A state school that is like/close to a private school

[HungryDam]

Hi,

Do you know of a state school that is like or similar to a private school? Maybe one that offers plenty of extra curricular activities like a debating society for example for a fee after school hours?

Thanks everyone!

Ideally the school would be academically outstanding, but more importantly it would be strict on manners and behaviour and have plenty of extra curricular activities that would help instil confidence and self esteem. Children would be encouraged to speak well have broad knowledge is subjects outside of the curriculum.

'to speak well'? That's quite a maverick idea

Maursh, thank you, that's the type of school I am looking for.

Arsenic, you have to hear the way kids speak around these ends

I'm not questioning the desirability of it as a goal, but I think it's probably 30 years or more since correcting diction or accent was seen as politically acceptable in state school teaching.

I think this is the info you need here, its a list of all state boarding schools, the tuition is free but you pay if they board there (although it can be paid for partly by working tax credit if you're eligible)

all state boarding in the uk

It's for things like that that a 'naice' social group/ intake becomes significant. And home influence, of course.

Home environment has bugger all influence on how they speak at school and with friends.

Who cares how they speak with their friends?

As long as they can pull it together for the vicar/an employer/ Great Aunt Maude.

You dont need to rely on school to provide extra curricular activities. Where we are the local rugby, football, hockey, tennis and swimming provide excellent clubs. The volunteers who run these clubs are very experienced and enthusiasm, giving the children encouragement and confidence.
As a parent you are able to get involved and not rely on schools to provide everything.

I

Yes but most parents would be mortified at the language and slang used by their naice well brought up children when they are out and about.

I live in an area with good state primaries and three public primaries in a 3 mile radius. Each of them, regardless of state or public, is different, each has a different approach and each has to be seen with the child in mind.

DD's Junior school is state, with 4 good state DH and I didn't even think twice about public. She has a variety of sport clubs after school, music and sport lunch clubs, 2 orchestras and is good on results.

They are keen on excellent behaviour, being independent and with lots of responsibilities, depending on the age group. They are just recently being praised by Osted for politeness and behaviour.

Saying all this, apart from lunch clubs all of DD's extra curriculum activities are outside school. Why? Because it fits our life better.

A recent assembly was about the Ukraine conflict - does this count for you towards "knowledge about subjects outside the curriculum"?

I am not sure what you are trying to achieve. A lot of points you raise if for me parenting, not education provided by the school. Yes, I don't want a run-down sink estate next to the school but for me school is not the only point where a child learns.

You mean you don't want your children to mix with riff raff, but don't want to pay for the privilege? Because that's what it sounds like. I assume you will be moving to somewhere safely within catchment for said mythical school, in which case, private might actually be cheaper for primary.

Noramum, that sounds great! If the school your children go to is in London, could you please PM me the name. Thanks

Noramum, by public primary, do you mean private primary? Very few independent schools come under the term 'public school'. (8 or so?) In fact I'm not sure the term refers to anything pre 13 at all though I may be wrong on that.

HungryDam, what Noramum describes in terms of her state primary is quite common in good/outstanding graded primaries in affluent areas around the country. I am not in London but 6 of my 8 nearest primaries are graded outstanding. I also have a large choice if independent schools on my doorstep. Parents here either pay for school and gave all those clubs included or they top school up with them early eve or sat mornings. Kids here go off to cricket, rugby, climbing, horse riding etc. there is also local lamda classes which would prepare your child massively for debating at secondary school. My ds2 goes and loves reciting poetry and favourite passages from books. They also do persuasive speaking classes. You find schools like that all over the country but you'll pay for catchment. And catchments will be very tight.

Our state school is very naice and middle class, v high standards academically and behaviour wise, offers clubs and after school childcare (don't they all?). However it's not at all like my private school was. Sorry I can't help OP.

I think OP just wants a naice school with posh kids, middle class parents who shop at Waitrose and don't mix with council estate ruffians

In which case drive around all the smart areas, use the Waitrose store guide list if you're not sure, and hang around the state schools at pick up time, taking a note of types of cars, and if possible the kids' names.

Job done

Torwood - sorry, I am not English and learned that "public" schools are "private schools" aka fee paying ones.

I agree with you, our school is not special in our area. The only real difference is that all are non-religious but in our borough nearly all primaries or Infant/Junior combinations are similar and offer the same from Junior age onwards.

Titchy - there are 4 Waitroses in our borough :-).

What you want is a GREAT school.
There are private schools which are academically high achieving, teach manners and have a wide range of extra curricular. There are private schools that fail at all these things.

There are state schools with academically high achieving kids,which teach manners and have a wide range of extra curricular activities. Other are state schools that fail at all of these things.

So don't think Private=great! because it doesn't.

There are state schools where the average income/value of house far exceeds that of private schools elsewhere.

You need to decide what you value most and look for schools that offer that. Of course, many other people may well value those things too, so such schools are likely to be very popular. They will have some similar features to some private school and also some different ones too.

Move to Teddington/Twickenham/Richmond

All the state primaries are as you describe

Probably cheaper to pay school fees than buy a house though!

All the state primaries are as you describe

No, they aren't! We're very fortunate to have good schools in that area but they are nothing like private schools.

Farnham Junior School

I went for an interview there years ago when I was training to be a teacher. My jaw was on the floor.

check out St John's CofE in Fulham

If you want small class sizes then free schools may be your thing

Almost all free schools are set up on a 1 to 30 basis. after set up they receive the same funding as any academy and cant viably run with independent school size classes.