State or private education for bright child?

[Lorelai]

I've been thinking a lot lately about whether or not we should be thinking about private schools for DD1 (3.4), and would appreciate some advice (please bear in mind we have NO money, so any private education would have to be entirely scholarship/bursary).

She seems to be quite a bright child, and not just through my own rose-tinted glasses. Her playschool 'teachers' have commented on it several times, as has one of her Sunday School leaders (who is a primary school TA and has said that DD can do some things better than some of the children in her class). Having said that though, I am not keen on labelling her this early, or putting any pressure on her - I was a G&T child so I know from experience that it is better to let children find their own level. Personally, I decided I would rather not work hard enough to fulfill my potential, and I am happy with that decision. So I don't want her to be pressurised to perform.

We live in a relatively affluent area (although in a less affluent 'pocket'), so there are no really 'bad' schools locally. That said, there are of course some that are better than others, and unfortunately the closest primary schools to us are not the 'better' ones, and there is no way she would get into the 'good' ones. I'm not massively worried, as I know she is in no danger of leaving primary school unable to read etc (in fact I am pretty sure she will be reading before she starts - she can already recognise letters, understands that they make different sounds, and knows what some of those sounds are, compares similar sounding words and can write her name plus copy other words that I write down for her).

However, I am still wondering if we should be thinking of private schools, and if so then just for secondary or for primary too (have I left it too late for primary? She will be starting reception in Sept 2012). Any thoughts would be appreciated.

I've always found it odd that schools and (some) teachers won't admit that when a child is an outlier, they can struggle to accomodate him/her.

It seems to me that this only happens with acadmeic subjects.

In sport for example, the sports departments have always said that whilst my DC adore thier sports lessons and take part in them with enthusiasm, they both need proper expert coaching to reach their potential. And this can't be done in school.

Similarly, music teachers will recommend conservatoirs, national orchestras etc...they won't insist that the musiaclly gifted will be well catered for in a weekly mixed ability lesson.

cubscout, of course teachers and headteachers care. Or at least some of them do. That doesn't mean they don't fail bright children. It is mixed ability after all. And it is the state system that in its entire design, structure and ideology does one job better than it does any other: averaging children out. If a bright child is on course to make the "standard" level of annual progress the teacher is failing in her job if she doesn't concentrate on the stragglers and help them reach the same standard level of progress. The stragglers is where the bulk of her attention should be.

That's just the way it is.

Averaging children out is the best long term solution to catering for a range of abilities and that's the unwritten goal of the system. Individual teachers may work hard with the brighter pupils in their class, but the gravitational pull to the centre is stronger than any other force in the system.

You sound like you're happy with your school and, to be fair, it does sound like one of the better schools. If you're happy with it then, as I said to cory, fantastic!

OP.

I've never heard of free education within the private system at such a young age. Even if you were lucky enough to be subsidised could you afford the horrendously expensive uniform, school dinners, trips etc.

The things you describe as marking your child out as G&T sound pretty unremarkable to me if I am honest. It appears to me as if she simply good at copying (words, sounds etc). Her further edcaution will depend on a lot more than this, motivation, being able to evaluate etc.

As others have said if she is so bright and if you encourage her to be motivated she'll be fine. Gievn your own experiences of being bright but choosing not to fulfil your potential, I'd be more worried about making sure that didn't happen to your dd rather than where she is educated.

I prefer the private education for my children, i think its important who the children have around them and the society today means more children are being led astray. My children arent the birghtest so they do need poofing up abit!