So IF you had tons of wong, would you send em private?

[Hullygully]

Enough wong that you barely noticed the outlay and could still have hols etc?

fivehours I guess we all have different views as to what to do for our DC.

Some think it is best to breastfeed to two/three years old.
Some don't allow their DC any sugar products.
Some don't allow aspartame.
Some think homework is the dance of the devil.
Some thinh homework is A Good Thing.

I think it's impossible to say that x,y or z, isn't the best thing for someone else's kids. The parents chgoose that no?

FiveHoursSleep - I don't believe that either. A number of our friends would be able to afford private schooling pretty easily (very easily in one or two cases!) too but none have sent their kids to one, they have chosen a variety of different schools but all are state run. I haven't really thought about it too much until recently as our choice seemed the 'norm' (if it was a choice in the first place, I don't really remember making a specific decision!). However, I am pretty new to MN and I read more than I post but I have found it interesting to read the different viewpoints and strong opinion on here relating to the topic. Hasn't changed my thoughts process but certainly makes good reading!

No because part of school is mixing with all sorts of different people and learning to get on with/deal with them. I want my children to do well academically but more importantly I want them to understand that we need all sorts of people to make up a society and academic achievement is only one form of success. Does that make sense? If I had mega wong I would, of course, give up my job and get a cleaner so I wasn't so knackered all the time and could string together a coherent sentence aafter 5pm!!

Yes. And do (but don't have loads of wong .

Can I ask a question? What is the difference between teachers and their qualifications between state and private?

No would never consider it

Sparking some will tell you that you don't have to be a fully qualified teacher, to teach in the independent sector.

When you are spending £12K-£30K a year on your DC's education, it makes sense to check that all the teachers are qualified. I can't imagine why a parent would pick a school where that wasn't the case - but apparently there are some out there.

Oh right diablo. I was wondering whether they had to have different/better qualifications if they taught in private schools. To justify the fees? So the teachers are the same as state?

I am now very confused. Teachers with little or no qualifications?

I find the teachers are just the same as the state school I work in - mostly very good with the odd less-devoted one or two.

I think independent teachers possibly have it a little easier in the fact that even non-academically-selective schools still tend to select on behaviour, so there is less disruption in the classroom = more time to teach.

But I am sure someone will come along and correct me.......

Why would anyone choose to pay for a school where the teachers had no formal qualifications???

Do your research people!!!!

I am really shocked. I had this idea that the teaching would be second to none with teachers very well qualified. i thought that's what you paid for.

You don't necessarily need a PGCE to teach in a private school, they will take you based on your other experience. DH has a friend who is a cricketer and was taken on to teach sport at a private school, they put him through his GTP which is an alternative qualification to PGCE gained wholly through experience in school instead of through a uni/ school placements.

how naive of you ,sparkling

Super selective grammar, so no.

I know usual. I feel like a right thicko.

Not a chance, never.

I don't believe in it, and I wouldn't use them.

(and I wouldn't move or pray either:)

No,

At one stage my employer would have paid for all 3 to attend private school. We declined and sent them to the local school at the bottom of the road.

When the choice came and money didnt come into it we realised that we believe in state education and trying to make the best of it for our DCs.

Each to their own IMO.

DH started teaching in a state comp with no teaching qualifications (and no wish to become a teacher - just needed a job!), fresh off the boat, but this was about 20 years ago. He did his PGCE on day-release and then rose through the ranks

If I could afford it I would send my dc to a private secondary school. I don't think it would be as important in primary, but then I currently live very close to a very good primary so that influences my decision.

I was mercilessly bullied a comp by the "school heavies". Although i was just as poor as they were, they were from families with different values to mine. I didn't gain any benefit from mixing with "all types".

(I know bullying happens at independent schools, too, but just want to make the point that mixing with a wide variety of children is not always "a good thing".)

At a comp