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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

Private Schools vs state. Any help much appreicated

37 replies

Moira12 · 19/03/2015 10:24

My daughter is in year 6 and goes to the catchment state school and is very happy. To cut a long story short (I'll provide more details if anyone wants to know more), she has been offered a place at a nearby private school with a 50% bursary. I am a single mum so even this needs considering but it is a wonderful opportunity and if I can and she wants to go, I will try my hardest.

My ques is, she spent a day there to help make a decision and said she found the work really easy! I expected the opposite. She is at level 6 in Maths and top of her current class and specifically wanted to sit in a maths class. She said they were doing negative numbers which she did in year 4 and it was easy and some girls didn't understand. I don't think she is bragging as it wasn't said in that way. Also I know she did negative numbers in yr 4. SHe is now unsure about going because she said she doesn't want her education to suffer.

Does anyone know why this might be the case? SHe said other classes were easy too e.g. english, geography, RS. I couldn't find any data for the school's year 6 SAT results and wasn't sure if private schools do SATs anyway.

Any help much appreciated.

Mxxxx

OP posts:

fleurdelacourt · 19/03/2015 11:38

Does the school have strong academic results with good university places?

If so, then clearly the standards there are ok - perhaps the taster day was aiming to be fun rather and not scare girls off?

If you're unsure, then you need to go back in and have another look around/talk to someone?

what was the acceptance date though? it has already passed near us?

ZeroFunDame · 19/03/2015 11:54

Perhaps you could say a little more about

why you chose to apply to this school

and

how she came to be offered the bursary.

Your OP rather makes it sound as if this all happened by chance - but surely you would have put a lot of thought into this decision and rejected any other possible schools?

What exactly is the "status" of the independent school. Is it well established, thriving, with a strong positive reputation? I've seen several instances (on MN particularly) of parents accepting surprising bursary offers, only to find that the school in question is struggling to stay open, or withdraws the bursary in the second year or simply does not live up to reasonable expectations.

You do need to have made rigorous comparisons with other schools. There's no reason to think you might not be offered a bursary at another school - is this one the best available?

lemonhope · 19/03/2015 11:57

I've sent two of mine to private school in year 5 and 6 (then onto the senior part at year 7) and I am not bothering with my youngest - I found that the academic work was more challenging at the state primary. They did TONS of drama and music and sport at the private school - yes they gained confidence and really enjoyed themselves but actually gained very little in terms of academic knowledge. I know my dd3 will do excellently at state primary unitl year 7.

Hakluyt · 19/03/2015 12:03

Sounds as if the school's not a good fit for your dd, regardless of sector. Was there an entrance exam?

lemonhope · 19/03/2015 12:06

I think she doesn't want to go.

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 19/03/2015 12:30

Its only a wonderful opportunity if its the right school for your child. Not all private schools are academic powerhouses some are aimed at more middle of the road children and some are simply not very good.

Private does not always equal excellent. I have both my DC in the private sector and I wouldn't pay for a school unless the all round package it offered was the best option for my DC.

Kuppenbender · 19/03/2015 14:45

Is it possible that her expectations were a little to high? If she was concerned that the work might have been too difficult for her, maybe the relief that she was able to fit in translated into a sense that the work was too easy.

If the school in question is selective entry in y7, then I would imagine the upper school will be quite different.

ElectraCute · 19/03/2015 14:52

You might need to give us a bit more info like the name of the school

Private isn't necessarily better or more academically rigorous.

iseenodust · 19/03/2015 15:45

I think this is perfectly possible. DS moved to the junior school of the most academic independent in our area (good GCSE & A level results in 'robust' subjects, some to Oxbridge every year) at the start of year 5 and it is fair to say learned nothing new in maths that year. He was at a good state primary before & doing very well especially at maths. The independent does not differentiate in lessons to the same degree. He had started French at his state primary in yr4 but the independent started it in yr5 and so it went on. We took the view it was a settling in year, he was making friends and doing lots more sport, music & IT. We remain convinced though the senior school will deliver a far more academic and all-round educational experience than our local state options.

Seeline · 20/03/2015 08:12

Would she be starting in September for Y7 - so secondary school?
Was the class she sat in on Y6 or Y7?
Are the pupils streamed for any/all subjects?
Is it a selective school - did she sit an entrance exam?
Private schools do not do SATs - what are the GCSE/A level results like?
Where do pupils go to university, and how many go?
My DS is at a fairly selective indy and they work him very hard.

canny1234 · 20/03/2015 10:20

I think you need to compare the schools results with the local state alternatives.Dd2 has also been in the state system but is moving to a private secondary school.She is on level 6 's ( allegedly)and was one of 3 awarded a scholarship ( out of 80 odd kids some from the prep school).She will be pushed by the school to do her very best regardless of her natural ability.The results are stunningly different between the state and private option here.Dd2 ( went to both state and private) has stated not all the kids are brilliant in her independent school but they work harder and are much more ambitious than the similar cohort in the state system.
If the results are not terribly different simply don't send her to the private option.

Hakluyt · 20/03/2015 10:54

If the state school she would go to is a comprehensive then remember to compare the private school's results with the results of the high attainers at the comprehensive- comparing results overall will not tell you what you need to know.

Springisontheway · 20/03/2015 12:00

Yes, the issue isn't private vs. state but each individual school vs. the other. And Hak is right, you need to look at the relevant stats for the state school. The scores of the least able are interesting but not at all predictive of your DDs likely future.

You might have a fab state option and a so-so private option. It does happen. If so, hurray! You can save yourself a lot of money.

Original poster

Moira12 · 20/03/2015 13:24

Wow! Thanks for all the responses. Very much appreciated!

Basically, it is almost as if the offer came by chance. When dd was in year 5 last year, this private school (it's an all-girls school) asked various primary schools to send a couple of girls for a Maths & History morning. She had a great time. About a month ago, I had a letter from the school inviting her to sit an exam for a scholarship. When I called and asked, they said they chose her because she came on the morning in year 5 and the primary schools would have selected the able pupils to come to that morning. She sat the exam and came in the top 4 so they awarded her a 50% bursary. When I called they made a big thing of her coming in the top 4. She found the exam she took there quite challenging. I think that was why she was surprised at how easy the lessons were.

Also, her current school is really pushing for certain children to get level 6. They just got an outstanding from OFSTED and seem very SATs results driven. So she may be being pushed now but next year might be a different story. Will they carry on pushing ahead those who get level 6 or just leave them to get on with it...

I've spoken to a friend whose 2 daughters went there (one s still there now) and her sister is starting also in year 7 next year. She said she had only good to say about the school and it had a family atmosphere. She said the girls were not pressurised into working too hard and yet they still got very good results.

It is difficult to compare with the current school as it is a middle school. My dd will go to a different school for GCSE & A levels and that school has a very good reputation and gets excellent results. However, the schools in our area are changing and moving away from the middle school system so I am not sure how that will change results.

My dd likes the school and the other pupils very much and made up her mind that she wanted to go after her taster day. However, when she came back after a day at her current school she seemed undecided as she felt more challenged at her current school. As I said that may change next year. Her offer is to start in Year 7 in Sept. I'm waiting for the paperwork at the moment.

It is interesting that some of you have a child in private and a child in state. I have another younger dd but I am not sure if she would get into this school or not. She says herself that she would hate to go to an all-girls school! I don;t want her to feel that her sister got all the privileges and she didn't.

OP posts:

Hakluyt · 20/03/2015 13:37

You haven't said much about the private school- what's it like? Good results? Where do people go when they leave? Good extra curricular stuff? Why are they actively seeking pupils like this-do they have falling rolls? Do you know any parents of girls who go there?

ZeroFunDame · 20/03/2015 13:38

OP There's far too much in your post about what other people - the school, your DD, friends think about this possible move. Honestly, honestly this really needs to be driven by you. You're not a passive bystander.

Do you think your DD needs to change schools to make the sort of progress you want and expect? If no - then you can ignore everything else. If yes - then you go out and find the school you think will do that - state or private. Do your own research. Set your own criteria. It's a little concerning that you seem to be "letting" it all happen ...

mummytime · 20/03/2015 14:00

Firstly you need to learn the key lesson of Private schools 101: not all private schools are better than all state schools
This is really important.

To be honest I wouldn't send my dc to any school which approached me the way this one did you - unless my child was gifted and talented in the way Tom Dayly is.

At a good school they don't offer scholarships on a one off visit. My DD visited a local school in year 5, she was chosen as she was well behaved, averagely smart and she would enjoy the opportunities of the day. It didn't in anyway mean she was the brightest in her year.

Hakluyt · 20/03/2015 14:32

To put it really brutally (sorry)- a really good school doesn't have to approach pupils-they usually have waiting lists....................

TeddTess · 20/03/2015 15:55

i wouldn't take it
it looks like the private school is shopping around for high calibre candidates. why?
if you decide to take it ask them for a 100% bursary. def don't settle for 50% if they approached you.

Original poster

Moira12 · 20/03/2015 15:57

Apparently gifted and talented students went on the maths morning.

OP posts:

Springisontheway · 20/03/2015 15:59

This is reminding me of some comments on the SPGS thread! Where people have said that SPGS gives scholarships to state pupils who they have invited for "enrichment mornings." SPGS is definitely a good school...

Original poster

Moira12 · 20/03/2015 16:03

ZeroFunDame - I don;t know if you mean to but you come across as a bit judgemental. I may be appearing to 'let it all happen' but at the moment I am going through a very difficult divorce and re-applying for my job. Lots of stress eating into my time. This fell on my doorstep. Don't assume everyone has lots of time.

Also, I was actually feeling very proud of my daughter and that something nice happened to her after a lot of horribleness. Maybe our luck was changing. Soem of the replies are making me feel like we are mugs waiting to be exploited by the private school. I'm starting to wish I hadn't started the thread. I just wanted some opinions not judging and making me feel her achievements are worthless and I'm just someone who stands around not taking charge.

OP posts:

ZeroFunDame · 20/03/2015 16:11

Hmm... OP Thus far you have given no indication of what it is that you want for your DD.

But perhaps I'm missing something?

ZeroFunDame · 20/03/2015 16:22

Ah - My post crossed yours OP!

I have been responding to the information you included in your previous posts about an unnamed school - and from those posts I had no sense of how you felt about the situation yourself.

Yepcomfortable · 20/03/2015 16:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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