Moving to private for improved home learning

[TwelveLeggedWalk]

HAs anybody - or is anybody considering - moving to the private system for a better home learning set up?

I have DTs in Year 3. They are academically able (I know, I know! everyone on MN says that, but DD1 got top available marks in her SATs so objectively she clearly is) and we've considered moving to private at some point because we suspect they'd benefit from an academically selective environment. But we don't have the cash to make that an easy decision, and they have been absolutely loving their (state) primary - big classes, but loads of activity and buzz and a brilliant community vibe.
Their home learnign provision has been not bad since Easter, but it's not a patch on what friends with kids at London day prep schools are experiencing. DH and I are both f-t WFH so limited in how much we can do beyond the basics, but I'm seeing kids of their age being effectively taught online by private school teachers so requiring much less parental intervention.

But then much of what you pay for at private - facilities etc - wouldn't be available and they'd lose their network of lovely friends, even if they are just names on a chat room at the moment.

Anyone else thought about this?

I threatened to reregister my secondary age DS at the Indy he left last year if he didn’t do some of the frankly awful tasks set by the state school he is now at. He did some work but got no feedback whatsoever.

I have no doubt the remote provision at the independent school is much better than the state school. DS however, is delighted not to be sat in front of hours of daily zoom lessons plus the hours of daily homework.

Not trying to tell you what to do OP. Just reflecting on where we are now after starting private secondary and being really impressed with the resources, the attention, the human scale, the encouragement etc and then being tripped up by DS hating it!

Good luck with your decision.

I’m no expert but I would have thought providing effective online teaching to a brand new pupil who isn’t known by the teachers and hasn’t attended ‘in person’ first might be quite tricky? One thing for a teacher in a private school to continue to teach kids they already know in person, but maybe different to come in new at that point? With all the stuff about changing over and working out where they are in terms of knowledge compared to the existing pupils. But I am not a teacher so who knows.

@sharkyfan it's a damn sight better than the "nothing" from our children's state schools... And a lot of homework is set which gives the teacher a chance to get to know the child.

All pupils were unknown to teachers at some point. It's the same as face to face as they can chat to us directly and use their cameras.

How about using a tutor via Zoom?

Sharkey I've picked up a class of y11 post GCSE - never met any of them I don't think (I only teach 6th form normally) but their personalities come through in what they say (verbally and in the chat) and in the work they submit. It's not really an issue.

OP please do your homework on this....endless zoom lessons are not an effective teaching tool. They are feel good options which imbue a feeling of community and justify very high education fees but they are not great in large quantity. They are exhausting especially for younger children. Much better to employ a tutor who is used to teaching in this format, can offer one2one, and offers the right balance of asynchrous and synchronised teaching. Cheaper too. If you are interested in private eduction wait until you can get your money's worth - and check the school's finances very carefully. One idea that is being touted is that the most vulnerable who have lost education over last few months will be given private places paid for by state which will help schools about to go under. Chinese investors are very keen to scoop up others. Just do your homework before you commit at this interim stage or you might end up at a school that is not what it once was.

@flourandeggs ... The sensible private schools we looked at weren't doing all day on zoom by were using a mix of online classes and self led but supported learning. The online school takes a similar approach . Neither boy is in online classes all day, I agree that would be just as harmful as no classes

I also agree about checking finances carefully. But equally when we have state schools delivering absolutely nothing I think most parents will accept "not perfect" over "nothing"

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@flourandeggs a school providing endless zoom lessons is not a great school. Good schools do provide a mixed approach - ours does 6 zoom sessions per day, and the kids love it (including PR, drama etc), in small groups of 10 and under. They engage with the teacher, ask questions etc.
Local state schools don’t even send worksheets (but recommend baking cakes and “enjoying the extra holiday”).

Exactly @Myself2020 it's the feed back and interaction that is motivating our boys to do the self led projects etc

I think the point is though that whilst lots of Zoom lessons are less than ideal when the alternative is zero teaching, some unstimulating worksheets, some probably more stimulating project work they can't do because of two working parents dont have time, and a fuck-ton of Minecraft, then yes, it would be better!

Most good private schools are very much providing a balanced platform of learning. It is certainly not all day zoom. And I do think that the benefits of interactive lessons and a sense of class structure, is far better for a child than a one to one tutor scenario.

@TwelveLeggedWalk your post made me giggle because my neighbour's son does his zoom lessons whilst playing fortnite - in bed! We all know how slippery 15 year old boys are, but she feels the fees she is paying are being spent on ineffective babysitting. Perhaps zoom is more effective for primary school children who are more likely to be doing their zoom lessons in kitchen watched over by parents than in their rooms.
@myself2020 lots of incredible learning and support being put out by state schools, you do seem to live in an area with dire schools, as someone involved in education I am burning to know the schools you mention- maybe you could PM me and let me in on which ones they are!
@NeverTwerkNaked sounds like you have been very sensible in your research and picked great options for your kids, and I am sure you will get the full value for money again once school is back and running. I fear the huge inequality amongst all this is between fabulous and then less good state schools - seems very unfair that tax funded schools vary so greatly. I have seen awe inspiring teaching in both sectors of education (I am an outside provider) and also very shambolic in both. But at least when parents pay they choose between the good and the not so good privates - if you live in an area with less than ideal state you have little choice. I suspect there is a shake up coming to both sectors after all this passes. A large percentage of the cabinet have state school children so I wonder what they think of the learning their children are being provided with - I might see if my education journalist friend can find out!

Annoyingly I can't find the name of Tory MP who tweeted the list of where Govnt ministers' children go to school....this is some of the list but there were more. I will ask my education journo friend and add the rest for you later - I think Raab children's were on the list too. I suspect their chilrdren are not getting messages to 'bake a cake and enjoy the holiday' @myself2020! Remember like all private schools are not equal, neither are all state schools, and I hate seeing the teachers attacked here with no justification apart from anecdotal chit chat!

Matt Hancock-three children, younger two state primary, eldest daughter state secondary.
Gavin Williamson-two teenage daughters, state secondary.
Ben Wallace-three children, Lancashire state school.
Robert Buckland-two teenage children, state educated. (He’s a governor there.)

Here are the others from my 'source'- there are 15 cabinet members in total who have children in State Schools. I'm guessing they must be getting some fairly good home learning! I'd love to know what they are getting.

Rishi Sunak-two daughters at state primary.
Michael Gove-two teenage children, both state-educated. GCH and Holland Park.
Dominic Raab-two sons, state primary.
Priti Patel-one son, state primary last known school.

I hardly think the likes of GCH and Holland Park, can really compare with most state schools. Not quite a ‘comprehensive‘ by any stretch of the imagination!

Agreed @mumto2two - as I said above the biggest shame in education is the difference between different state schools, all funded by us tax payers. However this difference isn't the fault of the teachers, it is often due to much deeper socio economic issues in geographical areas although of course it can be down to leadership, and again that is not exclusive to the state sector. I have seen absolutely incredible teaching in some of the lowest rated schools. I hate seeing any teachers criticised as there are teachers in the special measures schools through to the outstanding schools in the state sector mostly busting a gut to try and do what they can to make sure children are getting a good education whilst looking after their mental health. As are private school teachers - often not enjoying doing the zoom lessons and the criticism they are getting from parents for their very now very visible teaching, and also worried about their pensions now many schools are suddenly exiting the TPS.
The comments on here suggesting that only state schools are providing uninspiring learning just isn't true. There are plenty of upset private school parents too - many think they aren't getting their money's worth, are worried about what the school will look like when they get back and there is no team sport/extra curricular/school trips etc which are what many of them enjoy about that sector. Some parents are also worried about the long term feasibility of schools that rely on foreign boarders. Really I think ALL parents are worried at the moment and MANY children are suffering from not being at school and that is across sector. And on that note I really should get on with some of my own work!!

Private school fees are very high at the moment for what they can deliver. If you only want the service for online schooling have you looked at Inter High? I have no connection with them but did look out of curiousity. I think their fees are much lower and online schooling is their specialty, unlike private schools who are still trying to adapt to this medium and cover their existing overheads with school fees that arent justified by what they can provide at the moment! The main reason to keep paying would be for the long term, ie to have a place to go back to when the school is able to offer its full service again.

Do you know of any private schools that are currently taking students on like this?

I don't think ours is doing this, just concentrating on the pupils they have already. I guess if they start losing a few pupils and have spaces they might take people on this way but for a shorter term arrangement I would look at a specialist online school as a first choice, unless you think you might be converted to private school for the long term.

Ours is taking students on. they recently moved to a bigger site, so have some open spaces

add on: there seem to be about 3-3 kids joining per month, and 1 leaving

They sound settled so I would be reluctant to move them but Net schools is good as an online “Real” school or just approach a local private school and ask to join for this last term many are really struggling so will be pleased with extra income.

Our children are in a private prep at the moment. We’re considering taking them out. Of course the school has made an effort to offer an online provision be we aren’t trained in their methods and the video tutorials and online exercise sheets just aren’t as good as what we can provide if we can use our own materials and systems. Despite their and our best efforts they aren’t providing anything near an adequate education at the moment. I don’t see the point really and I wish they would just stop and pick back up when schools are allowed to go back in a reasonably normal fashion.