Are Private Schools worth it?

tidyfinance

Very interesting thread.
The school my lad has just gone to give music scholaships, so you would have been sorted!
People have this impression of private schools that they produce academic but non-social kids - not true. My lads school places just as much emphasis on the social side. Bottom line is that they aim for clever well rounded kids.
My lad might well have done just as well at the local comprehensive which is a good school, we'll never know. But at least we are giving him the best possible start in life and the rest is up to him. I think as parents we know which of our kids might benefit. My elder lad definately will. He's clever and very sporty also. Although he's allied to a professional football club and is a talented cricketer and rugby player, he realises that his school work must come first as the likelyhood of him becoming a professional sportsman is very slim.
I'll repeat though that it was my lad who pleaded with us to sit the entrance exam and had totally driven the private school ethos himself. This is why I started this thread, to try to establish the best place to house the money raised for his school fees. The thread has gone off on a totally different angle thanks to 'cheggers' putting his oare in! It's never been a case of "You're clever enough so your going" attitude. If I'm totally honest it was me rather than the wife who was against it initially because of cost etc.

melancholly

I went to a private school and really loved it... it is all really personal.... the only thing i can add to this thread is that the debate shouldn't be private/state. From my experience the more important debates are selective/non-selective entry and single sex/mixed schools. I was lucky that at 11, my parents let me choose which school i liked more (they probably regretted me choosing the private school because 'it has a swimming pool'), but i hate people making assumptions about me because of the type of school i went to. Reverse snobbery is just as bad as the normal kind!

Savvy_Sue

ReportInvestor wrote:

You may have inadvertently seen Christ's Hospital recently as it featured in the TV programme "Rock School", along with Gene Simmons of KISS.

My son was an avid fan of this, and did not believe what I told him about the school and that he could go there if he wanted to! I think the uniform put him off somewhat ...

georgiasmum

I am a secondary school teacher in a 'bog standard' comp and have no shame in telling you that my own child has been privately educated since reception. I read in one post somewhere that primary school doesn't matter but as an English teacher I would heartily disagree!!! At year 7 the legacy of the dictatorial curriculum is illiterate 11 year olds. In an independent school they are more free to explore the curriculum and the needs of their own pupils without the constant threat of league tables and other governmental hurdles. I also agree with the poster that said that reverse snobbery is as bad!! Financially it is a huge sacrifice but based on my own educational experience(also private) it was and is worth it. I have made provision for her senior years. When I think about the poor behaviour and verbal abuse I have suffered at the hands of parents over the years I am glad my daughter will never experience that!!

Tojo_Ralph

georgiasmum wrote:

At year 7 the legacy of the dictatorial curriculum is illiterate 11 year olds. In an independent school they are more free to explore the curriculum and the needs of their own pupils without the constant threat of league tables and other governmental hurdles.

"more free"?

Whilst schools play a major role in any child's education, an illiterate child in year 7 has been let down by their parent/parents far more than they have by their school.

tidyfinance

Sarcy devil!
Sometimes people type 'off the top of their head' and get the write-up posted without checking it. No problem - is it? We all know what Giorgiasmum meant.

Tojo_Ralph

tidyfinance wrote:

Sarcy devil!
Sometimes people type 'off the top of their head' and get the write-up posted without checking it. No problem - is it? We all know what Tojo Ralph meant.

I am quite sure that everyone did indeed know exactly what georgiasmum meant, just as they would also have known that my own comment was tongue in cheek. :rolleyes:

tidyfinance

Fair enough.

lettie

my children went to the local comp and had a good education, both in university now studying to be doctors. its not the school you send them to it's what your child will achieve, you cant put anything into a child thats not already there.

bobsa1

just caught up with this thread. I believe it's about making any decisions based on the information you have at the time.

We are happy with our choice to go private, just as many are happy with their choice to go via the state system.

Many state educated children do well, as do many privately educated children.

OP I would look at your finances, look at the schools and look at your child prior to making a decision.

What I would not do is get involved in an ethical debate.

You want the best for your child, whatever that best may be.