What’s more important primary or secondary education?

[MissTS]

We can only afford to pay for our child to do private education for either primary OR secondary school, not both.

I was wondering what people think is more important and why?

i appreciate many of you may think private is completely unnecessary but that’s not what’s being asked!

TIA

Try to use logic when reading my post rather than manipulating to turn the discussion to drama and accept that some people have a very pragmatic approach. It takes all of us to make up this world.

We’ve gone for private primary and probably state secondary but that’s because we have 4 state grammars within reasonable distance so sending DD to what is essentially a prep school gives her a fighting chance of a place at one of those. Of course Sir Flip Flop will probably go after those next but as it stands, her school have an excellent track record in the entrance exams.

State 'til Eight is the right decision in these circumstances. (Or nine is fine. It's the rhyme that makes the saying)

But only if the private schools available are genuinely good. Too many of them are only getting good results because of their selective intake and aren't adding any more value apart from shielding a child from poor people.

KS1 (yR-y2) can be great in the state sector. Learning through play, with gradual introduction to formal learning techniques, with each child working at their own pace is built in to normal teaching practices. y3&y4 can be fine in state too, though it's worth ensuring extra enrichment out of school if there's limited enrichment built-in. I think it's y5 where state starts to get really frustrating for a child with great potential, as many state schools start focusing attention on those not meeting excepted standards and opportunities to stretch pupils to exceed expectations may be limited. This won't be true in all state schools, and not all private schools will resolve this.

If you start putting aside 30-50% of typical senior school fees when your child starts state reception, and you increase what you are putting aside by 5-10% each year until your child switches to private, you may find the financial strain is considerably reduced.

I’m in Scotland where we don’t have grammars.

Maybe your comp is nicer than ours (where my kids went 😝) or maybe I’ve just watched too much Inbetweeners #briefcasewanker

I agree re:local state options. I guess I was hoping for people’s pro/con opinions incase there was something o hadn’t thought of. Thanks

Thank you for this. Yes I’m mindful of exams for secondary, do you know if this is the same for state secondary (excluding grammar schools) or are they proximity based too? Sadly we cannot afford to go private for both. My child is currently quite ahead I’m aware this could change but I worry he’ll get bored if not academically stimulated enough. So far the state schools we’ve seen haven’t given us high hopes.

That’s a valid point. Thank you

Thank you. Yes, I’ve always believed it’s crucial to get the foundations right.

But that’s a very valid point, about going from one to the other. I know people who’ve had boys go from private to state with no issues but they went to an exceptional state secondary school and as a result of doing state secondary their parents afforded to pay for more extra curricular things like music lessons which they appreciated more at that age.

I guess whatever we do will end up being right for us, at least I hope so!

Appologies if I caused any offence, it was unintentional.

I think the issue is it's really not a state Vs private thing. There's an automatic assumption that private is better when that's really really not the case. There's so dire private schools that are full of unqualified teachers, dodgy safeguarding and HR practises and they get away with it. A good state school with money left for holidays and extra curriculars of the child's choosing, is much better than a bog standard private. Private for the sake of private is the biggest waste of money. Remember with VAT rises, the less respected private schools will be struggling for bums on seats. Also if your child is ahead, unless the private school is very selective, I wouldn't do it. It'll be full of kids who are struggling academically/ have sen. And they all say they're selective, so look into that.

Locally to us only grammar and private require an entrance exam, none of the other state secondary schools do (and not all the private schools do either).
You can see the entry criteria on all secondary school websites and websites like https://www.locrating.com/ can give you some insight into your local schools. It’s also worth speaking to parents who already have kids at a school.
FWIW our main criteria is size of school, DD gets a bit lost in large groups as she’s quiet and doesn’t push herself forward so we are looking for small classes and a more personal approach. 99% sure we will have to pay for this

I think secondary is far more important.

My dc are all in state schools. But dc1 and 2 went to an 'OK' Primary (just) in a fairly rough area. Then we moved away to a very nice area and they went into an excellent Comp.

Dc3 by comparison started in our local excellent (very naice) Primary in Nursery, straight after our move - so it's all he's known.

The differences in Primaries/dc...dc3 has a posher accent than dc1 or 2. His school certainly has better facilities...better sports, nicer grounds etc. Smaller classes. Nicer trips because money isn't an issue for families where we are now. However, enjoyment/attainment wise there's actually little difference between dc. Dc3 a happy kid that loves school and he does well because he's bright and supported well by us at home. Dc1 and 2 were much the same in their Primary and any gaps were easily filled by me and dh. Dc3 has a lovely group of friends who are fabulous, just as dc1 and 2 did in their 'poor' Primary.

At Secondary...the differences are far more stark imo. I'm thankful every day we were able to move here in time for Comp for the eldest two. They have fantastic facilities. They have choice of more sports than it's possible to do, same with music. The opportunity to take accelerated maths and sit the GCSE a year early, of Latin and extra language classes, none of which is possible in the other Comp. Excellent pastoral care but with all round high expectations. Compared to the other Comp where getting 5 GCSE passes is seen as a huge win it's like a different world.

So yes...the differences at Primary matter less/have much less impact imo.

Compared to the other Comp where getting 5 GCSE passes is seen as a huge win it's like a different world.

😱

I would say from Year 3 onwards go to Prep or possibly year 5. My very bright eldest was behind when she started the prep, she caught up but the initial difference was huge.

I find the kids who have been in prep from at least year 3 perform better at Senior School as it's not just the academics it's the sport too.

Do State til 8 then private from then.

Also my eldest in a selective senior Independant school said she really wouldn't last a minute in our comp. Which my national standards is excellent but we know/she knows she'd be bullied.

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