Is private school really worth it?

[milliec]

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no - never worth it

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To be honest with you a good private school makes an enormous difference.

You have to think about the cost to you and your DH though. It might only be £7 or £8k a year now, but it is terribly hard to move them later on. In the sixth form it is something like £11k or £12k around us, and that is quite a big commitment especially as we have 2 DCs.

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private school isn't inevitably going to be the very best for your DD as an individual though, different types of schools suit different children. have you been to visit the other local primaries, or are you just going on word of mouth? indeed have you visited any of the private schools?

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Riven - my two went to private school at 3. Now they are 7/8 and 9/10. Their class sizes are around 18, all of them above average in terms of ability, their reading ages are years and years ahead of their chronological ages, they are confident and caring, their music is good, their sports stuff is first rate. Yes it makes a huge difference. It's not fair, I know and acknowledge that, but it does make a difference.

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mmm - I am never very good at working this out, but if she is 4 oct 2009, won't she go to school the year after?

Is she 2 now?

You have plenty of time - have you actually looked at the other state primaries? What are your reasons ofr not liking them?

Anyway, if you can afford it, applying to state and private simultaneously seems a very common strategy for many parents.

And of course the answer to your q is 'depends on the schools, depends on the child'. I went to a private primary school and a 'direct grant' secondary (half private, half selective scholarships paid by the state). My brother and sister were both educated in state education throughout - one at a grammar, one at a dubious comp. We all have degrees, my grammar school brother has a phd, we all earn about the same money, and have similiar outlook in life. My private ed just meant my freinds lived further away.

Actually I wonder if part of this is a sahm/wohm thing? Because yes I think it is partly down to the child but it is also down to the parents too.

Now cod and riven, correct me if I am wrong, but neither of you sound as though you worked through your children's early years? That can make a huge difference.

TO do all the music and sports stuff from a state school means there must have been a substantial amount of parental (maternal?) involvement, because mostly state schools just don't do the extracurricular stuff to any level.

Ditto reading (although I simply don't believe that class sizes of around 18 of above average ability are the norm in state schools, sorry Cod).

So I think if you have time to do lots and lots of parental input, then a state school is fine. It's us working mums who need to make up for being away from home, perhaps.

My nephew had a dreadful time at private school. He has undiagnosed (at the time) dispraxia which his school labelled as bad behaviour. The teacher said that all he needed was a good smack

By the time he left the school (pre-prep) he was miserable and his self-esteem was shot to pieces. The new state school he is now at spotted his disability straight away, sent him for assessment and he now has all the support he needs and, more importantly, is a much happier child.

So no, it isn't always better. Depends on the child, depends on the school. And this young? I wouldn't bother tbh

It depends entirely on the schools in question.
tbh you can only ever comment if you know the school personally.
I have two at private school and 1 in a state school and they are absoloutely all at the best school close to our home for their particular needs.
As cost is not an issue for you and as you have no moral issues around paying for education then go and look at the schools and chose the best one. End of.

DS's school is what, on paper, would apparantly be many parents idea of a nightmare - very high ratio of free dinners, very high number of ESOL and refugee children, ditto SEN. The majority of the children are.... black. It has just been classed as a 'outstanding' school by Ofsted, gets results above the national average, has a high value added score, and although class nubers are high - 30 - which is something I would like about private ed, there is a teacher and two TA's in every class (as well as a special room for those who need extra support or extra challenge) which means that workgroups can work at their own level.
Ofsted said it was the school with the highest number of returned parents questionnaires thay had come across, and the one wher the highest number of parents said their children were happy and learning well.

I wish they did more theatre trips, etc - but they do Spanish and from Yr 3 can learn musical instruments and have a wide range of clubs. I wish there were more after - school clubs, but i take DS to the theatre at w/e and it's much cheaper than paying fro private school.

Do you need the after-school clubs and activities that private school offers?

And for the avoidance of doubt, my tongue was far enough in my cheek for the 'black' comment that I was practically gagging.

But honestly, I have had so many mc white parents allude to the racial mix of a school as something to be inherently concerned about.

why thanks fio!

I am nearly 115 and never been called a wnaker before

Blu - the school DS's school is going to is very similar - except it was virtually all......WHITE - my mum was quite horrified by this when she came to drop him off, she's used to multicultural Manchester

don't forget the "pishy" parent Pagwatch. Riven - even your typos have attitude today

Blu, I am very very concerned about the racial mix in a school.

See rahnd my way, the local state primary is exclusively white working class whilst the local private school is properly racially mixed...

Fio, I try not to wnak, but sometimes I can't help myself ...