How to help children feel that state isn't second best

[FlimFlamMam]

Hi,
any advice welcome I have twins in y6. A significant minority of children at my children's primary are going to private secondary schools. We can't afford to send our two but they are acutely aware that some of their friends are going private and there has been lots of talk about how much better private schools are, nicer facilities, better results, smaller classes. How can I make them feel ok about the education that they'll be getting at the local comprehensive? Thanks.

And their bloody charitable status ...

Going back to the original post. We had similar issues with DD. A lot of parents (and their children) started being outright horrible because we choose to send DD to our local secondary school. It had a shady reputation in the past, but huge improvements have been made. We live in a very poor area, high unemployment, with all the stigma attached. A lot of parents did apply for schools further afield, something we could not do due to finances/ not being able to drop off...
Anyway, I reassured DD that every school has good/ bad points and that in the end, the school is only as good as the pupil attending!
2years down the line, best decision we have made! DD has a lovely group of friends, doing well academically and 3 of her old class mates have joined her... travelling 10miles + or £900 for a year's bus ticket is not always achievable!

Moominmammacat - I'm with you. Where I live, the selective state schools are far harder to get into than any of the private schools, which are recognised to be inferior, albeit with fancy facilities.

Some private schools are better than some state schools & vice versa.

DS goes to a private school. It is far, far better than our local state school, but then again so are most other state schools in the country! His private school doesn't meet his needs in the same way as another nearby state school would but he can't get a place there.

There is absolutely no need for your Dt's to feel inferior.