Independent education?

Mojisola

GlasweJen wrote: »

The reason it's being discussed just now is in the context of long term planning, I don't drive which means OH had to get a reality check when he was talking about sending the children to after school clubs in the schools area when I would be at home (we have chosen a village close to my mums which is on the opposite side of Glasgow).

So you can keep all options open.

The only thing I'd be wary of is giving the impression now that you're happy with the idea of the private school and then speaking out against it later. Make sure he knows that you have reservations but are willing to consider all the possibilities nearer the time.

Both of you will need to decide what is best for your child rather than making a decision based on the idea that "private schools are good".

Lunar_Eclipse

heretolearn wrote: »

If the state school is 'better' for your child, they are foolish in refusing it out of principle. If the private school is 'better' for your child, you are foolish in refusing it out of principle.

I've only highlighted a bit, but wanted to say this is such an excellent post!

cheepskate_2

Person_one wrote: »

You seem to discount the idea that there are valid and sensible reasons for being morally opposed to private education.

Well base it on that then, but I have not heard these arguments on these types of threads.This "moral and ethical" debate is totally different to what was being asked by the OP.

Anyway, going by this thread, State schools are just as good/If not better than Independent, so really money is not buying anything, thus no divide

cheepskate_2

When choosing a school "on Academics" its not how many do well you should be looking at, but really should be looking at the other end and how many kids come away with little or nothing.

Bright kids with bad teaching will still do well. Not so bright kids(or kids with different learning styles) with great teaching methods can do really well, but with bad teaching will fail.

Maureen43

Interesting thread.

I went to a very academic private school (not boarding). The advantages were obvious - smaller class sizes, better facilities, high aspirations.

The biggest disadvantage I felt was that it simply isn't the real world. It is a very comfortable bubble. I was hopelessly ill equipped for the real world of university where I met people from all backgrounds. Plus these days I'm afraid those who are privately educated receive an awful lot of undeserved anger from those who aren't.

I want my children to have a "normal", well rounded life where they will be educated alongside others of all types. For that reason they go to the (admittedly highly rated by Ofsted) local state school. They go to school with children whose parents cover pretty much every profession in the book, and that is the way I like it.

OP, I don't really answer your question here but just wanted to add another perspective!

VestanPance

Bad teaching is not the issue that it is made out to be though. League tables are almost identical based on wealth of catchment area.

Kids with parental pressure to perform and who are bright will do well at the "best" school in the country as they would in the "worst" school.

Lunar_Eclipse

FBaby wrote: »

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?

Basically, yes.

A gifted child in a highly selective school (ie most are gifted) will be surrounded by equals intellectually. It's unlikely to influence exam results (if you're an A* pupil you're an A* pupil) but the environment can be completely different and in theory, could have a long term difference. A shy child will generally do better in a class of 12 than a class of 30.

In answer to what parents expect, I think it's generally an all round education.

Lunar_Eclipse

Person_one wrote: »

You seem to discount the idea that there are valid and sensible reasons for being morally opposed to private education.

I agree with many of those reasons, but once it's your child and you don't agree with what state schools are doing, it's a completely different ball game, in my experience.

Education isn't what it used to be, some of which is definitely for the better, but some for the worse. Primary schools focus heavily (almost exclusively) on Maths & English. They are very important subjects, but hardly reflect an education to strive for. My daughter has just sat some 11+ exams. I was shocked at how little is actually covered in the Key Stage 2 Maths curriculum on the basis that she's done it every. single. day. since she started school.

Parents are also equally fixated by exam results. Miracles are expected by lots of academically average children.

I just don't get it.

FBaby

Lunar_Eclipse wrote: »

Basically, yes.

A gifted child in a highly selective school (ie most are gifted) will be surrounded by equals intellectually. It's unlikely to influence exam results (if you're an A* pupil you're an A* pupil) but the environment can be completely different and in theory, could have a long term difference. A shy child will generally do better in a class of 12 than a class of 30.

In answer to what parents expect, I think it's generally an all round education.

Well this is where I don't agree at all any longer. I had that exact thought when my DD started at our local secondary school. Every since she was at nursery, I was told that she was very advanced. She finished primary school with the 'child of the year award' out of 115ish kids, so became quite concerned when I realise the low average levels of the children in her year group AND even more worried when I realised that children were not put into sets until year 8. I thought there was no way she could continue to do well in this environment but I was wrong. She finished year 7 with grades that showed she had made massive progress that year. Starting year 8 and she has continued to progress with very high expected levels at the end of the year.

The reason is that she is a naturally very self motivated child and so has made sure to be known by her teachers. They appreciate her eagerness and are therefore taking the time to give her special work/tutoring. They regularly ask her if she is stimulated enough and act accordingly.

I really don't see how she could be more challenged then she already is and more importantly what would be the benefits.

On the other hand, she is quite a very typical self-centered teenager, interested in fashion, make-up and all that superficious stuff that the 'average' teenage girls are into. I strongly believe she has more in common socially with the girls in her school than she would have with girls going to private schools. I think she would have find it much harder to adapt to the social environment of the very elitist private school that is the only one I would have considered than she did at the local school. As for activities, we are member of a gym club and so enjoy regular activities there.

I genuinely don't think she would benefit in anyway from going to private school. Not all private kids are happy there. There have been so threads here of children becoming much happier when transferring to their local school and as a result doing better academically.

Dunroamin

FBaby wrote: »

Well this is where I don't agree at all any longer. I had that exact thought when my DD started at our local secondary school. Every since she was at nursery, I was told that she was very advanced. She finished primary school with the 'child of the year award' out of 115ish kids, so became quite concerned when I realise the low average levels of the children in her year group AND even more worried when I realised that children were not put into sets until year 8. I thought there was no way she could continue to do well in this environment but I was wrong. She finished year 7 with grades that showed she had made massive progress that year. Starting year 8 and she has continued to progress with very high expected levels at the end of the year.

The reason is that she is a naturally very self motivated child and so has made sure to be known by her teachers. They appreciate her eagerness and are therefore taking the time to give her special work/tutoring. They regularly ask her if she is stimulated enough and act accordingly.

I really don't see how she could be more challenged then she already is and more importantly what would be the benefits.

On the other hand, she is quite a very typical self-centered teenager, interested in fashion, make-up and all that superficious stuff that the 'average' teenage girls are into. I strongly believe she has more in common socially with the girls in her school than she would have with girls going to private schools. I think she would have find it much harder to adapt to the social environment of the very elitist private school that is the only one I would have considered than she did at the local school. As for activities, we are member of a gym club and so enjoy regular activities there.

I genuinely don't think she would benefit in anyway from going to private school. Not all private kids are happy there. There have been so threads here of children becoming much happier when transferring to their local school and as a result doing better academically.

Of course, that might well be because of the school she attends rather than because of anything inherent. In fact, many people might think that an excellent reason for sending a bright girl to a private school rather than otherwise