Separate board needed for Private Schools?

[MrsBright]

Whilst I appreciate that those of you interested in a private education for your children want to discuss it, I suspect I am not alone in finding the endless succession of 'St Trinians or Eton?' threads irritating. Even more irritating is the 'Obscure local school in the South East vs another Obscure local school in the South East?' since only 1 person in 1,000 will even have heard of these schools never mind have any meaningful opinion of them.

PLEASE - could we get the private school stuff off onto another page so that this board could be about educational issues only and not the private school version of Trip Advisor?

I could not agree more.

Yes pleasr

• yes please

To be fair, you do get threads like that about specific state schools too. Is it the naming of specific schools you object to, or the fact that they're private?

I think that would be wrong, because many issues are common to both sectors, or cross between them.

And although there are a lots of threads about private school during their application/offers rounds, at is counterbalanced by all the ones about state school application/offers/appeals during their rounds.

And the 'obscure school in SE' v 'another obscure in the SE' could easily be state schools, with added detail on number of paces to the school gates.

• yes please

allmimsy both.

i have often wondered why there isn't a private schools page on the Education master page - but I have concluded that I don't think Mumsnet HQ will ever do that MrsBright...because a mere mention of somewhere like Eton usually sparks off off a few fierce private vs. state debates and that's what keeps these boards running and advertisers paying ..you only have to look at the vastly entertaining Westminster School is the Best School on Earth thread to see that.

Thanks for the support ladies. Glad it isnt 'just me'.

So... how do I suggest this to MN HQ?

That's a bit daft. There are threads asking which state school in x area or info about 11+. Why do you get to decide what's relevant?

As for 'Even more irritating is the 'Obscure local school in the South East vs another Obscure local school in the South East?' since only 1 person in 1,000 will even have heard of these schools never mind have any meaningful opinion of them.' So??? They are threads asking about secondary schools on the secondary schools topic. If it's something you don't know about just don't post on that thread.

What about the countless threads asking about choosing state versus private, where would they go

yeah, half the education boards are filled with those debates

Yes. Wouldn't it be much better if all the private schools were sponsored, with hyperlinks. So for example when Mark Thatcher's old school, Harrow, is mentioned, it could be sponsored by a management consultancy that specialises in military coups. And every time Radley is mentioned, a hyperlink could take you to the largest accountancy training company in the country.

And there could be banners that warned: this school costs £6,089 per term, not including Quidditch stick and crimpolene box pleated skirt, this advert is brought to you by Ortho-Indy mouth guards for goofs.

I am a bit surprised by the high proportion of independent school threads, given the small proportion of children in the UK who are independently educated. But those are the proportions, so would MNHQ not take the view that the boards are self-determining - i.e. they will proportionately reflect the interests of those who bother to post on them?
In answer to your question about how to suggest this separation, I imagine posting your views on Site Stuff may be one way to go.

I find 'hide this thread' very useful.

The state versus private threads would be merged into one and suspended in educational purgatory. They will be allowed to pass the 1000 posts limit and go on in a hand-wringing fashion forever and ever.

It's the same people who ask Knightsbridge or Belgravia? They are just showboating. as if they are going to decide on Roedean or Mallory Towers based on the opinions of a few gin soaked mumsnetters.

Perhaps the property section should be split into SDLT thresholds. Combined with zones for London.

bisjo best point so far

If you're looking at a local state school with a small catchment you are more likely to know plenty of people who have/have had children there than if you are talking about a boarding school 200 miles away.

I know there are threads that seem to be started to boast/troll but I find them funny because they don't usually get the response the OP is looking for. They'll be told that actually X is better for academic DC but Y is strong for more of an all rounder and have helpful comments about uniform lists from people who take their post at face value and don't see it as a big deal.

Maybe the Property/DIY topic needs to be divided into Homeowners, Renters and Council tenants, as well?

Last year I had a hard time deciding between State or Private, and Faith schools, not sure how useful it is to have the topics segregated if you are working out between them.

It is just that time of year.

It's a bit like all the threads from reception mums in October with "help my child doesn't know how to read, and no one taught me phonics, and what on earth am I meant to write in the reading book each day". You answer a few, then hide and move on. Or "what is the best shop to buy grey pinafores in" in July. Come April we'll be moving onto "is my 16 year old ever going to revise?".

[ yeah! I realise I haven't gone through in calendar order!]

There's also crossover for those looking at state grammar v private. Personally don't like too many boards, if you don't want to read about private schools ignore the thread.

Maybe we need a " which school?" topic, so this is not about private vs state but threads which have a general and specific audience.

Perhaps there are so many independent school threads because so many of the top independents take pupils who are not local. If I wanted info on a local school, I would post on local as it is more likely I would get the traffic there who would know that particular school,however, if I was looking at a boarding school elsewhere in the country the best place to post would be on education as local knowledge may not be appropriate.