Small wobble about prep school

[Boofy1]

I'm a indy sector newbie - is it normal/acceptable in Prep World for both Head Boy and Head Girl to be the children of governors? Is that not a bit whiffy? There seems to be two class of 'customer' here:
Tier 1: kids of teaching staff and governors, the v rich and the v sporty.
Tier 2: everyone else.
I don't give a fig about being in Tier 2 and doubt DD does either, if she's even noticed at all, but I would like to know whether this is just the way prep schools are, to put my mind at rest.

(NB. DD is happy which of course is the main thing!)

Hmmm. I wouldn't know the answer to your first question. It could be favouritism or it could be that these children have parents who are particularly interested in education and really encourage them to get involved in the activities that make them stand out. Without knowing the people involved, it is hard to say. If their parents are joiner-inners, then it is quite possible that the kids will be too.

I do find your description of tier 1 and tier 2 kids quite disturbing though. I should hope that any good school will be able to find something for every child to shine at.

What year is your daughter in? It is good that she is happy.

Thanks, Cru - very good points. Hadn't thought of that. Confident joiner-inners must breed other little joiner-inners. Never thought of it like that.

Re tiers - I should've clarified - it's just how it seems to a newbie. Bit of a pecking order when it comes to stuff that just doesn't matter, like how much schmoozing the HT does with various parents, which photos the HT 'likes' on FB etc. I guess it's a business and the HT has to keep certain customers happy etc.

DD is only 6 and very happy. So I'm happy, overall. I'm just slightly non-plussed by the social mechanics of this shiny new world...

Most schools don't have governors who have children at the school. They are usually ex parents and others with a connection who add something

Head Girl and Boy at our prep are chosen on merit and in the past have included children of governors and chair of the PTA.

They are usually excellent all rounders and great with their peers - they are fabulous role models and it has nothing at all to do with their parents.

The HT LIKES photos on FB?

Bleeding heck, our HT would never be on FB befriending parents. In fact, one of the things I love about our ht is she never pays any real attention to the parents at all - despite quite a lot of 'Do you know who I am?' going on. For her, it's all about the children

That would worry me

Yes, the Head should not be on FB / Twitter in the way you describe.

I agree with pp, the choice of head and girl should have nothing to do with parents. If the children or governors genuinely are the strongest candidates then fair play. Generally by the time they reach the top of the school people tend to know characters well enough to know whether this is a selection based on merit or status. I would expect the school would recognise that eyebrows may be raised at 2 governors children being made heads of school and wouldn't appoint if they didn't genuinely believe they would be excellent in the role.

What do you mean the Head likes photos on FB???? Photos on people's personal pages or on the school FB page - either way, inappropriate. It would make me doubt the judgement of a HT in other areas if I was aware that was happening.

Apologies - I should have clarified (again). HT 'likes' some photos on the school's FB page. What is off-putting is that it isn't across the board - it's just some of them. And never my DD! Meh. (Ickle sour grapes moment...)

Atleast - exactly!!! I was just a bit surprised that the eyebrow-raising potential hadn't come into play. But as Zodlebud says, I'm sure they genuinely are excellent all-rounders.

Thanks for all of your responses. Really helped me through my "Is it just me...?" moment.

Tbh the nepotism at our state primary is almost famous! I'm surprised HT's and governors are not more subtle about it. How are the head boy and girl chosen? Maybe you should 'jokily' point out they are both governors kids and see what the response is?

I would be very concerned if I genuinely had the feeling that my child's school (public or private), operated with such blatant favouritism as to think children were tiered according to wealth, class etc.

I'm also using the private sector and have never had that feeling in either of the schools my son has attended or heard from other parents who have children in other private schools.....I don't believe it's something you should 'expect' from the private as for at all!