Independent education?

consultant31

poet123 wrote: »

I think that unless they have a cohesive, supportive family unit a child cannot get the best from any education. The foundations for life are laid at home and built upon by educators.

Hear, hear!

Our children were privately educated because we live in what is described as a 'deprived' area and the local schools are a very mixed bag, so for us the decision wasn't hard to make.

When they were young, there was a period of strikes by teachers which was terribly disruptive for the 5th and 6th years who had important exams coming up (I am making no comment on this other than that it happened) but there was no such disruption at the independent school.

One other thing to consider is that most independent schools have much longer holidays than state schools - though less of the odd days, making it easy to take holidays when they're cheaper

FBaby

heartbreak_star wrote: »

It's a mix of both. I was a very bright kid but never wanted private school, and my parents were happy to leave me be when I was happy and productive.

Most of my formative experiences were those from family (learning to be an only child and how to deal with adults) and from friends at out-of-school clubs rather than those at school. I credit being an only child for the fact I never felt the need to be in a clique.

OP, my advice would be see how your child develops coming up to nursery age, and ALWAYS keep communication open. I felt able to talk to one or both of my parents about anything - and if I really hated my school, they would have taken steps to mitigate it or move me.

(I did have a tutor for an hour a week at A-level, but I'd have struggled with organic chemistry whether state or private educated!)

HBS x

Totally agree with this post

GlasweJen

Thanks for your input everyone.

I've spoken to other half and told him that while I'm not averse to private education I'm not choosing a school until we have the child here as we can't possibly know what's best for a baby who doesn't exist. I have agreed that regardless the child will attend the nursery class at "his" school while we look at alternatives but this is mostly as a convenience and means we can bypass the entrance interview for primary school if we decide to continue at the school.

Pelirocco - we have been an "official couple" for 18 months, best friends for years before it but it took a major health scare before we took the gamble and told each other how we really feel, I was literally on deaths door (though refused to admit how ill I wasn't the time). Conceiving wont be a problem at all, the need for a surrogate will be because I had a heart transplant just over a year ago, the graft leaked twice which meant 2 more major surgeries and then my body decided to do its utmost to chew the new heart to pieces. The immunosuppressants weren't working as well as they should and it took them ages (over 6 months) to get my body into check. After all that the hospital aren't sure if any baby would survive in there but in terms of baby making there's nothing wrong with me, if the hospital say no to the pregnancy we have already decided to use a surrogate and want to start the process as soon as we are married next November.

Lunar_Eclipse

SuzieSue wrote: »

To quote Tony Blair "Education, education, education". Not only is it the most important part of a child's life, it is also the most important part of society because without it you have nothing.

I imagine the reference to education, as opposed to schooling, is quite deliberate.

Everyday life provides an education, in that it teaches. For children to learn they need to be able to learn and open to learning, so for a portion of society this is difficult/impossible and (private) schooling probably isn't the most important part of their lives.

Your statement feels quite out of place too, in that most children in the UK have access to at least a satisfactory education. What they learn from it and go on to do with it then varies enormously.

SuzieSue

Lunar_Eclipse wrote: »

Your statement feels quite out of place too, in that most children in the UK have access to at least a satisfactory education.

Which country do you live in? I can't remember the number of failing schools we have but it is a very high proportion and I would very much doubt that over 50% of children have access to a satisfactory education at all in England (I can't speak for the rest of the UK).

SuzieSue

Lunar_Eclipse wrote: »

Everyday life provides an education, in that it teaches. For children to learn they need to be able to learn and open to learning, so for a portion of society this is difficult/impossible and (private) schooling probably isn't the most important part of their lives.

Of course, every day life provides an education but most education is provided by schools. I didn't say that private schooling was the most important part of a child's life, I said education was and I said that parents considering children should think about the education of their unborn child which includes which school they should go to.

poet123

SuzieSue wrote: »

Of course, every day life provides an education but most education is provided by schools. I didn't say that private schooling was the most important part of a child's life, I said education was and I said that parents considering children should think about the education of their unborn child which includes which school they should go to.

I disagree, the academic component is provided by schools. Education is much more than that.

I think it is wise to plan ahead especially when buying a family home. When we moved our eldest son was 2, we bought in the catchment for a good Primary and one which was also a feeder school to a good Secondary. You do have to think these things through, but also be prepared to be flexible and adapt to the needs of the individual child.

toontron

Education choices are, I think, based on a number of factors. Provision and quality of state and private alternatives locally, the kind of environment that you believe would best suit your child, and personal preference. My children both attend private school, it is not cheap, I would advise the OP to look long term, fees can rise sharply as your child goes up the year groups, it is not merely a matter of being able to pay the entry level fee.

GlasweJen

toontron wrote: »

Education choices are, I think, based on a number of factors. Provision and quality of state and private alternatives locally, the kind of environment that you believe would best suit your child, and personal preference. My children both attend private school, it is not cheap, I would advise the OP to look long term, fees can rise sharply as your child goes up the year groups, it is not merely a matter of being able to pay the entry level fee.

We are going on a 25% increase between now and child starting, 35% between now and child finishing high school based on the prices published for the coming year.

The school currently provides books included in the fees and some other small "costs" which don't usually come as standard with private education such as the cost of the Saturday bus to the rugby/hockey matches, cost of swimming lessons and a few smaller things again - we have assumed that none of this will be included. Even budgeting for a "big" school trip every 2 years from primary 5 (which is what OH had), the cost of a full new uniform every year (soo won't happen unless necessary), and adding the cost of after school activities it is affordable on OHs salary and he could still afford the mortgage and a frugal day to day lifestyle. As I have no intention of quitting work we should get through this fairly comfortably.

My one worry would be if one of us lost our job, I wouldn't transfer from private to public but we could have a savings account for this eventuality to cover a years fees just in case.

poet123

Forgive me for raising this subject, but you say you have no intention of quitting work but is your health now such that you will have no further issues?