Misc Private schooling or not?
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ECA
I am a FH squatter
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I actually have a lot of respect for the parents at the school I went to, when I was ~4-5 my parents took some pics of me+some friends who decided to strip off and run around the garden, one of the pics had a winky shot in and the developing shop reported it to the police, there was a trial and my parents were found not guilty.
It would have been very very easy for other kids parents to never let them play w/ me or socialise w/ me and for one parent to tell their kid about it and for me to get teased/bullied for it, but that never ever happened.
God knows what would have happened in todays hyper sensitive climate.
It would have been very very easy for other kids parents to never let them play w/ me or socialise w/ me and for one parent to tell their kid about it and for me to get teased/bullied for it, but that never ever happened.
God knows what would have happened in todays hyper sensitive climate.
Madmaxx
FH is my second home
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gotta say If in the future I could afford private schooling, I wouldn't think twice about it.
My shit school had a PE teacher sitting in for German classes, Deputy headmaster sitting is as Maths teacher; and I had 4 different graphics an design tutors in the last year. Teachers that didn't give a flying fuck about anything, I had 2 good teachers that had the respect of the pupils and who knew what they were talking about; and they're the lessons I got high passes from and actually enjoyed lessons.
Funnily enough the year after I left they had a astro-turf hockey/footy pitch put in, and also installed a new IT area; and got a business college area.
But I know If I have kids, they aren't going to any shit schools like I had.
My shit school had a PE teacher sitting in for German classes, Deputy headmaster sitting is as Maths teacher; and I had 4 different graphics an design tutors in the last year. Teachers that didn't give a flying fuck about anything, I had 2 good teachers that had the respect of the pupils and who knew what they were talking about; and they're the lessons I got high passes from and actually enjoyed lessons.
Funnily enough the year after I left they had a astro-turf hockey/footy pitch put in, and also installed a new IT area; and got a business college area.
But I know If I have kids, they aren't going to any shit schools like I had.
old.Tohtori
FH is my second home
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How does the private school system work? At first read it sounded like private home school shizzle, but it seems it's just a paid, bit better, school.
Asking since in Finland the schooling system is pretty much ok, with everyone going to and through the same sh*t.
Paint me curious
Asking since in Finland the schooling system is pretty much ok, with everyone going to and through the same sh*t.
Paint me curious
Chilly
Balls of steel
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How does the private school system work? At first read it sounded like private home school shizzle, but it seems it's just a paid, bit better, school.
Asking since in Finland the schooling system is pretty much ok, with everyone going to and through the same sh*t.
Paint me curious
As in every facet of life, you get what you pay for. If you use what your tax pays for, you get mediocre at the very best. If you pay another 50 grand a year, you get shit hot education and an almost guaranteed future.
It's exactly the same as private healthcare.
DaGaffer
Down With That Sorta Thing
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Its really not. Its not that simple in education or healthcare. There are state schools that routinely outscore private ones on the OFSTED stats, and there are areas of healthcare (like maternity, oncology*) that are much better in the NHS than the private sector.
(*except where its a lucrative cancer, like prostate).
Chilly
Balls of steel
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Fair points, both taken. However, those schools will cost an absolute fortune to live near and have a jammed intake every year.
DaGaffer
Down With That Sorta Thing
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Which actually comes back to G's original point. Move to good school area and pay through the nose for your house, or spend the money on private school? Personally I'd say it depends on a. how good the private school is, and b. how much profit you'd make by buying the house.
Private schools are all well and good, and are generally better than state schools, but, I really don't buy the whole old school tie bit, unless you're talking about public schools in the very top tier (the Etons, Harrows and Marlboroughs of this world). I went to private school and I've got a fair few friends who went to places like Sherborne, Godolphin & Latymer, Abingdon, and a bunch of others, and yeah, they're doing OK in life, but its hardly turned them (or me) into captains of industry. The two richest/most succesful people I know both went to their local comp and one didn't even bother with A-levels, never mind Uni; they were both millionaires before they were 30. Bastards.
dysfunction
FH is my second home
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I live right near Eltham college and I am definitely considering sending my child there when he is old enough.
The other schools around me are ok but not great.
It does cost a fortune but I would like to give my child the best start in life I possibly can.
If you can afford it then why not? I don't see anything wrong with it.
The other schools around me are ok but not great.
It does cost a fortune but I would like to give my child the best start in life I possibly can.
If you can afford it then why not? I don't see anything wrong with it.
eksdee
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I think one serious thing to consider is the simple fact that the perceived quality of a school doesn't always necessarily mean your child is going to get a good education. Education is as much about what you put in as what you take out of it. I didn't really deduce from your original post (and I barely skim-read the rest so sorry if this point has already been made) whether you're talking about kids you already have, kids you're planning to have, or if you do have kids how old they are etc... Buuuut never-the-less, I think it's important to keep in mind that what is best for your kids might not necessarily be sending them to the 'best' school.
To use a real world example. I have 12 GCSE's grade A-C, mostly Bs, four A-levels grades B, C, C, D and a BA, which I achieved a first. My girlfriend has 13 GCSEs grades A-B, mostly As, four A-levels with good grades (forget the specifics) and a BA, also a first. I went to one of the best state schools in the country (Alcester Grammar School), while my girlfriend went to a school which was, at the time she started, in special measures and generally a low-performing school.
I got middling to average grades at school because I didn't apply myself. I hated school and didn't want to be there, the school I went to wouldn't have changed that fact. I got a first at Uni because I loved it and wanted to do well. My girlfriend got good grades at school because she always had that desire to do well and achieve highly.
Schools' figures in terms of average attainment are a good barometer in a lot of ways and by no means am I saying you should ignore them, but there are so many other factors that might be more important for your children. One of the schools I worked at while training to be a teacher (something I didn't end up pursuing further) for example had low attainment averages for the core academic subjects, but had brilliant links with local businesses for kids to do practical work placements and get real world experience, as well as excellent sports facilities. Don't get too hung up on grades, especially in the world we currently live in where every other Joe Bloggs has a 2:1 in English Lit or History. If your kids are happy, more than likely they'll do just fine whatever school they attend.
To use a real world example. I have 12 GCSE's grade A-C, mostly Bs, four A-levels grades B, C, C, D and a BA, which I achieved a first. My girlfriend has 13 GCSEs grades A-B, mostly As, four A-levels with good grades (forget the specifics) and a BA, also a first. I went to one of the best state schools in the country (Alcester Grammar School), while my girlfriend went to a school which was, at the time she started, in special measures and generally a low-performing school.
I got middling to average grades at school because I didn't apply myself. I hated school and didn't want to be there, the school I went to wouldn't have changed that fact. I got a first at Uni because I loved it and wanted to do well. My girlfriend got good grades at school because she always had that desire to do well and achieve highly.
Schools' figures in terms of average attainment are a good barometer in a lot of ways and by no means am I saying you should ignore them, but there are so many other factors that might be more important for your children. One of the schools I worked at while training to be a teacher (something I didn't end up pursuing further) for example had low attainment averages for the core academic subjects, but had brilliant links with local businesses for kids to do practical work placements and get real world experience, as well as excellent sports facilities. Don't get too hung up on grades, especially in the world we currently live in where every other Joe Bloggs has a 2:1 in English Lit or History. If your kids are happy, more than likely they'll do just fine whatever school they attend.
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/lob $0.02.
No kids are particularly into their education until they've been educated to be like that.
It's the parent's job to ensure that they take their school seriously and, most importantly, enjoy it.
Other than that - private school all the way. It may not, in the long run, be the thing that changes their life - but that £9000pa gives them the best percentage chance of that happening.
Better pupil-to-teacher ratio (critical), better teachers, better everything = better life chance.
Other than that - the percentage of A-C in private schools in the UK is IIRC about 3 times that of state schools.
No kids are particularly into their education until they've been educated to be like that.
It's the parent's job to ensure that they take their school seriously and, most importantly, enjoy it.
Other than that - private school all the way. It may not, in the long run, be the thing that changes their life - but that £9000pa gives them the best percentage chance of that happening.
Better pupil-to-teacher ratio (critical), better teachers, better everything = better life chance.
Other than that - the percentage of A-C in private schools in the UK is IIRC about 3 times that of state schools.
SilverHood
FH is my second home
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My old secondary school was rated one of the worst in Surrey, topped only in "places you dont want to send your kids to school" by the former Abbeylands (scabbylands) school.
I enjoy learning, my parents taught me that learning could be fun, so I did petty damn well, as did all the others in my year who really wanted to learn. The others.... well, the teachers tried. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink. I think, rather than private school, 2-4 hours of private tutoring in my weak subject would have made all the difference, getting me A's and A*'s English and Maths rather than B's.
That said, my teachers really wanted to teach. Some of them were awful, but they wanted to teach. My brothers both went to meat grinder schools churning out cookie cutter kids. They didn't fare so well.
I enjoy learning, my parents taught me that learning could be fun, so I did petty damn well, as did all the others in my year who really wanted to learn. The others.... well, the teachers tried. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink. I think, rather than private school, 2-4 hours of private tutoring in my weak subject would have made all the difference, getting me A's and A*'s English and Maths rather than B's.
That said, my teachers really wanted to teach. Some of them were awful, but they wanted to teach. My brothers both went to meat grinder schools churning out cookie cutter kids. They didn't fare so well.
mycenae
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I went to private single sex schools all my life....and boarded from 13-18. And HATED it. private schools put a LOT of pressure on you to perform, and don't want to help those who don't already have a natural aptitude for learning. Don't get me wrong, all the schools I went to were considered 'good' schools, but I finished my A levels with 2 grade E's.....though that was not entirely down to schooling, I had a lot of shit going on at home so my brain really wasn't on lessons. Private schools, and ESPECIALLY boarding schools focus a lot on self directed study which requires your child to have the motivation, inclination and tools to get the job done. Time is set aside daily for you to do your homework but there is never anyone standing over you to make sure you do it, which is where i think i would have benefited more. Had I been at home with a parent insisting I study, I could have done better.
In later life terms, I'm a now a nurse, which is hardly well paid but is a respectable and fairly safe job. Had I been given the choice over boarding, I would have tried it, sure, but would have left after the first term. I was abominably unhappy and remained that way for the 5 years i was there, having been disillusioned by Enid Blyton and Malory Towers into thinking it was something it really wasn't! If possible, give your kids the choice....show them the options, attend open days and taster days and go from there.....had I known what I was letting myself in for I would have run a mile.
In later life terms, I'm a now a nurse, which is hardly well paid but is a respectable and fairly safe job. Had I been given the choice over boarding, I would have tried it, sure, but would have left after the first term. I was abominably unhappy and remained that way for the 5 years i was there, having been disillusioned by Enid Blyton and Malory Towers into thinking it was something it really wasn't! If possible, give your kids the choice....show them the options, attend open days and taster days and go from there.....had I known what I was letting myself in for I would have run a mile.
