Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

State school outperforming Independent school students at Uni

217 replies

LippyPongStocking · 26/04/2023 09:08

So this is old news- research from Cambridge in 2015:

https://www.cambridgeassessment.org.uk/news/state-school-pupils-do-better-at-university-cambridge-assessment-research-confirms/

Has this trend continued? And now are recruiters finding that state school students make better employees, as the workplace is more reflective of of a state school environment (as the independent school child is used to far more support and handholding)?

State school pupils do better at university, Cambridge Assessment research confirms

https://www.cambridgeassessment.org.uk/news/state-school-pupils-do-better-at-university-cambridge-assessment-research-confirms/

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
TheaBrandt · 28/04/2023 22:31

Dh and I both went to bog standard comps ended up at Oxbridge and big city law firm. Smoke and mirrors. Waste of money.

VincentVaguer · 28/04/2023 22:32

TheaBrandt · 28/04/2023 22:31

Dh and I both went to bog standard comps ended up at Oxbridge and big city law firm. Smoke and mirrors. Waste of money.

You must have been unusual then. Our local comp hasn't got anyone into Oxbridge for years.

TheaBrandt · 28/04/2023 22:33

Nah. Waste of money.

VincentVaguer · 28/04/2023 22:35

TheaBrandt · 28/04/2023 22:33

Nah. Waste of money.

Yeah, you said. I guess it depends if you can afford it.

TheaBrandt · 28/04/2023 22:37

Could. But didn’t. Waste of money.

ThePossibilitiesAreEndless · 28/04/2023 22:38

VincentVaguer · 28/04/2023 22:24

So what part of "I'm paying for a normal decent education. The state school doesn't provide this" did you not understand? I think it's pretty straightforward.

Show quote history

How rude. I hope your children picked up some manners at their school that were clearly lacking at home.

TheaBrandt · 28/04/2023 22:41

Honestly if your children are at state and are hard working with supportive parents they will excel - don’t let the private school marketing bring you down - don’t doubt yourself or them xx

VincentVaguer · 28/04/2023 22:48

TheaBrandt · 28/04/2023 22:41

Honestly if your children are at state and are hard working with supportive parents they will excel - don’t let the private school marketing bring you down - don’t doubt yourself or them xx

Well this assumes that teaching at state is irrelevant, so, no. If you are saying your dcs went to a state school full of behavioural problems where noone had gone to Oxbridge for the last 7 years and yet yours excelled and got into Oxbridge anyway due to your fantastic teaching at home, then good for you.

VincentVaguer · 28/04/2023 22:49

ThePossibilitiesAreEndless · 28/04/2023 22:38

How rude. I hope your children picked up some manners at their school that were clearly lacking at home.

Show quote history

Well, they certainly learnt to read.

TheaBrandt · 28/04/2023 22:56

You just want to tell yourself that state schools are failing so you can justify your massive outlay. I don’t do any home schooling thanks. Dh and I excelled at our different bog standard comps. Our older dd got all 9s at our local school. So what are you paying for? Better sports maybe? That can be sourced out of school.

VincentVaguer · 28/04/2023 22:58

TheaBrandt · 28/04/2023 22:56

You just want to tell yourself that state schools are failing so you can justify your massive outlay. I don’t do any home schooling thanks. Dh and I excelled at our different bog standard comps. Our older dd got all 9s at our local school. So what are you paying for? Better sports maybe? That can be sourced out of school.

My local state school IS failing. It's really crap. No way in hell would my kids have gone there. Luckily they didn't have to. Perhaps it will get some investment in the next few years (unlikely).

VincentVaguer · 28/04/2023 23:01

And my dcs have done brilliantly, and are happy and well-adjusted. I guess we all do the best for our kids if we can.

TheaBrandt · 28/04/2023 23:02

That’s a shame. But most state schools are fine. Don’t tar all with the same brush. Most children go to state and achieve very well. And learn to get on with all not in a bubble. That said my own teen dd socialises with the private school jet set but what can you do,

VincentVaguer · 28/04/2023 23:04

TheaBrandt · 28/04/2023 23:02

That’s a shame. But most state schools are fine. Don’t tar all with the same brush. Most children go to state and achieve very well. And learn to get on with all not in a bubble. That said my own teen dd socialises with the private school jet set but what can you do,

Sorry? I mustn't tar all state schools with the same brush (I didn't), but you can say all private schools are a waste of money (they arent)?

VincentVaguer · 28/04/2023 23:05

That said my own teen dd socialises with the private school jet set but what can you do

Cringe.

ThePossibilitiesAreEndless · 28/04/2023 23:06

VincentVaguer · 28/04/2023 22:35

Yeah, you said. I guess it depends if you can afford it.

Show quote history

Ew. Cringe.

Minutewaltz · 28/04/2023 23:07

That said my own teen dd socialises with the private school jet set but what can you do,

Do you tell these private school children that their parents are wasting their money as you’ve told posters on this this thread numerous times?

TheaBrandt · 28/04/2023 23:08

You state your local school is “crap”. Did your children ever actually attend there? My school was seen by some as “crap” but there were some excellent teachers and able children could achieve. Sorry but I resent snobbery

TheaBrandt · 28/04/2023 23:09

no none of my business each to their own.

TheaBrandt · 28/04/2023 23:12

Can’t control who my teen socialises with as long as they are decent families - which they are. Just bristle at state schools being described as “crap”.

VincentVaguer · 28/04/2023 23:13

TheaBrandt · 28/04/2023 23:09

no none of my business each to their own.

Ha ha classic. Those private school parents are fine if their kids are entertaining your kids !

Pecorygreg · 28/04/2023 23:14

Our local academy school is good so you'd not bother with independent here. They get a handful to Oxbridge, a fair few medics, vets and lawyers. The quality of teaching is mixed. But usually those in higher sets get good teachers. Behaviour wise, there are no issues. But not every comp is like that.

VincentVaguer · 28/04/2023 23:15

TheaBrandt · 28/04/2023 23:12

Can’t control who my teen socialises with as long as they are decent families - which they are. Just bristle at state schools being described as “crap”.

Well, those parents have clearly decided the school your kids go to isn't what they want for their own dcs. If you know that in rl then I'm surprised you need affirmation on the internet.

TheaBrandt · 28/04/2023 23:15

Yeah As I entertain their kids?! Weirdo. Makeszero difference the kids are all the same.

Satsumastocking · 28/04/2023 23:16

I came from a middlingly deprived background (homeless single parent family, abuse, bereavements, not enough to eat), got a scholarship to a private school, went to Oxbridge... then got what I now realise was ptsd and burnout and was on sickness benefits for a decade.

I think background catches up on you unless you have the support networks or other factors to balance things out.