Private schools - still better than state?

[heymacaroni]

Thought so

Well, exactly. But what does princessparty mean by better?

It depends on where you live, the school ds should have gone to had a 5 GCSE pass rate of 24%, the he's going to (private) has a pass rate of 100%. There are also some really crap independant schools aswell.

Ofsted don't inspect all independent schools apart from their Early Years provision so you won't find a lfl comparison on that basis alone. ISC is the independent schools equivalent.

Ofsted do inspect private schools, I don't think they inspect all of them though.

Independant schools choose if they woudl like to be inspected or not, I think.

I am just going by the 3 grammar schools in our county.My DSs' bgrammar school not only out-performs the independents in terms of academic results, but also in sports and competitive musical festivals etc.Add to that the fact that it is free, and non-poncey.

There's a hole of a private school near me that was inspected a couple of years ago, the report was terrible. I can't see the head of it choosing to have an inspection to be honest.

Not every area has a grammar school princess. I'd love to send ds to one that's free, I'd have to move miles away though.

I see, grammar schools are better than independents according to results - in her area. Fair enough, but I don't think that this is true in all geographic areas. In my area the difference between results between the top independents (Westminster, St. Pauls) and the closest Grammar (which isn't even close, but one which my son would be eligible to go to) is TIffin. Comparably competitive, but the results are no where near those of the independents.

The statement: 'at this school, 'x'% of DCs got 'y' passes at 'x' level', you have absolutely got to look at the intake, otherwise the statistic is meaningless.

If a school has a rigorous entrance exam, one should bleddy well expect them to get a 100% pass rate otherwise one could ask serious questions about their ability to select; if the local comp is getting a 50% pass of all-comers in a 'challenged' area, it's very possibly doing better by its DCs that the 1st school!

Also bear in mind, if a school gets 85% of DCs 'through', where is the guarantee your own DC will be in the 85, not the 15??

There's a huge difference between 25% and other schools though, the Ofsted report stated that some children told the inspectors that they were afraid of violence when they were at school. I'm not justifying my decision to go private, this really is the state of play in some schools though. It's wrong to believe that everyone has access to a good school. I did have other options but where are the options for others who's children end up at a school like this?

I have two children and 3 step children who have all been privately educated from the age of 3. In all we have supported 34 private schools with no bursuaries or discounts.

The two academic ones have always been driven and self starting and I believe would have done just as well in the state system, as long as it was a good state school, a bit like my old grammar school. the other 3 would all have benefited from the monies used being given to them to start a business as the academic jumping through hoops was not for them but they are moving towards being successful in their own right.It is university that we should be discussing and the lack of time spent there (24 weeks) at Newcastle. The lack of availability of modules that are on a first come first served basis etc etc. Most people defend private schools as they have spent so much money on them and cant bear the thought that it has been a waste.Overall I dont think it has been a waste but the monies could have been better spent.