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.

mumeuro yes we have, we were recently offered a high bursary to a local prep,unfortunately it would have meant we would still have to make lots of big sacrifices which we didn't think fair on our other children.
We are still looking though....

Yes, to somewhere like a Montessori school with small classes and individual attention. Not a school where people are money-obsessed, materialistic and superior.

Yes, and I do. My DD is 10 and in Y5 and loves her school. We looked at a range of schools in both the state and independent sector and chose the school we liked best and which felt right at the time. We have not been disappointed so far.

DD will need to consider secondary school options soon. Again, we shall visit schools in both sectors and chose which feels right for DD at that time.

Imsosorryalan -that's a very different view to what I have seen in independent schools tbh. I work in a state primary and find the national curriculum much more restrictive. And in many state schools they teach to exams - SATS for one.

My experience of private school has shown me that although you get smaller class sizes, some very unprofessional stuff goes on that I don't believe would be so easy to get away with in a state school.

Private schools are not regulated by Ofsted beyond nursery years.

There do seem to be a disproportionate number of child sex abuse scandals emanating from private schools in comparison to their state counterparts, given how few children are privately educated. Or do only private school teachers get the publicity when this happens? Or is it a boarding school thing?

God no. I suppose if I lived in one of those Legendary Areas, the sort that all other MNers appear to live in, where the comps are dens of vice, guns and pregnancy, it might be an option. As I live in south-east London - and not a leafy bit of it, a rather beaten-up bit of it - where the schools are quite good enough for me though again not I'm sure good enough for most of you lot, I'll stick with state.

Yes and do.

I regret not sending my dd to a prefectly good state school near us. Now I can't move her because it's full.

perfectly*

perceptionreality - whilst they are not regulated by OFSTED they are still regularly inspected by the ISI and reports are published and available to read, etc.

Yes, I said only child just to state that there are no siblings to consider, cost or otherwise.

That is true Hulababy. My dd's school has its good and bad things. She's happy there and has nice friends. I get on with the other parents. What I don't like is that teachers will discuss private things about the children in front of other children and parents (more than once I've overheard a conversation which should not have been conducted in front of me). I've also seen a teacher bring her personal problems into the school and make the children aware of them.

That's not good. I can understand that being an issue.

Hah hah well reading this last week I'd probably have said no, if I had the money I'd rather take DS on nice holidays blah blah blah

But now I have discovered the extent of my town's lack of primary school places and how DS doesn't actually have a place in September, yes, the closeby private prep shool is seriously looking like a goer. So I need get back to that job application now....although I can't step away from The Mumsnet and my total immersion in the world of primary school education.

Haven't read all the posts but whilst I don't think you should have to send your children to private school for a good education I am going to send my DS to private school this year.

If I don't do it he'll got to a crap local school or we'd need to pay another £100k to move somewhere with good local schools.

No no no. Whilst private school may have many benefits - smaller classes for a start - in my opinion the child wouldn't have the chance to learn to get on with people from different walks of life, which is a very important skill to have whatever the future holds.

'the child wouldn't have the chance to learn to get on with people from different walks of life, which is a very important skill to have whatever the future holds.'

I totally agree with this.

Thierry - what iyo makes a 'crap school'? is it a bad ofsted report? I'm interested because I'll be applying for state school for dd3 when the time comes.

What I've also noticed where I live is that the state schools seem to have a community feel where the children all do local activities together and live near each other whereas at the private school a lot of kids live 20 minutes to 1 hour away.

Chaz-your school sounds exactly like the one I send my children to and I love it. I agree that some smaller independent schools can be lacking in many areas but I have chosen to send my 3 dc to private school and am lucky enough to (as far as we can predict), carry that through until the are 18.

The argument I don't fully understand is that if there were no private schools, state schools would improve due to the addition of families with money. Surely, in many areas, it would further reduce catchment areas and drive up house prices close to certain schools. So many of the friends we know that are sending their children to private, live in smaller houses than they would like and aren't having fancy holidays or driving flash cars. If they weren't paying school fees, they'd move out to the desirable villages and move their children into the village school. Most of our friends that do send their children to said village schools live in 400k+ houses and their children feel much more of a sense of 'privilege' in terms of material things. (my eldest is only eight so has no awareness of fees)

I don't think I'm being very clear and I fully realise that neither myself or my friends represent the national average but the reality is, if private schools were abolished, society would still split itself up.....

(if it's at all relevant, I was raised on a council estate, went to state catholic schools all the way, relied on my grant and part time jobs to get me through university and spent eight years as a primary school teacher in south London state schools)

I don't know what the answers are but am not convinced that abolishing private schools would help anyone)

Oh my, I went right off the original question then didn't I??

Yes.

Well i guess everyone has different experiences. Its not what you teach but how you teach it! Lots of practical activities esp within infant classes in state but sadly lots of " open your text book, read following comrehension and then answer the q's" in private schools. I was bored to tears never mind the children.

In a word no although ds goes to an independent specialist school funded by the LEA and the provision is second to none.
Dd attends the primary of my choice because her statement gave her priority as we aren't in catchment. Despite dd having 20 hours TA support per week she is described as exceptionally academically able and her school caters to her needs to the letter. I don't believe any independent school could do better and I'd have another fight to get LEA to fund her TA in an independent school.
I watched dsil bust a gut to put dn through independent school from three to 18 when he would have been far better off in mainstream with a statement tbh. A levels at grade D in PE and Geography seems a pretty poor return on your investment if you ask me.

Yes, we do, but I never thought we would to be honest!

DD started in the state system, but it let us down, so we took the very hard decision to move her and she is thriving, such a relief.

My part time job pays the fees. We are not wealthy, have a nice car and own home, but nothing flash. Otherhalf has own business, but works sooooooo hard at it, practically 7 days a week.

I am still angry that we have to pay for 'a good' education for dd. The school is great, a real mix of parents and kids has excellent results and reputation.

Yes, in a flash