Private School

[jayonabike]

I always yearned to be a postman.

I've been doing it for 24 yrs, it's nothing to write home about.

 

[vernon]

I've been doing it for 24 yrs, it's nothing to write home about.

That was a comment with a stamp of authority.

 

[Cyclist33]

We will always be biased from our own experiences. But my opinion is don't do it. Put the money towards great quality time with your kids.

And ask them what they want and LISTEN. Kids aren't stupid and will get more from feeling loved, respected and wanted by mum and dad, than any amount of £ s spent on teaching.

 

[slowmotion]

I've been doing it for 24 yrs, it's nothing to write home about.

That's a first class post....

 

[Andy_R]

our local private school (Durham School) excells at sports, but is dire when it comes to acedemia relating to local LEA schools...

 

[slowmotion]

My daughter has just finished at a state school. She has friends who went to state and private schools, all of whom are charming and delightful young people. The old stereotype of public school types being Old School Tie-flashing snobs is pretty laughable. There are nobbers from all types of education and all walks of life.

 

[gavintc]

Sent both my children to private school. It provided them stability while my job demanded that I move frequently; 15 separate addresses across the world in the first 18 yrs of my daughter's life. I relied upon private education.

 

[Moodyman]

Be involved with rhe school give good home support, that matters more than some poncy private school

This is the key. What framework you have at home matters more than the school.

 

[araapatlio]

Just after a bit of advice from fellow CCers. What are peoples thoughts, is it worth the financial sacrifice to send your child to private school ?

I don't like the term "sacrifice" as it connotes a massive waste, the surrendering of something valuable for nothing in return. You should view it instead as investing in your child. It depends entirely on your own situation and what you can afford. Yes, it is worth it, if you can afford it, do it - especially if you have bright children. Higher ability children are systematically let down by state education, cast aside and left to fend for themselves. I say this as a parent, a former primary school teacher and current home tutor.

However, if you can not afford it, or it would be a significant financial burden, then it would not be worth it and you'd be far far far better off putting the money towards educational tools at home or trips to museums or books or music or foreign language tuition, or sports clubs. The choice of school is obviously very important, but the most important indicator of a child's educational success is actually the level of involvement parents have in their learning. Do not put pressure on yourself into thinking that private school is the key to your child's future success and state education condemns them to a life of intellectually stifling penury - it just doesn't work like that. Remember also that private schools cannot guarantee anything, though you are substantially shifting the odds in your favour.

If the financial burden would be too large, then homeschooling is always a very good alternative - one that is on the rise in the UK. But this comes with its own financial costs. There is no easy answer, each to their own situation.

Best of luck.

 

[araapatlio]

Be involved with rhe school give good home support, that matters more than some poncy private school unless you think your kid is to good to mix with the locals.

Decades of research proves that parental involvement is indeed the biggest indicator of educational success (though school is another big factor).

However, I fail to see what the latter half of your sentence adds to the debate.

 

[Noodley]

He's a pretty bright kid (I'm sure all parents think that of theirs ?) so I think a private school will build on this and allow him to progress at his own rate maybe. My concern would be in a state school he would not find his full potential as he gets older.

Without wanting to sound like a nobber, so probably guaranteed to sound like one...kids will get on fine, if you love them and genuinely want them to progress at their own rate, whatever happens will happen irrespective of whether you pay for their education or not. We decided not to send elder noodlette to a fee-paying school - Mrs N was wanting to and I was against it - I have no idea if it was the "right" decision, but it was the decision we agreed on. She was a pain in the arse for years anyway, but has now turned out to be a very amusing, highly intelligent, out-going 16 year old. She has great friends, and is even now realising that her mum and I are quite good fun. She has decided to leave school after sitting her Highers, she made an arse of her prelims and the "league-conscious" teachers told her that she was not going to be allowed to sit her exams; she had other views re this and told them to stick it up their arse as she was sitting them - she was successful in being permitted to sit them. I have no idea how she'll get on; but she's off to study agriculture at college next year anyway, and if she has got the grades she thinks she has got ("if I don't get an A's or B's I'll be pissed off" she said) she'll then try to go to Uni for a Rural Business Management course...but that will be after she has returned from Australia, as she has also got a job while at College and is saving to go there on her own..."and if I like it then I'll stay", and "send cheques when you need nursing care"

So, does it sound as if state school does not allow a child to flourish and have confidence???

And that is with having a nobber like me as a dad.

 

[Noodley]

But the thing is, if she had turned out to be a doofus then I would not have loved her any less.

 

[Noodley]

In fact, I am soon to move house and was told that "xxxx high school is absolutely wonderful and is at the top of league tables, outscores private schools, etc"...I shrugged my shoulders and then decided I was gonna not buy a house in the catchment area "just because" - in the end we did buy a house in the catchment area, and I feel "dirty"

I'm gonna tell younger noodlette to scupper their league rankings

 

[vernon]

Just after a bit of advice from fellow CCers. What are peoples thoughts, is it worth the financial sacrifice to send your child to private school ?

You have already contributed to the cost of state education. Why pay twice?

 

[Noodley]

As another aside, my current job is within a Council Children's Services strategic team - no matter how many times we try to say to "Education" that they should concentrate on getting to know the social and emotional needs of pupils and this will result in improvements in education of the pupils, they keep saying that "league tables" are more important to them. Arse and Elbow. Get to know them, then the results will follow you nobbers!!!