To think the Cambridges should send their 3 to state school

[lightisnotwhite]

Why not? They don’t need to get top grades to pursue careers and if they do turn out to be academic they can still be doctors and lawyers like other state kids.
They don’t need to mix well socially or learn the manners and etiquette. In fact they could probably do with mixing a bit more widely.
The beefed up security could help the new school in general as could their contribution to the PTA. Lots of state schools do Forest School and they could pay for extra sport coaching.
Sounds like a plan to me.

I don’t have a problem with them paying for their children’s education, I’d rather that than them taking up taxpayer funded state places.

Would it? The children of the Dutch king and queen mostly go to state schools...

The Netherlands only have 40 private schools in total @stayinghometoday
The UK has over 2500!
Maybe the Dutch royals just don’t have one near by 😄
But seriously this is the problem with having so many private schools. If more children from affluent families went to state schools, they would help put more of their money, power and influence towards those schools to make sure they were damn good, through things like fundraising and the PTA. They’ve seen this happen in Norway where fee paying schools became outlawed. Everyone needs the state schools to succeed. Here, people with the power to make positive changes to the education system don’t care because they don’t use it - MPs included.
Finland now has one of the most highly regarded education systems in the world. This was decades ago too - unbelievable that the rest of the world has not learned from it, or apparently refuses to learn from it.

I can easily imagine the nice state school becoming inaccessible to those not able to pay a private school, once that the usual people are priced out of their own area by affluent families interested in sending their kids to the Cambridges’ state school.

Believe it or not, private school is as “normal” to some as state school is to others.

I would.

Yes but my point is they have no need whatsoever ever of the best education.

I think it would be a security nightmare and would disadvantage the other pupils. They can afford private schooling, why place a burden on the state?

The new school has 52 acres. How are they securing that do you think?

Tbf the school they have chosen, Lambrook, is one of the more 'normal' private schools that they could have chosen.

(My children go to state school, I'm just local).

They would still need the best education, especially when conversing with their counterparts in other countries ect, and in General they need to be fully aware of various perspectives and analysis ect, especially as they will be fronting different projects ect.

@lightisnotwhite
Of course they need a good education. There is a vast amount of homework behind all those public engagements. They have to learn about every person they meet and every place they visit.

Those children couldn’t lead the life they lead now at state school. They might friends with ordinary kids - but then they couldn’t ever go on a play date or home for tea (security checking would be a nightmare, then there’s the risk of Uncle Steve “popping round” for a cup of tea but really to take photos to sell to the press…). W&C couldn’t be part of the parent WhatsApp groups. Some parents would inevitably blab George’s spelling result or Charlotte’s Maths test grade to the Daily Mail.

I don’t agree with the Royal Family full stop. But I do accept if we’re going to have one, they have to lead a privileged lifestyle with all the trappings it brings.

They can send their kids wherever they want. It's completely up to them.

I'm sure there would be angry people if the Cambridge children took 3 state school places in an oversubscribed school.

At least if the other kids/families in that prep school don't like the security risk/extra interest/weirdos stalking around, they can move their kids in an instant. Not so easy to get another state place if kids wanted to move from a school.

W&K don't tell you where to send your kids, so don't tell them where to send theirs.

Well said.
There are plenty of well off people who wouldn't send their DC to a private school and I'm one of them.

jeez. Imagine if you were in the catchment area and the school had no places for your kids because sorry the Cambridge kids need to sponge off the free education system to make people feel better. Bollocks to that. Let them just pay the education tax that is private school.

Do they? Or is the skill being able to talk to everyone and anyone and sound interested. To be public ally apolitical and non judgemental.
They could do state school and have a bit of tutoring ( as always recommended in MN)..

They are personally vastly wealthy. What family with wealth similar to theirs uses state schools?

It’s a break from tradition that they are sent to a school. HMQ was educated at home like all the previous members of the RF. For the RF they are doing things differently.

Security isn't just barriers.

It's also about who is inside them. And the Admissions Code isn't going to be torn up so that the DC of someone of terrorist concern can be excluded from a school they qualify for.

YABU because private schools are generally better than state schools. It's a no-brainer for anyone who can afford it, not just the Royal Family.

all of the Queen’s children went away to school! All her grandchildren. They’re not doing anything differently at all!

they’re not exactly breaking the mould because the duke of York NINE DECADES AGO decided to get a governess in.

The idea that a minor private school offers a better education than the best state schools is rubbish. And the stats bear this out.

A good idea though OP. They do not need a great education and none of them do great at school anyway in spite of the extra tutoring they receive.
They already receive extra education for their role in the role of the monarchy, the constitution and royal etiquette.

The Queen did not have a great education and yet is the most popular member of the Royal Family. Charles had a far better education and yet has made many "gaffes".

Kates family did earn their own money though

A lot of the royals went to Gordonstoun. Last time I looked, it was not a good school academically. Expensive, yes. Expensive schools aren’t always good.

It could be argued that , that method may work for the common people, but when it's the intellectuals, top tier business magnets, e.g. Jamie Dimon, various political parties, ect, they will need to be able to state their perspectives, defend said points and engage in constructive and heated debates etc, when needed, just nodding and going oooohhhhh yes, does not cut the mustard.