When people say they go private to avoid the National Curriculum what do they mean exactly?

[therightcompany]

Is it the SATs, all the levelling? Or what is actually taught and what isn't?

I think seeker was asking why such a low result

I think mrz hit the nail on the head with:

"There is nothing there that can't be found in some state schools"

My added emphasis, as it also means that those activities beyond the NC are not found in most. If most schools provided those such areas, and if all schools saw the NC as the minimum, rather than the blueprint, then perhaps fewer parents would shun state provided education.

I also think that if more people realised tha the nattionql curriculum is a minimum they would see what a good idea it is and not go on about how awful it is.....

'I asked about SATs and was told that they did not follow the NC. But as they had finished the 11+ they gave the boys a paper just as an additional thing to do. All the boys scored the max mark!'

butheneverdid In my area, the prep schools are allowed to practise for the 11+ ad infinitum and advertise their amazing pass rates on their web-sites.

Call me an old cynic, but in an 11+ area, I very much doubt if the children were given these papers to solve 'as an additional thing to do' on the spur of the moment. 11+ passes are bread and butter to these schools.