private or state: how did you decide?

[marialuisa]

We're in the fortunate position of being able to pay for DD to go private, but we're really unsure whether we should.
Our local primary is dire but there is a strong possibility that DD would get into the neighbouring parish school (we're R.C.) At the moment this school has class sizes of 22, nice "feel", good academically etc. However a new housing estate on the way which will push up class numbers and reduce the chance of DD getting a place.

We have looked around and found that if we want DD to go private we should put her name down now for nursery class in January. Thing is I've not thought that any of the schools were particularly fantastic, indeed been quite horrified in some...

So, do we risk it and stick with the state system or put in the private nursery and perhaps move her if the state school is still ok when it's time for her to go there? An added pressure is that we live in a county with the 11+ and people tend to pay to make sure kids get into the grammars as the alternatives are not great!

So, sorry this is so long, but would like to know how other people decided....

Ks, My Dad, who left school at 14, always used to say, 'Money can't buy you happiness, but at least it lets you be miserable in comfort!' He and my Mum had no chances, thanks to grant funding I got to go to Uni, and they were so pleased that I had done well. I feel that it is my duty to make sure that my kids get every chance I can give them, in the same way that my parents gave me chances. The difference is that I have more spare cash (they had none).

What a moving tale of rags to riches, KS. Cathleen Cookson should write it all down. But is the defence "I come from a working class background so i have a right to whatever privilege I can acquire for myself and my family" a valid one? Yes, if you don't give a damn about all those like you but who didn t get the breaks. Basically, you just expressed the very essence of Thatcherism: work hard, buy private services, sod the rest of you.

I think I have hit a very sore nerve with you. As for patrician and playing the "bit of rough" well, I could tell you about my working class background, but I think your violin solo was enough for one night.

ks - good for you - giving your ds the best chance you can - and hmb.
I too was the first in our family to go to uni - and made my parents very proud - they hadn't been able to afford private education and were (and probably still are) anti-private education.
In principle I am anti too, but in practice I will be giving my children the best chance I can.

(Beating hasty retreat to yurt)

See you in the Yhmburt Jude I could use a visit after being told that I don't care enough about the education of children in the state sector by a journalist. Working my a*se off all week obviously wasn't enough. I should write about it instead, much better all round I think.

Yurt!!! Yhmburt is my private, exclusive one, that I don't let nasty, common people into

KS: actually it was a shrewd guess and judging from your last long post 100 per cent accurate. In my experience, the most unashamed supporters of private education are always from our background. Only working-class-made-good have absolutely no guilt or doubt about our entitlement to better things.

hmb does have a good point.

I don't know - I think the thing that really disturbs me most- is this holier that thou sticking to my principles seech, whilst writing for Junior magazine.

Surely it caters to a (small) portion of society who think it perfectly acceptable to spend 150 pounds on a pair of shoes for a toddler, coupled with a 500 pound party frock (worn once). Wouldn't it would be more morally acceptable to buy the kiddy clothes from woolworths and give the difference to the struggling NHS or state school.
Of course what it comes down to is that people are perfectly entitled to spend ther hard earned cash any which way they want.

Trouble is if you take the moral high ground and call people every name under the sun for sending their children to private school then you have to be able to defend your choices. I have no problem with someone writing for Junior but I'm really not sure that it sits well with the moral stance.

Right I'm off to the Yhmbyrut to read Socialist Worker......

beetroot- we're there first week of June. How long does it take to get to Plymouth? I hoping not much more than an hour and a half. My mum is looking after ds2 at home so we're going up and down each day.

Oh no!! I'm not a fast driver. We're going to be exhausted by the Friday! Ds1 will be happy he loves the car.

Ks, Batters - Just popping out of the Yurt (have got off of the fence and felt too exposed up there and am hidden in a corner cowering pathetically) to offer you glass of something red and fruity and a box of rather nice Belgian truffles - think you deserve them. Ignore the brick bats!!!!

I have a feeling it's pretty full on. I think you are kept busy most of the time. I have a feeling I'm being sent a detailed timetable soon. However if we can't take you up on coffee this time then I may well do another time- my aunt lives in Yeovil so we do head into Somerset fairly often.

Meant to say thanks for the offer beetroot. There will be follow up days as well- which may be less hectic.

I got sidetracked- but I did think earlier in thread congratulations to your son. That's brilliant!

Well written KS. I find that all Badmamma seems to want to do is cause offence, personally couldn't give a s**t though. I no longer read her posts for interest, just to see who she's going to insult next

....and I used to like Junior too, but will never see it in the same light again.

No worries beetroot- I couldn't accept it anyway- as I have to get back for ds2. Definitely SW meetup soon.......

ks, batters, bon courage!

SO how is it moral to buy your way into an area with a good school, take up a place that someone who can't afford private education could have, but instead, force them to travel miles to a c* school, because they can't afford the premium on the house prices. Because that is the situation we might well find ourselves in. Lots of middle class parents sticking by their principles, because they can afford to live by the 'good' school.