How to know whether state or private is best for DD

[Honeyandginger]

Help! This may be a non - issue after assessments, but we've applied to 2 private primary schools for our DD (reception 2020). Both are small (single class intake, buildings are converted houses) in NW London. Both excellent academically and seem caring, but resources not visibly vastly better than our local state school. Our local state school (prob in catchment) is 3 form entry, Ofsted outstanding with v.good results (though not as good as the private schools). DH and I were raised solidly working class but are now in a position where we could make private work, with sacrifices. Our DD is fairly sensitive+ I think will be studious; she's bright but I wouldn't claim she's a genius. Please chip in with factors we should weigh up when deciding where to choose, if we're lucky enough to be in that position. Thank you :)

m.youtube.com/watch?v=95Z7VZPZnxw

I've found a video for Cottesmore. That building is stunning!

Ah fair enough. I live in central London and don’t know any schools near enough to me with the sort of space you describe (state or private).

NW London could mean central or it could mean right out.

I would move to Dorset! No hassle over school places there it seems.

I know so many parents who were frazzled by y8 being full of prep for CE and waiting for scholarship results. This was not London and DC were prepped for the most well known academic schools. I too knew where my DD was going and that’s so much easier. Others aimed a lot higher!

We don’t know all that much about the OP. It may be that moving to Dorset (or somewhere like that) isn’t an option.

I do see what you’re saying about facilities but a school is so much more than facilities. If the OP is in Camden / Hampstead / St John’s Wood / Kentish Town then schools with enormous playing fields (state or private) won’t be available. The OP mentioned assessments, which makes me think that she is reasonably central. Having said that, I do know of a few schools who do Games in Regents Park.

It’s worth deciding what you think of the Head, were you impressed with the children that you met, do they make good use of the space and facilities that they have and are you happy with the leavers’ destinations. If you don’t come out of the open afternoon singing then it isn’t the right choice.

My Dorset comment was totally tongue in cheek!

frazzled by y8 being full of prep for CE and waiting for scholarship results

This is pretty outdated as things in the 13-18 sector have swayed strongly towards Y6 pre-testing with unconditionals available at that point. CE is on it's way out.

Happy to give some advice if you give the names of the schools as I know the area quite well

So y6 just becomes pressurised! Scholarship streams are still there for a reason though!

I would not consider a school with one form entry (I went to a state village school with 13, including me, in the whole year!!).

Small schools are very limiting socially, and you don't get to choose friends, rather you have to make it work regardless. If it's primary, after seven years of the same people, they will be sick of them!

Larger primary schools have more sports teams (in my school there wasn't enough of us to do sports teams!). Also, larger schools are more likely to have a successful PTA/parent forum etc as you need a large group to get a few volunteers.

Large schools have a greater variety of parents and skills. In my daughter's primary (3 form entry; 500 in the whole school) one parent had the skills to write the school song; one parent is a professional theatre manager who volunteered to help with the school production; one parent is a carpenter who made a replica of the Titanic! I could go on, but more children means more parents with different skills.

DDs school has breakfast and after-school club. The single form primary down the road doesn't as they are too small for it to be viable.

At primary, I do think large is best! More funding, more resources, more teachers with varying experience and more potential friends 😀

The only thing I would add is that it's great to have lots of local friends if you go state. We're not in London but the catchment areas for local state primaries are very small and that means friends are literally around the corner. Also useful for emergencies!

I always feel slightly sorry for the child down our road who is driven to the local private school past all the children walking to state.

So y6 just becomes pressurised! Scholarship streams are still there for a reason though!

I don't disagree with you that the attitudes you describe are prevalent in areas of the South East @BubblesBuddy. It is one of the numerous reasons we moved away. However, it really isn't like that out in rural areas where there are plenty of school places to go around. There will be no pressure on my DS, or, I believe, the majority of his local peers- I'm sorry that seems to disappoint you!

Yes, sorry BubblesBuddy, I thought you probably weren’t being serious. I think I’ve read too many AIBU threads where people have said that they have no idea why people with children live in London.