Private school fees (merged)

emsywoo123

Mado wrote: »

Because until you have tried the local school for yourself you shouldn't dismiss it?
It may not look brilliant and still be decent.
You say I am lucky; my DD started school in Australia (we were on assignment there), in a remote town. The school was very average and primary education in Australia is rather laid back. We came back in October of her UK year 2; She still managed to get a level 3 in all her sats when we came back to the UK.

What you do with your child has a lot of influence on their achievements ; it is not just what goes on in the classroom that counts.

I was specifically referring to Mdean's sweeping generalisations about education, and indeed about the personal remarks made about posters on the thread.
I have nothing further to add to this debate, I have been involved from the start, and I am of the opinion that people have set ideas and will stick to them, which is not bad thing, as it proves that they have confidence in their choices.:D

ldavies_3

Just to throw my 2 pennies worth on my own experiences of the education systems.

My brother went to private school from the age of 12 and left with 2 gcse qualification and now works as a long distance lorry driver albeit earning good money.

I refused to go to private school and left with a full hat of good results, went on to further education for more good results and I am now a manager of a high st bank.

Both my cousins went to private school from the age of 3. both are now aged 29 and 21 and both have never been employed, ever, Neither have the social skills or confidence to work with "us minions" and still live at home, completely dependant on their family.

My aunt has spent in the region of 200k to fund their education.... and for what????

I used to feel very inferior to that side of the family when I was growing up. Now I just feel sorry for them..

I know what I will be doing with my children!

Coupon-mad

Good post, ldavies! :T

A question for those of you who can't stomach the thought of even setting foot in a state school to have a look at it and seeing what they have to offer:

Were you imagining that in a typical state school, a form with 30 mixed-ability pupils were all just herded together from lesson to lesson? The truth is that's not the case at all in the majority of state secondaries.

My eldest is nearly 15 and top of his class in maths, and in the top set for his other subjects, in a very good state secondary school. All lessons are separated into sets according to ability so there is no disruptive element affecting the more able children. Even before the sets were decided upon in year 8, for academic lessons the form groups were usually split into 2 more manageable groups of 15, each with a qualified teacher.

My younger 3 children will be going to the same state secondary, which has been rated 'outstanding' and has such good results they often beat fee-paying schools. There are other such good schools out there, can you all be so sure there isn't one near you unless you actually look?

emsywoo123

Coupon-mad wrote: »

Good post, ldavies! :T

A question for those of you who can't stomach the thought of even setting foot in a state school to have a look at it and seeing what they have to offer:

Were you imagining that in a typical state school, a form with 30 mixed-ability pupils were all just herded together from lesson to lesson? The truth is that's not the case at all in the majority of state secondaries.

My eldest is nearly 15 and top of his class in maths, and in the top set for his other subjects, in a very good state secondary school. All lessons are separated into sets according to ability so there is no disruptive element affecting the more able children. Even before the sets were decided upon in year 8, for academic lessons the form groups were usually split into 2 more manageable groups of 15, each with a qualified teacher.

My younger 3 children will be going to the same state secondary, which has been rated 'outstanding' and has such good results they often beat fee-paying schools. There are other such good schools out there, can you all be so sure there isn't one near you unless you actually look?

What really annoys me about this thread is that those of us that send our children to private schools have been accused of "snobbery" and yet it is those of you that send your children to state school that have actually been the most unpleasant to the rest of us!!:mad:
Congratulations all of you with high achieving state educated children. I am keeping DD at private school, I think it is worth it, good afternoon!

PasturesNew

Riq wrote: »

The problem is that as a child if your parents can just afford to send you there and they have to save and scrimp, then you will be bullied mercilessly unfortunately.

Not nice, but that is just the law of the playground.

I took and passed my 11+ back in 1972.
I could have gone to a private school: Perse School for Girls, Cambridge.

I chose not to because I knew enough to know that I'd have been bullied for my 2nd hand uniform, no treats, no foreign holidays, no school trips allowed. Kids are mean and will always pick on somebody for being different. Being poor is very popular as a target.

They wouldn't have appreciated the irony of being at the school through intelligence and not because mummy and daddy could afford to send them there.

I'd not have thrived in that environment so there was no point in putting myself through the pain of the bullying by thick but wealthy children.

Oh, I left with 2 O levels because the local school didn't offer much I was interested in. But that was years ago, before people were actually encouraged to do well. You were just herded through and chucked out to work in shops back then.

andyrules

Well the jury seems to be still out on this one!

I think it's fair to say that everyone's opinions and choices are valid and only they know the reasons for their decision.

In my case, I would love to have sent one of mine to the local private school as we are not blessed with quality state schools here and our local secondary had a bullying problem. However, we couldn't afford it and she toughened up as a result. A friend educated both of her children privately; both dropped out of education after achieving poor and mediocre GCSEs, yet that was not entirely down to the school!

If people are making sacrifices for their beliefs about their child's education -then all power to them.

I would say this though - don't expect the expense to end with A-levels - university bleeds you dry!;)

sjaypink

if you dont mind me asking emsy? (sorry havn't read all this thread u mite have already sed............) is ur dd on a scholarship?

PasturesNew

I think what you're mainly buying with a private education is the contacts side of things. It's not what you know it's who you know. The old boys' club and all that.

If you go to private school, your mates and their parents will be well connected. Together they seem to work together to tip each other off about good jobs etc. This works throughout their lives. If you're out of work you'll have the contacts to tap into and they all know people who know people ... who can set you up in your next well paid good job.

That's where the true value lies: job security from who you know.

The good results you get from the teaching methods; the easier access to Uni (being taught how to apply and having the right exam passes); these are all part of the parcel of "who you know". Success by association.

No matter how lovely they are, Bob who got a job as a part-time cleaner at the bus depot and Mary who works Thursday nights at the chippy really don't have the contacts to help get you good and well paid jobs when you want or need them.

emsywoo123

sjaypink wrote: »

if you dont mind me asking emsy? (sorry havn't read all this thread u mite have already sed............) is ur dd on a scholarship?

Hi! No it is fine to ask, (although I am wondering why!?) but no she is not.:D

emsywoo123

PasturesNew wrote: »

I took and passed my 11+ back in 1972.
I could have gone to a private school: Perse School for Girls, Cambridge.

I chose not to because I knew enough to know that I'd have been bullied for my 2nd hand uniform, no treats, no foreign holidays, no school trips allowed. Kids are mean and will always pick on somebody for being different. Being poor is very popular as a target.

They wouldn't have appreciated the irony of being at the school through intelligence and not because mummy and daddy could afford to send them there.

I'd not have thrived in that environment so there was no point in putting myself through the pain of the bullying by thick but wealthy children.

Oh, I left with 2 O levels because the local school didn't offer much I was interested in. But that was years ago, before people were actually encouraged to do well. You were just herded through and chucked out to work in shops back then.

cough cough.........