is private primary always better than state?

[tiredpooky]

Hello, am trying to gather info
if u can afford private is it better for your child?
our situation is that in our catchment are 2 faith schools and so DD is excluded as they are oversubscribed, so we have to look outside our catchment, so she wont get into a school seen as being good i think that means. so hard to know what a school is really like, i know there is ofsted and KS2 results, any other ways to know other than visit and get a 'feel' for it
I'm not keen on the costs of private (will need to tighten pursestrings elsewhere) or that DD wont mix with many strata of society.
The other consideration is shes quite bright and I wonder if she will be stretched/stimulated enough in mainstream
grateful for some thoughts on this

Not always but often. At the end of the day most independents have the luxury of selection (and easier expulsion) and smaller class sizes so more personal attention for each child. But you need to be sure the ethos is right for your child, be it sport, academia, pastoral care, etc. And if you can't afford it then I wouldn't look at the independent schools as there are obvious differences between a teacher teaching 30 children v a teacher teaching 13 children. My son got a place at an outstanding ofsted school this September but for the small class sizes and pastoral care (August birthday) he will be going to an independent prep which I think will suit him better. However I would say whatever school you choose make sure you visit on a normal school day, not just the open days.

Regarding the mixing though I think that's generally rubbish unless you're in a very affluent area (and then I'd argue you weren't mixing with all society anyway). The bursar at my son's future school summed up that the fees were a drop in the ocean for some parents whilst others would be working 3 jobs. Maybe more parents will care because of the money involved but I dont think anyone would choose the opposite situation anyway.

When i was at university, i had a part time job as a private tutor. I taught those from both the state and private sector and expected those in the private sector to be more advanced. However, this was not the case as in most cases the students were of similar ability. This was surprising particularly as one of the preps had fees of £9000 a year. This was one of the reasons why i decided that my dc would attend a state school. I am fortunate in that the state schools in my area are very good.

No. Indeed I would love to take my DD out of her independent for several reasons.

Firstly, I am concerned that the school does not have proper policies in place. On another thread I mentioned how one of my Dd's was the given the wrong dose of her sister's medicine by the school secretary so they have no medications policy for instance.

Secondly, I think that there is a danger that in some private schools (particularly the smaller ones), certain parents have more influence than others. In DD's school, some parents have the head's mobile number. I sometimes wonder if their offspring receive preferential treatment (eg prizes). Parents make donations to the school. I feel that there is a culture of favouritism.

It is also difficult to raise concerns about anything. I get the impression that the view is taken that if you don't like it you are free to go elsewhere and someone from the waiting list will take your place.

It is a difficult decision for me. DD loves her school. I don't. If I can persuade her to leave and if there is a place at the local state primary, there she will go.

You can, aliena - you're the mum!

I hope that works out aliena, sounds very worrying

No.

It is impossible to say that all private schools are better than state scools.
It is also impossible to say that all state schools are better than private schools.

You need to go and visit the schools and get a feeling for them. have look around, talk to teachers, pupils and staff. Then decide which is the best primary schoolf for you and your child.

No.

IME experience at DSs current Prep it is no better than a good Primary. The good local Primary is full though and you have to be a Catholic to get in. The other Primary is in special measures. Hence, we have to go private.

The answer is no
The question is somewhat dimwitted imo

Yes and no. We have the choice of an excellent faith school and an excellent independent school. The decision is based on where we think our dd (summer born, very shy, glue ear) would be well looked after and happy...

I would question what you mean by "better"....

Do you mean what they'll end up as (ie professionally) when they leave? If that's the case I'd say no.

If on the other hand you think that doesn't matter but what is important is that they end up happy, content, have good social skills, which I'd say was more important - whether that's by private or state educated - then its irrelevant.

Army family - seen a lot of both sectors (and not from a well heeled pov).

All schools vary. Sector and funding is far, far less important than attitude and ethos.

Excellence can be found in both sectors. As can places I wouldn't touch with a barge pole.

Look at individual schools, weigh up where you're likely go get in, and go for what will suit you DC and wider family ethos best.

I agree with emptyshell and aliena. There are many potential problems with private schools that you can be trapped by if you're not careful.

I have heard many stories of frankly shite teaching in private schools, with the bottom line being that if a child isn't getting the required grades, parents are simply told they need extra tutoring and to go sort it out. And they do.

A lot of what I've observed myself in some small private schools is extremely unimaginative teaching. Teachers in state schools have to work hard to inspire such a range of kids, keep them interested and deliver material in a way relevant to them all. The better ones spend huge amounts of time and effort thinking about what they do, analysing what works, developing ideas with colleagues etc. Working in state schools among switched on, committed teachers can be a truly inspiring experience.

I'm sure such teachers exist in private schools too, but the problem is that because the job is so much easier, they don't HAVE to apply such imagination to it. So there can be a certain amount of lazy delivery of predictable lesson formats, compounded by not having Ofsted etc. looking over the shoulder.

OTOH they have smaller class sizes, greater ability to create their own educational culture and ethos, and the ability to exclude unruly pupils - all of which can make up for these factors. Only you can say which is more important for your child or situation.

No. I once had a sad conversation with a man, a teacher, who had made great sacrifices to send his ds to private school and felt he had wasted his money. His ds was at university by then and the father felt the outcome would have been the same if he'd gone to state school but the whole family would have had a better quality of life - holidays abroad, fewer financial concerns etc. If the local primary is absolutely dire then you have to consider private schools, but private doesn't necessarily equal good. If your daughter is bright she'll be classed as gifted and talented in the state sector and will be stretched academically. Ask about the school's policy on g & t when you're looking round.