Independent education?

singlestep

Don't discount it in your own mind until you do have an idea of how CfE is going to pan out in high school. Teachers of many subjects don't know exactly what they should be planning for and dates for information on this have been pushed back to after the alloted extra in-service day time. Not sure employers etc really know what they're in for when the current S3 leave school.

It's well-intentioned but hopefully something better will have come along once people realise how ill-conceived it is. Of course, it's probably what they said about Standard Grade .

quinechinoise

GlasweJen wrote: »

he wants the kids to go to the same school he went to which is an independent school.

You said you can afford the school fees, so disregard the fact that it is an expensive/private school - is it a good school? Have you toured the school? Have you read the prospectus? Do you have any reason to believe it is NOT a good school? If you would be perfectly happy to send your child there if it was a free/state school, then I really don't see the problem...?

Prejudice and snobbery isn't something that kids are born with - it's something that they are taught. If money isn't an issue, choose - or disregard - a school based on whether it is the right choice for your child. Tbh, there's something quite nice in the idea that your potential child could join daddy's old house/team, be taught by some of his old teachers, visit some of the old haunts that family members talk about, etc. To be even more honest, if it was me, some of my reluctance would be more to do with it being HIS old school rather than mine... but I'd still make the decision based on whether it was right for my kids.

VestanPance

Person_one wrote: »

This is why I don't date Tories!

I'm surprised that people with large political differences can make it work together, possibly due to the fact I'm very passionate about politics.

I could never date a Tory either. I think one or both of us would end up dead in less than 24 hours.

peachyprice

SuzieSue wrote: »

There is no way the best state schools can compete with the best independent schools when it comes to facilities.

No, but there are plenty of great state schools that exceed average independent schools. Not all independent schools are good, independent education doesn't suit all families, which is why it's very naive to believe that independent is the only way.

SuzieSue

peachyprice wrote: »

No, but there are plenty of great state schools that exceed average independent schools. Not all independent schools are good, independent education doesn't suit all families, which is why it's very naive to believe that independent is the only way.

I said that the best state schools cannot compete with the best independent schools (not average independent schools).

FBaby

I'm still confused as to what parents expect their child from going to a private school as a whole without actually knowing the needs their future child might have or even know what the local school might offer. Is it is a case of believing that private school is ALWAYS better no matter what the need? That a clever gifted child will systematically do better with private schooling? That a child with low IQ might achieve more? That a socially shy child will forceably adjust better in private school?

Peater

It really depends on the individual child in my opinion.

My sister was state educated, me private. My sister was pretty academic and the local girls school was rated alright so she went there with her friends.

I was struggling a bit at junior school. It was thought that i would benefit from smaller class sizes and more one to one teaching so, i was shipped off to St.Horties.

In terms of 'contacts', it's not really been useful. I keep in touch with maybe 5 people in total, as friends. There were alot of wasters there. You can't buy an education.

poet123

I have had experience of both sides of the fence as a parent,and the outcome didn't vary massively between the two sectors. My sons who were state educated achieved very similar exam results to the one who went private. Their career paths have been roughly similar (in different spheres) and their earning power is capped only by the differences in their chosen fields not their academic success. I have one child still in state education and he is set to achieve better exam results than any of the other three. Going on that experience I think that what a child gets from their education is very individual and that if they have the drive and the parental support they will achieve in any above average state school.

Of course if you are in an area where state provision is poor and if private education (in the right school) can be afforded, that would be the obvious choice.

cheepskate_2

GlasweJen wrote: »

I'm worried that my kids would think less of my nieces because they are in state schools.

OP, You already seem very biased and have already made your mind up.

As for the above, It works both ways, or didn't you know.

Where the state school educated children(and parents) , think it seems to be ok to call independent Educated children "posh kids". When it's the other way around they don't seem to look on the "common kids" (opposite of posh) tag so well themselves.

Also why would your child not accept his nieces etc. You boyfriend accepted you as a partner.

I dont think MSE is the place to get unbiased opinions on this subject , seeing as the majority will comment harshly on independent schools with absolutely no experience of them.and will comment just because of the "you and Me " divide.

JodyBPM

I think its a crazy thing to be considering now, when you aren't living together, married, trying for or have a baby. Presumably the whole question wouldn't come into play for at least another 6 years, but likely closer to 10 years or more, and its simply impossible to know what will happen between now and then, what your circumstances will be etc.

I would say that if you are asked/questioned about it that you simply say that, circumstances permitting, you will consider that school, amongst others, when the time comes, and will keep an open mind.

I would warn you though that £7000 per annum all in for private school fees seems exceptionally cheap, and you may wish to go back and check your figures. Round here fees alone are c £4-5k per term (so £12-15k) before you add on books, uniforms, trips, lunches, extra-curricular activities, sporting events, exam fees, music tuition etc all of which are often both compulsory and priced at well above what you would expect to pay on the open market. I would say that down here you would need to budget on at least £16k per child per annum and if you are a 40% tax payer you have to earn nearly £30k to actually have that £16K in your hand to pay the fees...