Private schools?

[lisad123]

WE are looking into private school for DD1 as the school arent able to support her current learning levels with such high numbers and different levels of learning. We are hoping to get a scolarship, due to her "brightness".
She is only 5years old and not been offically tested, but school have been going on and on about her brightness, top of her class ect. Will we have to get her IQ tested first? will they do theiur own testing?
Any help would be great.
I know I should be here as she isnt labeled G&T but didnt know who else to turn to.

Would also add that stretching a child sidewise (excellent description!) isn't just something an extra good school can do; it's also something you can do as a parent. Not all valuable extra-curricular activities cost a lot of money; you can have your own private reading club, film club, cookery club, drama club or even small orchestra (if you are at all musical) at home. My parents taught me extra languages, lots of parents are qualified to teach useful diy skills or crafts, my brother is teaching his 10yo the art of composition, I am teaching dcs to bake cakes, my Dad took his youngest along and enrolled on a course of silversmithery.

I also don't think we should underestimate a gifted child's ability to stretch themselves; I sometimes feel this is something that gets forgotten about these days. We tend to only value activities if they are booked and planned for, something we give our children, forgetting that the most valuable things are always going to be the ones they give themselves. Many gifted children are also creative.

I agree there are ample opportunities to stretch children sideways, particularly at primary level (whilst they are probably more open to parent input and suggestions)

E.g. our local silver prize band offers free tuition, music and instruments (Cornet, Tenor Horn, Baritone, Euphonium, Trombone, Bass, Percussion) to children of all ages and abilities.

There is a netball club at a local sports centre - cost £2 for 1.5 hours good coaching and playing (this has really helped DD to improve her sport, even though she's at a school where sport is done regularly)

There are a number of hockey clubs which are quite reasonably priced. They are mostly populated by private school children who are introduced to the sport at school but they are a great opportunity to get ahead in the sport early

We also have judo - £2.50 for 1.5 hours.

And a dance school which charges by the lesson not the term and carries forward if you miss one and yet still has a very high standard (run by someone who grew up in a very poor area and still wants to ensure dance & theatrecraft is accessible to as many people as possible).

I would advise anyone who is wavering on whether they can really afford private ed 3-18 to skip primary, use some of the money for extra-curricular and save the rest towards senior fees.

JMO!

Lots of out of school private tuition/ activities available in the community and a lot cheaper than private schools. There is also the library.

thanks for the great advice. Tanisha already does load out of school Ballet, swimming and we do a lot of art, but mainly because me and hubby both like art.
I used to work with Special needs kids but used to do load of activities with them, and often use those with Tanisha at home too.

My friends school doesnt do top of class ect either, and was a little surprsied that they divide them into groups due to work levels, so early.
I know private doesnt mean better, I guess I would like her to have the education i never had, but then dont we all

My ds2 has been on the gifted and talented lists through out his education and still is at 6th form. We never considered private schools for him and he has done very well in state education. Rich doesn't necessarily mean academically gifted you know.

I should add that he didn't start at the top of the class in reception either.

That's all right then - I don't mind differentiated work! I thought you meant there was a class order list like we had at my hideous private secondary school. They used to read out the class lists in assembly - first right down to last. But that's nuns for you!

My ds spent his reception year in a state school, they split his class into ability, he was also moved to the next year for literacy, he could read very well but couldn't write . It was an odd choice but I had no say in this, it was done without consulting me. Be aware though that there are children who start school who can not read, write or recognise numbers because they have not been taught. Not all children start reception on an even footing so it would be unfair to say that some of them are the top of the class.

Do not agree with abouteve - year 7 is too late - if they are bored they have already switched off by then.
DS1 has been bored at his state school, and we have taken the plunge to move him to independent (Y5) and he is flourishing so much - SOAKING up all the new stuff open to him, that we regret not having done so sooner. (Heis he is doing Saturday lessons there to catch up with what he has not been taught in prep for next term - loving it)
Do ask around local schools that have a good reputation - there is help available that they do not advertise because they would be deluged. A friend's son was offered a 25% scolarship at a school where they say in the prospectus that they do NOT offer scholarshhips, only bursaries. He did not qualkify for a burasry, but they wanted him badly, so they were able to offer it exceptionnally- and he is now thriving.