is private REALLY better?

[ChuppaChups]

just out of interest, i would appreciate some OPINIONS on this area as i am seriously considering the move to private from state. The main reason being is we are now financially able to do so.

So, is it better and why?

Thanks

Now I never have taught a mute to speak.
I feel terribly inadequate.

To be fair they weren't real mutes they just chose not to talk until they were 4 or 5 ish....

She was 10

Nobody seems to want to comment on 'openmindedness' in primary schools

karise I was referring to the children I have taught ...

I know, I was just letting you know how old my pupil was

I feel that whilst there is such a big divide in the state schools then people will always opt out. Consideration needs to be given to the fact that not every school (state and private) is a good school nor able to get the best out of a child. This division makes the whole education system in the UK an unfair one. Many people comment on how their local state school supports bright children/is fantastic etc but no acknowledgment is given to those of us with children who don't have access to these schools. If the state schools wish to keep hold of the proportion of families who home educate their children or move them into a private school then it needs to buck up it's ideas and make every school a good/outstanding school. I can't see this happening myself and I am unwilling to subject my child to a school with discipline problems and is also unable cater for his needs. It would be hypocritical of me to change my faith or to move into a more affluent area, these are 'hidden school fees' and I am not ashamed of my decision. I'm sure he'd benefit from the use of an on site swimming pool/climbing wall/archery/fencing club etc, what child wouldn't but I'm sure he'll benefit alot more from an environment that supports his desire to learn, which, sadly, his current state school is unable to do. It is his right, it should be every child's right but it's a lottery. Your children may have this so you have won, not every parent is in the same boat though.

Everyone has a choice, you have to have the intelligence to find out what they are and research your options though.
I was a single parent when my first child was born and lived in a council high rise flat.
Just in case I wasn't able to save the money required to rent in the nicest schools catchment area, I got her baptised Catholic. I saved out of my £700 a month wages to afford the first year at the local prep school and would have got her in then pleaded poverty.
All of those were options to me and are available to anyone with the inclination to look beyond what trainers their kids is wearing as an measure of being a good parent.

Sniggering at the mute one-up-man-ship.

And perhaps no-one commented on it karise because it seemed rather without context? I'm not sure what you were on about anyway.

And to be fair fluffybunny - his previous private schools haven't catered to his needs either...

Nope, I did say state and private!

Here's hoping we find one hey!!

Sorry about the one-up-man-ship but I couldn't resist! It was true though!

No, I didn't understand the open-mindedness thing either.

OrphanAnnie for some parents prep school wouldn't be an option, not because to them £700 a month income would be a fortune but because in some parts of the country there aren't any prep schools and having taught in Catholic schools in some very deprived areas I doubt getting their child baptised in order to be eligible to attend would be a very attractive prospect either. Choice is limited by circumstances for some.

been to Hamleys and back and thread is still going. This one will run out of space like the last one did. always does.

Well fair enough MrsZ but TBH my plan A was always to scrape together the deposit and month in advance required to get her into the best school in the area, even if we had to move and travel by train, plane or automobile to get there. The truth is the if parents are bright enough the kids will be fine if the child's bright but the parents aren't they haven't much chance where ever they go.

My openmindedness comment was directed at SOME primary teachers that make an initial judgement about a pupil when they enter the class which stubbornness or lack of knowledge, stops them from helping that pupil thrive. I am not saying all teachers do this, but some of these people write-off pupils before giving them a chance! This leaves the pupil with a 'what's the point in trying attitude' which follows them throughout their education. My aim to to reignite these particular children.

I don't think prep schools would last very long if we all paid one set of fees and then pleades poverty.

Does open mindedness extend to parents not judging other children and teachers they don't know?

I'm guessing she works in Learning support in an indie school where parents have to pay for SEN support

"I agree that extra-curricular activities are generally more abundant in the private sector"

Of COURSE they bloody do - the parents are paying a fortune for them!!!!!!!!!!

I've had times where I've had to scrimp and save to afford the school fees, the thought of someone sending their child to a school in the hope that someone else will pick up the tab after 12 months because they are pleading poverty doesn't bode well to be honest.

There are alot of parents like me who live on the bare minimum to afford to send their child to a PS, I imagine if their fees had to increase to subsidise more bursaries because of alot of people doing this then they will also be the ones putting in an application for assistance. I feel really uncomfortable thinking that my child's education could be disrupted at the drop of a hat because we couldn't afford the school fees because there's no guarantees in this plan. The fees do worry me, I can afford them at the moment but if I become too ill to work then they could be a problem. I'd feel resentful if I was paying for someone elses child to attend the school, barly affording my own child's fees.

Well I can assure you somebody is paying for all 4 of mine because I'm not not the full fee's anyway.
But it's not current parents, it's trustee's who thankfully remember the schools in their wills and offer street rats like us the opportunity to glimpse into their worlds and jolly nice it is too.

"The trustees who thankfully remember the schools in their wills and offer street rats like us the opportunity to glimpse into their worlds and jolly nice it is too."

I think those words encapsulate my reasons for being politically and philosophically opposed to private education better than anything I could say!

Agreed. Four children through private school on 700 pounds a month? Well somebody is paying out a lot for your 'jolly nice' life.

For a primary school in a deprived area we do pretty well in the free extra - curricular activity front. We have our own swimming pool so children can attend before school as well as weekly lessons for all children. After school sessions are charged a small fee to pay the instructor. We have specialist music teachers for clarinet, flute and violin as well as a voice coach. We have a chess club, photography club, various homework clubs, even a knitting club. Football, netball, cricket and rugby coaching regularly feature after school also dance, gymnastics and aerobics sessions. The only thing children need to pay for is hire of instruments....

My school is also in a deprived area, and we also have a policy of keeping everything free. We have specialist music teachers for clarinet, flute, violin, guitar and drums, as well as chess club, dance, drama, gymnastics, cricket, basketball, netball, music, art, French, Spanish and Mandarin!

Wow, mrz - a swimming pool! Do the staff use it?