the product of a private school education and none of my school friends have ever provided/enabled/supported work connections in later life at all.

Honestly the myths perpetuated about private schools are such rubbish.

She might. Some people take on two jobs to pay for extras for their children.

you know, it's interesting that some of the countries which have the best education are those where private education is almost non-existent and taxes are high to pay for good state education for all.

For example Finland:

"An egalitarian Nordic system, with no tuition fees for full-time students. Attendance is compulsory for nine years starting at age seven, and free meals are served to pupils at primary and secondary levels, where the pupils go to their local school. In the OECD's international assessment of student performance, PISA, Finland has consistently been among the highest scorers worldwide; in 2003 Finnish 15-year-olds came first in reading literacy, mathematics, and science, while placing second in problem solving"

might that count as evidence?

I was offended by Arabella slagging off posh children. There are nice posh children and vile posh children, social class does not dictate morals.

Someone always brings up finland. They don't have very ethnically diverse schools do they? We have beaten them there.

no, but their diversity reflects their society's diversity, just as ours should reflect ours.

I don't think that anyone is pretending that some children aren't brighter than others. They are
But so what?
There are other children that have a lot to offer, being the brightest isn't an asset in itself

But what is it that's so offensive about private schools?

Example: here in Bristol 2 private schools now have Academy status which effectively means they are state schools. Selective, although non fee paying.

LMD Evidence of what?

The fact is that Finland is a different country. All those nordic countries have worked hard to eliminate social inequality. The UK is ridden with it. Abolishing private schools would not achieve anything. We would just employ a tutor for our children, as would most other private school parents. Or they would board abroad.

The problem is that the state system is underfunded and not that good...

LMD Evidence of what?

The fact is that Finland is a different country. All those nordic countries have worked hard to eliminate social inequality. The UK is ridden with it. Abolishing private schools would not achieve anything. We would just employ a tutor for our children, as would most other private school parents. Or they would board abroad.

The problem is that the state system is underfunded and not that good...

It is largely class warfare. Dress it up how you like.

I was a bit to find out that arabella's daughter is called isabella.

"I don't think that anyone is pretending that some children aren't brighter than others. They are
But so what?
There are other children that have a lot to offer, being the brightest isn't an asset in itself"

It's the single biggest asset there is when it comes to passing exams, actually. Mrs Mattie was arguing that a school full of rich white kids would produce the best results. I was taking issue because to produce the best results (if that is your objective) you would need a school full of bright and hardworking kids. Which is almost entirely different.

QC
How strange that you would rather send your children to board abroad than try a state school
What are you so scared of?
As you are privately educated yourself you have no expereince of the state sector so for you to label every state school as 'not that good'is a little ill informed

oh I do so tire of people going on about mixing with different people, like it is a box to tick "oooh so multicultural" etc

it is SUCH a cliche

"oh little Hugo met a working class boy at class today, you wouldn't get mixing like that at St Arseholes....his mother was rough though, won't be inviting her for brunch, eh Jemima??? [titter]"

and as for walking through a council estate, ffs, it is hardly brave it it?

No I personally would not send my children to board abroad but that would be the reaction of a sizeable minority of parents were private schools to be abolished.

I did actually conscientiously visit all the local schools, read all the Ofsted reports and weigh up all the factors before making a choice.