What Annoys You About Independent Schools?

[zanzibarmum]

Me? Independent schools who:

• tell applicants not to tutor their children when the entire prep school set up is precisely about cramming for common entrance exams;
• refuse to explain content of common entrance exam, again which discriminates against state school applicants;
• entrance exam papers which are clearly biased - Latymer's practice paper asks a question about the size of a hockey stick;
• poo poo league tables when their whole raison d'etre is to churn out As and A*;
• promote all the sport they do but in practice do very little for most children;
• who do not standardise entrance exam scores for age - selecting therefore the oldest not necessarily the brightest (cf churning out As and A*;.

Clearly, there are lots of good things about some independent schools but generally they have an easy life and probably coast on the back of the intelligence (innate or prepped) on their students.

I agree with UQD

to the OP - nothing does.

cornsilk - i agree

(But i still think all children are spoonfed to a certain extent - as i said earlier - regardless of the educational setting).

Yes I understand that point stillenacht.

We have state funded independent schools. They are called Academies.

LOL Mabs

A thread with the words 'independent schools' in the title and no posting from Xenia?

As the mum of one of the 7% having to justify my choice to the parents of the remaining 93%. I don't ask my state school choice friends to justify theirs so why am I sometimes made to feel like a social pariah for the choice I made?

There will never be any answer to this debate other than to abolish private schools because the concept is fundamentally unfair, socially divisive and therefore unhealthy for society.

Oh joy, being called a "tosser" and having that called "state school" to boot. If ever I needed a point proving...

What UQD said.

Seriously, though, joking aside, and all that - what the hell DO you mean by saying "we're sending DS/DD to so-and-so private school because he/she is bright?"

Because I've heard people say it. It's not in my head. I mean - seriously, what does that mean?? Do you think only thick kids go to state school? Do you think having money= being intelligent?

Does Not Compute.

I also find it frustrating when parents who privately educate their children feel the need to run down the local state schools in order to justify their decision.

the running down of the local comp was something that i experienced. but i'd like my son to have friends who all live locally.

he's getting on fine in year 10

uqd cares about education equality for all children. and personal insults are not on.

"nasty" tune? bang on? I think not.

The Education thread is one among many to which I contribute.

The very valid point that smallorange makes is one of many which show why it is essential for all parents to contribute to these threads.

Oh, hooray! You get several points for a "grow up". Last refuge of the lost argument.

I don't give a shit if anyone wants to report me. It'll make them feel better but do sod-all else.

I thought uqd was merely pointing out the prejudice at the heart of some of these newspaper articles where a child is plucked from the bosom of their lovely private school and hurled into a maelstrom of knife-wielding hoodies at the local 'comp.' How will they cope?
Anyone would sympathise with children who have to change schools - but many do with no ill-effects every year due to moving house etc. It's a normal part of life.

I don't think there was any malice intended. I don't get any pleasure out of children being upset and I don't know anyone who does.

Let's clear a space for those who have something to contribute beyond childish digs at me, shall we?

smallorange - yes, that was one of my inspirations.