Worried about Private school

[CountingClouds]

My DC has passed the entrance exams, and been offered a scholarship, for a very good private secondary. What worries me is that the head has expressed concerns that 'we' night not fit in to their environment.

DC is in year six and predicted a strong level six in Maths and Literacy. Wide ranging extra curricular interests with friends also planning to attend the school. Local state Primary has always said DC has strong personality but well behaved, polite and a wonderful pupil etc.

I can only guess at the subtext behind the heads comments, single parent, working class, don't socialist within the local wealthy cliques, can't afford skiing holidays, asking awkward questions at the information events, challenging the schools opinion, DC having extra needs etc etc.

So the place we are offered is conditional on us accepting their ideology of being seen and not heard, that we don't rock the boat and DC's personality being supplanted by the tried and tested Stepford children conditioning (I paraphrase the heads words).

I want the best education for my DC but is it worth sacrificing his amazing individual personality, and possibly extinguish what I think makes him heads and shoulders above his peers? The alternative is a strong state school, good social inclusion, will meet DC's extra needs, good academic record, well regarded locally but maybe not so established nationally so might not look as good on his CV as a private school.

Ten years ago I always dreamt of a private school and have remortgaged in-case DC didn't get a scholarship, but not the time has come to decide. Am I mad to pass up the chance of sending my DC to a private school because its full of stuck up snobs?

If the head wrote that to me, I would send back a very rude letter. It seems extraordinary that someone should offer a scholarship but also tell you that you may not fit in. How awful.

We don't know what the Head wrote to the OP. Much of her post seems to be based on her interpretation of what he wrote (or said) and she says herself she is "guessing at the subtext" so i strongly suspect there is a large mismatch between what he said or wrote and how she has chosen to interpret that.

TotallyBS All those schools that get into the lists of schools that get the most kids into Oxbridge go out of their way to enable bright children from different backgrounds to access their schools, and they are certainly not all white. They might be a bit of a sausage machine academically but they also encourage individuality and the development of individual talent. And the Heads tend to be so committed to diversity and inclusivity that they would take a perverse pleasure in including a child in spite of their obnoxious parents (what ever their background) Whether they succeed in their aims is another matter but I really can't think of a top co ed that is remotely like the one OP describes.

A struggling snob factory somewhere in the burbs, more than likely a faith school with a "traditional" ethos, maybe.

I wouldn't send my child to a school where the head clearly didn't want them. Why not compromise and accept the state school place and then look to apply for 6th form entry. You say the state school is a good one and can meet your dc's needs. At 16 yrs old your dc's strong personality may be something the private school will find more attractive. The whole thing sounds very bizarre!

Has anyone stopped to think that its the head who usually makes decisions on scholarships (not necessarily bursaries) - or approves them anyway and they are not compulsory. So with this in mind it would appear that the head wants DS to attend the school as she has approved the award of a scholarship. Of course this may have been done on her behalf by deputy etc and without her actually meeting OP and DS but the fact remains that the offer of a scholarship generally means that the school want you to attend.
In relation to the comment about fitting in - could it be read as just advice i.e. 'we want DS here but must advise that he might find it difficult to fit in with the other DC's and might not get as much support with any (statements? if they exist) so consider the offer carefully'.
Just another way of looking at things, but agree perhaps the wording could have been a bit more considered.

I would NOT send my child to any school if those things were said. Even if your child successfully conforms and fits in, what kind of school cannot accept difference? That's not the education I'd want for my child. And if your child has any problems there like bullying? That's hard enough to sort even with an empathetic head. I'd run a mile!

There are quite a few references to the school not wanting to change the lessons to meet op's ds's extra needs, presumably as requested by op. if we knew what was being requested it would be easier to judge the reasonableness of the head's response. OP?

The OP seems to have gone rather quiet since it was mooted that she was making this all up!

That is a very strange and unusual response from a head- sounds more like the sort of thing they worried about 30 yrs ago than now.

You're concerned you may be different to other parents (unlikely actually)- did this make you more aggressive and in their face with questions? nervousness can do that (and it will go if you get used to the place) Schools don't want difficult or pushy parents - regardless of income - but they obviously like your dc. - the proof of the pudding is in the eating - are the kids snooty or friendly? have they offered a 'taster day' ? The fact that you're on this, posting a concern, could mean they've read you wrong.

You could pay for another, nicer, cheaper, school but, as an ex- single parent, i would not choose state school again if given a choice - they can be far more snobby, the teachers are less secure, more chippy, the rich kids stand out a mile instead of blending in and if there are any problems at all, you will be blamed for every single one. Not everyones experience, though, I know.

I would not worry about CV at this stage either. Lots of Yr 9 scholarships and also 6th form but most of all, a thriving dc from unheard-of-school will get much further in life than a miserable one with a 'posh school' on his CV.

Do whats best for your ds - sod their 'concerns' - its your ds that matters, not them. Grit your teeth and go for it for his sake? Good things come in tough packaging, sometimes. Secondary school will demand conforming to something including peer pressure but i find parents not nearly so involved as in primary school.

diamonds - it's a fake OP.

Is it? Oh, that makes sense then - a private school-resenter? How odd to such trouble.

I followed this thread with great interest It does indeed seem very strange that the person who started this thread has gone quite. Maybe it is a fake. I just don't get why. Very odd!!!

There is no level 6 literacy paper at key stage 2.

Coming late to this and assuming it is true (doubtful), I would be forwarding a complaint to the governors with a copy of the head's letter and then also copying it to any independent school bodies.

My child certainly wouldn't be going there.