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Secondary education

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

Original poster

Private or state?

50 replies

Sambatime · 20/10/2023 19:56

My DS has been offered a scholarship to a great private school. Grandparents offering to pay the rest of the fees. School has excellent teachers and facilities but we’d have to drive him there. It’s a 15-20 minute drive. The alternative is our local, excellent state school. The teaching will not match up to the private school but there is a bus. It’s a public bus so timings don’t quite match up with school times and it takes 40 minutes. Which would you go for?

OP posts:
Kate9423 · 20/10/2023 19:57

Private with the scholarship 100%

JustAMinutePleass · 20/10/2023 19:58

Private.

AnotherNewt · 20/10/2023 19:59

What year is your DC?

This isn't the time of year that regular offers come out, so I'm assuming an ad hoc place (maybe after moving house) and so age/stage matters

Pussygaloregalapagos · 20/10/2023 20:00

Private with the scholarship in this situation.

LIZS · 20/10/2023 20:06

Is there a school bus to private one? Many tailor a route to the pupils requiring it.

Original poster
Sambatime · 20/10/2023 20:10

There is a bus but it doesn’t come to our village and is apparently at capacity. It would be a 10 minute drive to the bus anyway. I am torn between wanting him to have the best education and wanting to save myself years of driving.

OP posts:
KnickerlessParsons · 20/10/2023 20:10

How do you know the teaching at the state school won't match up to that at the private school?

Faydi · 20/10/2023 20:12

15-20 min drive… not very far. is it bike-able to? If so, he could bike in a few years?

Summermeadowflowers · 20/10/2023 20:12

Sambatime · 20/10/2023 20:10

There is a bus but it doesn’t come to our village and is apparently at capacity. It would be a 10 minute drive to the bus anyway. I am torn between wanting him to have the best education and wanting to save myself years of driving.

um … I do get that it’s exhausting but that does sound a bit like your priority is you, not him.

Original poster
Sambatime · 20/10/2023 20:13

I have looked at the curriculum for each school, results for high attainers and obviously been to visit. The state school is very good, but less ambitious for its more academic students. DS would be fine there, but he probably won’t be stretched as he should be. On the other hand he might be more chilled out and it would be easier for me!

OP posts:
CurlewKate · 20/10/2023 20:13

State-particularly if you can't afford to make up the difference in fees yourself.

Original poster
Sambatime · 20/10/2023 20:14

20 minutes there and back twice a day adds up to 1h20 minutes of driving a day. But yes I am considering myself (and my other DS) a bit.

OP posts:
TheFTrain · 20/10/2023 20:14

If it's an excellent state school the teaching is very likely to match that of the private or be better.

Original poster
Sambatime · 20/10/2023 20:16

I don’t think it will realistically be bike able

OP posts:
StillWantingADog · 20/10/2023 20:18

Currently in a similar situation. The local state is fine but we’re not certain he will get in hence private is the back up.

re transport it’s not a concern to us as there are good bus options to both. However it absolutely should be a consideration to you if you work. No way could I manage 2 x 40minute round trips a day around my job unless very early or late .

Underneaththestars · 20/10/2023 20:18

Have you asked your DS what he thinks?

Chickolot · 20/10/2023 20:19

Car pool might be an option too.

nibblessquibbles · 20/10/2023 20:20

Very difficult to judge on the info provided. Typically privates have better extra curricular which can be good depending on the kid and interests. But if it's a smaller private then sometimes not. Also some states excel at certain things and so if your DS interests/subjects coincide then that could be better.
What does your DS think ? Does he like both? What do you think? Do you like the atmosphere in both? What are the class sizes? What's the pastoral support? What's the ethos etc?

Original poster
Sambatime · 20/10/2023 20:20

DS prefers private but would be happy with the state - he has friends going there anyway

OP posts:
Blackandwhitemakesgrey · 20/10/2023 20:23

Private.

But you mentioned another child. Is that child already in secondary school and happy? If so great and take private for DC2.
If he is younger then I’d be reluctant to send DC1 to private and not the other.

CurlewKate · 20/10/2023 20:24

@Sambatime "DS would be fine there, but he probably won’t be stretched as he should be."
If he's going to get the grades he needs, why does he need to be stretched? He'll have time for outside school stuff, he'll have local friends. More independence when he's a little older. An hour travelling a day that could be used for sport or music practice or something-it's a no brainer for me.

Original poster
Sambatime · 20/10/2023 20:26

@nibblessquibbles I prefer the ethos of the state, which places a lot of emphasis on ‘character’ and is very diverse. The private school had a calmer atmosphere though and was much less run-down. It is strict but has a lot of energy and focus which translates into an ambitious curriculum and great results. Given my son is academic, I would be sending him to the private school if transport was easier. But it has to feel worth the inconvenience and I’m not sure about that.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sambatime · 20/10/2023 20:30

CurlewKate · 20/10/2023 20:24

@Sambatime "DS would be fine there, but he probably won’t be stretched as he should be."
If he's going to get the grades he needs, why does he need to be stretched? He'll have time for outside school stuff, he'll have local friends. More independence when he's a little older. An hour travelling a day that could be used for sport or music practice or something-it's a no brainer for me.

Partly I’m worried he won’t love school if he’s coasting, partly I think education is important for it’s own sake

OP posts:
trader21c · 20/10/2023 20:37

Private 100% what a great opportunity

MintJulia · 20/10/2023 20:40

I had the same choice, ds has a scholarship and the drive is 15mins to and from, morning and night to the school bus. It means we've got up at 6.30 every school morning for the last 5 years. It taken effort but for us it's been worth it.

The school has been great but our alternative, local state school was failing so it was an easier decision for us. DS was determined to go, to be willing to get out of bed an hour earlier, every day 😀 Which does your ds prefer?