Why go private?

[lilyjen]

I just wanted some answers really, i've never really understood private schools. Why do you need money to be a better teacher and why shouldn't standards be as high in state schools? I understand that lack of funding might mean less resourses in some areas but otherwise why? I'd say i'm quite a fussy mum myself, that is I want the best level of education for my DD who's 6. She's in a state school in Windsor, which is a good school compared to a nursey she went to in a deprived area of Wales previously but i still have issues with their standards. I can't afford private education, i'm a student studying for my nvq 3 in childcare and as a future childcare practitioner with experience already in the feild of schools and nurseries I just don't understand why there's such a varying difference of standards in education and care.

I think you pay for class size frankly.
I dont give a rats bout putting my LO in state but ALL rest of family want private 'things are different now' blah blah (we were state n did us no harm).
And it only takes my DP to walk home from the station n witness the pavement sucking plebs loitering around fagging over their prams, for him to walk in n say 'she's not going to school with that lot, n your not standing at the school gate with that lot'
Snobbery?
Dunno

Private is not necessarily better. Where I am the private (very posh) boarding school doesn't fair as well as the local comp in grades at exam. Also teachers at private schools don't have to have the same qualifications as required by LEA's.

If I'm right, in your area around Windsor you have grammar schools, which if you're child gets into, IMHO can be the best thing ever (mixed social backgrounds, diversity, no fees, state regulations). I would much rather have my ds in a state school in a nice area like yours, and then into the local grammar - it would save tens of thousands of pounds and he'd be getting classes which are on the whole, filled with students who are relatively non-disruptive and teachers who aren't so stretched in teaching classes with huge variations in academic levels.

If I wasn't tied to where I live, I'd be very chuffed to move to Windsor and send ds into the state system. (I used to teach in one of the Bucks grammar schools and it was the best of all worlds).

Looking back at your post, just to address another of the queries - the teachers in private schools often don't get paid any better than in state schools, sometimes worse. BUT, in a difficult area (such as the one we live in) it is harder to attract good teachers to the local schools because of behavioural issues etc. Teachers who I've spoken to in private schools have said that they choose to do the job because it's more about their subject, and less about confrontation etc. Also they have said that they can devote more time to students because they have on ave. 16 students in a class as opposed to ave. 30, so less marking etc as well. Because these working conditions are better, the school is able to be more selective in whom it employs and have a wider range of applicants, meaning that it can provide some excellent teachers. However, as I said on last post, I think this is not so true in your area.

Sorry that's a ridiculously long paragraph!

Please excuse 'you're' in first post

small class sizes; no national curriculum; no SATS; more sport; ethos; discipline; wrap around child care, from a parental point of view.

As a teacher, have taught in both private and state. In a state you get a wider variety of abilities and backgrounds. In a private school, better conditions as you are not having to deal with constant low level disruption; the expectations are clearly laid out and adhered to by the pupils; smaller class sizes, so you get to know the pupils better; and setting, which helps.

I could go on about behaviour, no sats, small class sizes, opportunities to try different things & fantastic after school clubs so you don't ever have to spend your evenings as a taxi service!

However, one thing overides all these issues for me. If you have an academic child, self-motivation is often so strongly discouraged in state education that they will hide their skills to fit in. In the private sector, these skills are encouraged in that there is a competitive atmosphere & all children know what they are good at & what they need help with. Thus the child is proud of their achievements, not ashamed! (also, not afraid of failure!)

And yes, if we had a grammar system near us I would definately use it. It would be my ideal & served my DH very well!

Message withdrawn

Private schools often don't follow the National Curriculum until 13. A huge bonus.

Competition is allowed.

They have a clue about how to bring the best out of children.

Most parents give a rat's arse about things.

Most private schools are crap, though 'round me (and you, we live v. close) we have alot of great private, but equally we have alot of great grammars. I went from private in this area to a grammar as beyond 11 the privates aren't as good.

For me it was a huge decision, one I did not take lightly.
But ultimately I do not like the state-centric route this country is taking and feel that school should not be micro-managed from central government.I do not want it to be a quasi parent.
We have some great teachers and should let them teach, instead of hampering them at every turn.

So I went for a prep school with a strong ethos and a strong head. It is most definitely not a hot-house and the curriculum is incredibly broad, yet the results are excellent.
I also wanted good, competitive sport and a great music dept.

well I suppose it depends so much on the schools.....!
I have seen lots of primaries (private and state) around where I live and all the schools seem to have a different ethos. There were 2 particular private primaries that I really disliked though, despite their very academic reputation and fab facilities. The Head was very cold and unapproachable, no eye contact, hurried almost - the kids were lined up like soldiers and so quiet and actually looked unhappy, I came out with a shudder. So again it's a vibe thing, a personal thing and what you feel comfortable with. There was 1 other private school that was completely different. The ratio/class sizes in all 3 private schools wasn't that great - 24 kids to 1 teacher and TA. Most primaries around here have 30 kids with 1 teacher one or two TAs and lots of volunteers. So not that different IMO. I think at primary level (I have no experience of secondary) the vibe is essential and the kids need to be having fun fun fun, esp in the younger years. Given the choices we have locally I have decided not to pay for private as where we live at primary level doesn't seem worth it - but everywhere is different so I can't comment on other schools .

Surely though the above is down to how good a school is? I have heard a lot of horror stories from friends saying their DDs in reception had been left "colouring" because they were too advanced. But so far my DD1 has been really stretched, I think it's very much down to the teacher and school, non?

There are many reasons for going private, lilyjen. Too complex to generalise.

Thankyou for all the info, it's given me a much broader view. Thanks oosabeauta-I will look into grammer schools

Nice to see the state school bashing brigade are out again.

Ooosa, Windsor is not a grammar school area. There are grammar schools in Slough, but they are oversubscribed within their own area. There is a possibility of a Catholic child getting into the Catholic grammar, but the status of this school is under threat.

The Windsor system has First, Middle and Secondary Schools (starting in Y9, and single sex). The rest of Windsor and Maidenhead LEA has the traditional comp system. You can only get into the outstanding comp if you live in spitting distance.

I used to work at the Windsor Girls School many moons ago, and it was a very complex area for schooling - two completely different systems in one LEA .

The reason for choosing any school is based upon how you feel it will meet the needs of your child and your family.

You should look at all the schools available to you and choose the one that suits best.

Everything else is nonsense really

the people smell better

even the farts

The main reason for going private is so that ones DCs do not have to mix with oiks.