If you had the money would you send your only child to private school?

[lostboysfallin]

Assuming that they generally have better facilities, more resources, smaller classes.

In response to the origional question: no.

But I do feel lucky to have twoo exceptional state secondary schools nearby.

Actually, I am having deja vu. In a minute somebody is going to say "only people who have outstanding state schools on their doorsteps ever support state schools" and I'm going to say "Not me" and somebody is going to say "but your children go to grammar school" and I'm going to say "Only one of them- the other one is going to a school that most mumsnetters would draw their skirts away with a moue ( love that word) of disgust " then somebody else will call me a hypocrite. then somebody else will call me an irresponsible parent for not going private.....Where's Nicholas Parsons when you need him?

OP - we did/do.

DS's prep doesn't have better facilities than some of the local state schools, but it has a great atmosphere, he is pushed to do his best in everything and he is thriving.

We are not wealthy in comparison to some families, but this has never had an adverse effect on either him or us.

:o seeker, it's like Groundhog day sometimes on these threads...

My nearest primary was in the paper last summer as one with the highest number of languages spoken by the children. I didn't put it on my applications for reception as the vibe there was overly religious which I categorically oppose (ooh there's a whole other thread there :o), so he's going to the next nearest which is where he goes to nursery.

But seeker, the audience did enjoy your interruption....

I don't mean deja vu, do I- I mean second sight!

Shall we just renact the religion in schools thread in 60 seconds to save time?

I think maybe my DCs small independent is somewhere in the middle. There are 2 classes of 16 each year and it increases at juniors, at 9 yrs then at secondary. Some years the classes are smaller than others as there can be some movement due to military families but the children there seem really happy, it achieves well and offers lots of after school clubs, music lessons, sports and loads more.

I hope I have made the right decision as there are other much bigger private schools in the area that are very good, I just liked the family feel, the small classes and the discipline/work ethic. It is early days for us so can't really say too much as yet.

Time will tell!

I'm going to give a short lecture on education which must be entirely false save for five facts which I must attempt to smuggle past the audience.....

Regarding independents...Really don't worry about backgrounds and bank accounts...in my experience it didn't matter a jot that we lived in a bad area and robbed banks for a living.. as long as the kids worked hard and we occasionally gave a bottle of blue nun to the Christmas fair, everyone was happy.

lou2321 I think 2 classes of 16 is big enough. I think it can be an issue when you get a class of 8 -10 especially is you have 3 girls and 5 boys or vice versa. Its too easier for cliques to develop.

If all the schools in the area offer you the chance to get into the senior school you want then it makes sense to pick the one you feel most comfortable with and which you think suits your children well.

Haven't read the other posts, but my answer would be, not necessarily. It would really depend on what the local schools were like - I certainly wouldn't be willing to have a colossal journey each day to get my child into a decent private school if there was a nearer, good state alternative nearby; I wouldn't be willing to send my child to boarding school from a very young age; I wouldn't be willing to move from a perfectly lovely home in an area I loved and had lots of friends to somewhere else just to be near a good private school if there was a perfectly good state school nearby; and just because I could afford it, it wouldn't necessarily mean I would feel it was that worthwhile affording it if the result was less money saved for other important reasons (eg contingency funds, living longer than expected post-retirement, helping my child further down the line in other ways that might advantage him more). Basically, it would depend on my child and his actual needs, the degree of my boundless wealth, and my views at the time on the quality of the actual schools genuinely available to me (rather than my fantasy schools in la-la land, where there is always an excellent and affordable private school nearby and a range of dodgy state alternatives).

Chazs Thank you. They should automatically go into secondary at this school (as long as they are willing to work hard and behave basically) but like you say we would consider all options if it turns out not to be right for them.

Yes, because I live in an area with the worst secondary education in the country.

Yes if we can afford it, but not by going without. I was in a private school in New Zealand so not sure how it is here. But you do need to have the bags, the clothes, the holidays and the house to fit in.

Oh but I was in a private school for the last 2 years of school. So that could be the height of competitiveness.

@ bunbaker - which area is that, just out of interest and if you don't mind telling?

I'm not entering the state/ private debate but why does it make any difference whether it is an only child or not?

I'm not entering the state/ private debate but why does it make any difference whether it is an only child or not?

I think it just reduces some of the possible complexities which can exist when there's more than one child with different aptitudes or not enough dosh to send them all private.

No, as a state primary school, i couldnt bring mayself to. (am a bit surprised other primary teachers would)
I have worked in a few private schools on supply and although i am generalising, all the ones i worked in, pandered so much to parents and acedemia, there was no room for creativity and choice. All the children there thought school was boring. I much prefer our national curriculum to 'teaching for exams'

Sorry, as a primary state school TEACHER

No ,never in a million years.

Imsosorryalan - yes, that is a huge generalisation!! Our prep school does not teach the NC because it is TOO restrictive and I can assure you all my kids LOVE going to school! There is no teaching for exams as we don't do SATS !?
Although I do agree with an earlier post that there is a certain amount of pandering to the parents as if they are not happy they will take their 'business' elsewhere. However, this only happens to a small extent (in our school) - can't speak for every prep/private. Ultimately, I think there are good/bad in both sector and the view as to which category they fall in will not necessarily be shared by all parents .... as we all have different priorities and different ways of bringing up our brood.

Without hesitation for secondary. Primary in a good state school with plenty of paid-for extra-curricular probably OK.

No, wouldn't consider it for a second. Am idealogically opposed, and am always as to how many MNer are in favour of sending their DCs private.