Recently moved my dd from a high achieving state to an Independent. Note however, she was not in what I believe to be in the right set for her ability. This too may very well have a bearing on her experience.
Yes, it's wrong to generaliae and one can only go by their own experience. This has been hers. Note, I am merely the messenger, so don't shoot me:
The divide: The gaping difference between the two she says, is so huge, you simply cannot compare the two. She says it's like being entered into a completely different world.
Quality of teaching: These teachers are engaging and don't just stand in front of the class droning on. They're just much more exciting. Plus the homework just feels more purposeful, she says. It solidifies what you know then extends your knowledge further.
There is twice as much homework, I should add here, but she doesn't bat at eyelid. Just says she loves it.
I appreciate too the teachers may not be be better qualified, I don't know, as I've not seen their qualifications, they may very well just have a better environment to do their job. I too know exceptional teachers in the state sector. My cousin is a headmistress in a challenging state school and has turned it around. Please remember, all I am doing is reciting my child's words.
Environment: All the children are on the same page - there to learn. There are no disruptions she says. The teacher doesn't have to spend half the lesson trying to keep the class quiet. She feels at home here and said she didn't realise until now there were other children like her who just wanted to buckle down and learn. The ethnic mix here is fantastic too and friends were made immediately.
Extra Support: They run clinics during school time, flocked with specialist teachers and sixth former's to give extra help.
Support staff: Unlike DD's old school, the support staff are qualified in the area they're teaching in. When the children ask a question therefore, it avoids replies like, 'I don't know, this is Maths, I teach geography! Which was always the case beforehand.
From the daily feedback I get of absolutely loving it, I think this. The fees for this school is just under £20K a year. It's appalling that people who do not have that kind of money miss out on this. I do get help, but not all of it. In truth, I do not know where the money will come from to truly fund it all. Cutback is an understatement. The difference is embarrassing, disgusting and unfair.
What do you do however, when you see a 360 degree turnaround in your child?
On a positive note, there is another state school not far away I would have considered had my child not got a place here, who with the extra funding, have small class sizes and have been achieving some great results. That did however, take extra funding.
I am not sure if my child will leave with a string of A's and A*'s. I just know from this starting point, if she has the ability, she will achieve it. In the last school, maybe she would have, maybe she wouldn't. Just felt it would have been more pot luck. As time went on she began to tire of the constant distractions and was bored.
In my extended family too, yes there has been exceptions, however those who went private have generally achieved more. Where they any smarter??? I don't think so. Given the right factors and environment, I think most can achieve. Still we'll see. The fact is she's just so much happier, I at last have peace.