Hi all
Is anyone else finding they are disappointed with their very expensive private school choice. The issues we’ve encountered so far:
- Kids whole year group WhatsApp has two or three kids on there threatening to ‘find each other at school’ and insulting each other. Lots of comments deleted and I dread to think what they say
- School failed to put child on the coach despite DS asking several times if his coach was ready
- The more academic clubs which were advertised as popular in the schools marketing material don’t actually exist. The co-curricular lead only talks about sports in his emails and fails to respond to requests about the academic subjects
- DS went to a few clubs this week and only one or two kids were there, even though they are open to the whole school and it’s meant to be an academic school (85% 9-7 at GCSE level)
Im starting to think he’d be better off at the local state comp with parental input. He comes home far later than all his state primary school friends. He’s home by 5:15pm after the coach. Whereas the state school finishes at 3:15pm. He’s stuck on a coach with most of them on headphones and scrolling through ridiculous Tic Tocs and YouTube shorts. I told him to do his homework which he has been doing and he is a diligent kid so I’m thankful for that. But I feel guilty that he misses home life to be stuck on the coach and have an extra long day and for what? We would have chosen the local state grammar schools in a heartbeat but DS didn’t get in. We are in a super selective grammar area. I’m now counting the years till we can try again for the state grammars at sixth form. The only thing I’m holding onto is our local state comp scores 35% 9-7 at GCSE compared to 85% at DS’ school. If it wasn’t for this I think I’d pull him out. I never wanted to go down the private education route. This is a lot of money for us. DH went to a private school and I went to the local state comp, we ended up at the same Russell group uni so I don’t personally see the need like he does for a private school.
Please can others share their thoughts. Thank you 🙏