'Why I send my child to a private school' Guardian piece...

[PollyParanoia]

Is there no thread on it? Surely there must be.
www.guardian.co.uk/education/2012/jul/23/why-send-child-to-private-school here
It's just so badly written with lots of fatuous unsupported statements. She's been so suckered by that clever thing that private nurseries do to encourage parents to sign up until 11. Our local one makes the nursery children buy and wear the uniform in the pre-reception year. Especially if the uniform has an expensive boater as hers does (I always notice that the most prestigious schools around us have the least pretentious uniform).
And as for 'Katy's exceeding national expectations', well, a good section of children in a state school will do the same, doh, as you'd know if you really were an educational expert.
And that bit about how lots of children would thrive in a non-academic environment/technical school. But not her child of course.
Oh and she lives in Kent so I think we know the answer to her point about her going private if she's not happy with the secondary school provision.

Agree Rabbit.

dd wears her hat from the car into school, a walk of approximately 500 yds. We hate the thing, but it isn't a deal breaker!

Having said that, I was attracted to a school because they had 'nice' tartan kilts School was pretty bad though

I don't object to hats. In the article, that's the thing that stood out to me the most. I would also understand if her child went to school in that uniform in a hot country for example. I wonder what happened to her child's hat last week when it was pouring down with rain? Maybe the other parents were smirking at the ridiculousness of it all.

Sili She wouldn't have had her hat on last week, most of the private schools had already broken up!!

Silibili, no I wouldn't - not for Secondary education, not if I could help it. But the dds primary IS a London inner city, its just not a bad one!

I've already said I anticipate wrangling with this issue (right at start of thread) for Secondary, unless things improve a bit locally....I mostly just take issue with the article mentioned in the OP.

But I stand by my choice of bigger class sizes

Me too eli. I object to this pointless article. No wonder it did not get picked up on mumsnet the first time.
I don't have kids at school currently so apologies if I am out of touch with term times!
Hehehe how silly of me to not know when private schools break up for summer. Haw haw haw.

Oh dear.

Sorry, bit flippant, but I think this thread was ready for it!!!

Cor what have I done to you Paddling? I've tried to address the specifics of the article rather than slag off either sector. Like I say, I'm not virulently anti private. I am pretty anti people who use private and slag off state though, especially without experiencing it.

How many here have slagged off state schools? Sillibilli is doing her best to belittle private schools with her 'haw haw haw and 'smirking.'
It's all a little childish in my opinion.

I think the heat is really getting to a lot of us today. Maybe those hats are needed today!

My dd wears a straw boater in summer and a felt hat in winter. She doesn't look silly or ridiculous she looks .

The state school she was in was failing her massively which is why she moved to private.

I have found reverse snobbery (for want of a better term) a lot like this among my peers. I haven't given a reason why she left state school as do not want to run it down, have not shouted from the rooftops about her going private. However I have had a lot of comments about her uniform, how bright children do well in whatever setting they are in. Yawn.

Interestingly do not hear the mums at the private school run down the state schools or their uniforms, results.

Shit article but why get so het up about someone paying for their child's education? Because it offends you and should be dirty secret?

Some people need to get a grip.

*she looks smart

5 year olds need practical, easily washable clothes - I hate seeing the poor little things having to wear hats and blazers. Why on earth do they need a hat unless it is a washable sun hat for the odd day it is needed?

I know Poodlepower, can't understand it myself. When I told one of DS1's friend's mum that we were him to private school she said good on you but be careful who you tell, some people take it quite badly. That really scared/puzzled me.

Their dresses and cardigans just go in the washing machine like state primary uniforms!

Maybe the private school haters are jealous?! I have no problem with private schools or state. As someone said, sometimes there is reverse snobbery and sometimes the private school people have a chip on their shoulder. One should not have to explain in detail ones very legitimate choices in life.

I have absolutely nothing against private schools just blazers for tots and hats for anyone. They can't get away with hats for 15 yr olds anymore but the poor 5 yr olds don't have a voice. Added to that parents think they look 'sweet'. I suppose the only saving grace is that the hats are only for a limited period. Blazers are fine from 11 yrs onwards. You would hope that the 5 yr old gets a cheap, washable blazer, but I doubt it.

I wore a hat at my state school - we all loathed them and they went eventually but too late for me.

They don't get dirty as they have "play clothes" .

Don't state school children wear sun hats or winter hats.

My dd doesn't mind, never has, she thinks those legionnaires hats she used to have to wear at primary were much worse.

Seems to be people on here that mind, not the children wearing them!

There are many state schools where poor little 4 yr olds have to wear ties! Why?

She won't like them as a teenager.

The uniforms I suppose are another way to distinguish the wheat from the chaff if they are not practical.
Ties also on tiny tiny kids look silly.
Some of the uniforms are so outdated. Poor kids!

They only get away with fashions of 1930s because the DCs don't have a say and are too young to know better.

Adult women wouldn't go back to the days where you had to wear a hat to leave the house.

Oh dear.

What I object to is the journalist saying, 'when i walks down the street with dd in her blazer and straw hat [sic] I feel other parents are judging me'. Get a life! No kne really cares. Of the are looking at your dd is probably because is either looks ridiculous in that uniform or cute. Don't have a chip on your shoulder. Don't get bitter about having to spend money for education when others may not be. As a journalist, write a better article and open up a proper debate re. The state of our education system. Don't have a pic of ur daughter in said uniform for all to 'judge'.
Fool!!
Sorry posters, I need to go take a dip in the cool paddling pool!