| Private education. 13:05 - Mar 16 with 6048 views | MattinLondon |
My six year old seems to be fairly clever and is always asking questions but at school he is struggling. He seems to withdraw into his shell a lot - he seems to lack confidence and gets lost in a class of thirty.
Has anyone taken their child out of state school and into private education? If so, did you anyone notice any changes in their child’s development etc.
I went to a state school as did my other half. We both have a sort of chip on our shoulders regarding private schooling but if it’ll help then we’ll go down that route. My boy could also be a tad thick but we'll figure that one out later.
Thanks. |  | | |  |
| Private education. on 20:53 - Mar 16 with 1029 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
| Private education. on 14:19 - Mar 16 by mutters |
Oh wow, I did not know that!! My sister has always been very positive about TM and thought the school was excellent.
Just had a look and though the Education is still rated at Good the other areas have fallen well behind. Amazing that they haven't had an inspection for 16 years after the Outstanding one. |
I believe they failed over safeguarding which is a serious failing. My understanding is that they are moving to a computerised system that they believe will overcome their shortcomings.
They have tended to be a very traditional school but, from my historic experiences providing a good education. I have no idea whether that has changed. Failing the Ofsted over safeguarding does not, in itself, affect the quality of the level of education. Although, I repeat, it is rightly a serious failing. |  |
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| Private education. on 20:57 - Mar 16 with 1012 views | Mullet |
| Private education. on 20:43 - Mar 16 by Crawfordsboot |
The noise around private schools charitable status and tax loopholes Is I think much misunderstood.
A good number of private schools are incorporated bodies not charities. They operate like any other company. Their owners and directors are paid as they would be in any company with the owners and the company paying tax.
Schools that operate on a not for profit basis are quite different. Invariably they will enjoy charitable status. This means that the board of Goverors can not be paid. They serve as volunteers. They operate on a not for profit basis and therefore tax on profits is not really an issue. They operate budgeting to generate sufficient funds to reinvest in the school and facilities. They pay staff salaries but there are no dividends and no directors fees. All funds are applied to deliver education.
Schools with charitable status do benefit from rates relief but on the other hand they are unable to recover VAT on their costs. Also of course every UK child being educated in the private sector is likely to have higher rate tax paying parents contributing to fund state education that they do not use.
In my view one might reasonably argue that private schools are socially divisive and result in many influential people in power having no vested interest in improving the state offer. This is a serious issue. On the other hand I believe the charitable status argument to be something of a red herring, albeit that it provides the press with easy headlines. |
https://howcharitieswork.com/about-charities/what-is-a-charity/why-are-universit
I think this explanation is succinct enough on the charities aspect and the fact they challenged it up to the High Court speaks volumes.
While this might argue the reductions are vast, and others might suggest compared to what it costs the government to run education it's small change, its the principal and what it says about our society that bothers me most. https://www.theguardian.com/education/2017/jun/11/private-schools-tax-charitable
But that all derails the thread somewhat. |  |
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| Private education. on 21:10 - Mar 16 with 981 views | Crawfordsboot |
I agree that the social impact of having the two separate systems is the real cause for concern. |  | | |
| Private education. on 22:37 - Mar 16 with 939 views | b1079blue |
My son went from a state school i special measures to a private school at 16 and absolutely loved it.
Main points are
1. Its not a change of school, its a change of lifestyle.
2. Quite quickly he learnt parental support is more valuable than money.
3. You have a lot more opportunities and meet a much wider spectrum of people.
4. If you were an employer and knew my sons school you would.know that he has worked his socks off, long days six days a week, most employers would be impressed by that.
5. After two years he became so independent
Now for the political bit.
If you have money you can afford a better car, dentists, medical care and education, fact of life. |  | | |
| Private education. on 13:54 - Mar 17 with 852 views | Churchman |
I can’t really help on the child front, but I was one once and I was sent to a private school when I was 11 for a couple of years. When I did my 11 plus, I wrote my name on the paper and had a doze. I’d spent junior school years dossing about, basically. I could read (comics and Shoot), write (badly) and add up. Job done thought I.
At private school, there was no chance whatsoever of skiving or messing about. Small class sizes, no place to hide. I was made to work and ended up enjoying it and proved not to be as thick as most people thought. At the end of it I passed my 13 plus and got into a decent school and finished with a few O Levels, some A Levels and Degree. But for those two years in a private school, I’d have left school with no qualifications, without a doubt.
A school friend who followed the same path as me reckoned it was a really miserable time for him, so I guess it depends on the nature of each person and what the school has to offer. There’s little reason not to look into it even if in the end you stick with the state school.
Just a view and I’m sure there will be many on here with children far more qualified than me to advise. |  | | |
| Private education. on 13:59 - Mar 17 with 848 views | Felstow1978 |
| Private education. on 13:09 - Mar 16 by footers |
All education now seems more about getting kids to jump through hoops to pass exams than anything else, but more so at private schools because of the financial incentive.
Just my two cents but your lad would learn more important life lessons at a state school. Maybe look at tutoring in certain areas he's interested in instead? |
This | |
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| Private education. on 14:08 - Mar 17 with 837 views | mutters |
| Private education. on 13:59 - Mar 17 by Felstow1978 |
This |
Not this.
Just because you attend a Private school doesn't exclude you from learning life lessons. Maybe you learn different lessons but its clearly bollox to say you learn more 'life' lessons at a state school than you do Private school. You are just exposed to different things. |  |
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| Private education. on 16:11 - Mar 17 with 807 views | Stevoski |
From my experience, with my two children (daughter now 20 and son now 12), it was the best thing I could have done for them to move them to private schools. If you can afford it, do it. Both were at very good state primary schools, but the level of all round education is far better at their private schools and this is appreciated by both of my children.
My daughter was a local state primary which was deemed to be very good, but she was clearly not being stretched academically there, and she was bullied a bit because she paid attention, behaved and did better than most of the other students. Her class was regularly disrupted by a couple of students as well. I therefore moved her to a private all girls school. She excelled there in an atmosphere where everyone wanted to learn and do well. All the students were supported by fellow students and teachers, whether students were academically gifted or not. There were no issues between students regarding background, class, wealth, etc as you might expect.
At 16 she asked to attend the local supposedly very good state high school as it was near (she was tired of going to school by bus) and wanted to go to a school where there were boys too. She therefore moved schools at 15 sat her GCSE's and went to 6th Form and hated every moment as she experienced many of the same issues she had when she at her primary school. She then really appreciated what a far better place for learning her private school was and was very thankful she had the opportunity to go there. She is now studying law at a top university.
My son went to a different local state primary school which was excellent. He had an opportunity to go to a grammar school, but chose to move with his friends to the local state high school. He is reasonably clever and keen to learn, but felt he was being held back by the teaching being aimed at the 'average' student and because of the regular disruption in classes by some students who didn't want to learn. This caused him to lose interest in school and he dreaded going. Speaking to other parents who's children went to the same state primary school as my son, they have the same issues with the high school, so I am aware its not just an issue with my son.
At my son's request, after one year at state high school, he moved to a private school and loves it. It's a new world of opportunity to him from an academic, social and sporting aspect, and he is coming home and doing homework without being asked to and is keen to go to school the next day. He is more confident and certainly much happier. He has made lots of new friends and says everyone is kind and supportive and there are no class issues at all. Incidentally, the head of his year at the state high school told both my son and I that my son would be much better off at a private school than her school. That tells you something when a head of year says that.
I went to a state school (as did most of my family), and I was always skeptical about private schools being worthwhile and I will admit it has been a struggle to pay the school fees at times. However, the difference a private school has made to the happiness, wellbeing and the academic and personal growth of my children is worth every single penny. It's certainly the best thing I could have done for them. | | | |
| Private education. on 16:20 - Mar 17 with 791 views | hype313 |
| Private education. on 16:11 - Mar 17 by Stevoski |
From my experience, with my two children (daughter now 20 and son now 12), it was the best thing I could have done for them to move them to private schools. If you can afford it, do it. Both were at very good state primary schools, but the level of all round education is far better at their private schools and this is appreciated by both of my children.
My daughter was a local state primary which was deemed to be very good, but she was clearly not being stretched academically there, and she was bullied a bit because she paid attention, behaved and did better than most of the other students. Her class was regularly disrupted by a couple of students as well. I therefore moved her to a private all girls school. She excelled there in an atmosphere where everyone wanted to learn and do well. All the students were supported by fellow students and teachers, whether students were academically gifted or not. There were no issues between students regarding background, class, wealth, etc as you might expect.
At 16 she asked to attend the local supposedly very good state high school as it was near (she was tired of going to school by bus) and wanted to go to a school where there were boys too. She therefore moved schools at 15 sat her GCSE's and went to 6th Form and hated every moment as she experienced many of the same issues she had when she at her primary school. She then really appreciated what a far better place for learning her private school was and was very thankful she had the opportunity to go there. She is now studying law at a top university.
My son went to a different local state primary school which was excellent. He had an opportunity to go to a grammar school, but chose to move with his friends to the local state high school. He is reasonably clever and keen to learn, but felt he was being held back by the teaching being aimed at the 'average' student and because of the regular disruption in classes by some students who didn't want to learn. This caused him to lose interest in school and he dreaded going. Speaking to other parents who's children went to the same state primary school as my son, they have the same issues with the high school, so I am aware its not just an issue with my son.
At my son's request, after one year at state high school, he moved to a private school and loves it. It's a new world of opportunity to him from an academic, social and sporting aspect, and he is coming home and doing homework without being asked to and is keen to go to school the next day. He is more confident and certainly much happier. He has made lots of new friends and says everyone is kind and supportive and there are no class issues at all. Incidentally, the head of his year at the state high school told both my son and I that my son would be much better off at a private school than her school. That tells you something when a head of year says that.
I went to a state school (as did most of my family), and I was always skeptical about private schools being worthwhile and I will admit it has been a struggle to pay the school fees at times. However, the difference a private school has made to the happiness, wellbeing and the academic and personal growth of my children is worth every single penny. It's certainly the best thing I could have done for them. |
That sounds great for your children, and by now way am I being facetious or jealous, it's just such a shame that the gulf in education is decided by the have's and have nots. I'm sure there are some remarkable teachers at state schools, but as you say, there does seem to be disruptive kids within state schools which brings everyone down including the teaching. |  |
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| Private education. on 16:21 - Mar 17 with 790 views | chicoazul |
| Private education. on 14:08 - Mar 17 by mutters |
Not this.
Just because you attend a Private school doesn't exclude you from learning life lessons. Maybe you learn different lessons but its clearly bollox to say you learn more 'life' lessons at a state school than you do Private school. You are just exposed to different things. |
You certainly *do* learn life lessons at private school, the main one being “make sure you pick yourself rich parents” and the other one being “meritocracy in the UK died with grammar schools and the direct grant system”. |  |
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| Private education. on 17:20 - Mar 17 with 756 views | IpswichKnight |
I went to both state and private primary schools, I remember how much space I had at the private school the grounds seemed huge compared to the sports pitch and gravel netball court at state school.
I went to a private school for secendry though it was still in that schools prep school department for 2 years before going to the senior section. The facilities were fab and you did feel like the teachers did actually know you. Took my English teacher 1 lesson to work out I was dyslexic and started process to get that diagnosed and support for it. Sports facilities were awesome we played at a banks sports ground. | | | |
| Private education. on 17:57 - Mar 17 with 746 views | mutters |
| Private education. on 16:21 - Mar 17 by chicoazul |
You certainly *do* learn life lessons at private school, the main one being “make sure you pick yourself rich parents” and the other one being “meritocracy in the UK died with grammar schools and the direct grant system”. |
What a nonsensical statement! I must have been off school that day when you got to choose your parents. At what age did that happen?
Also, Grammar schools are still is alive and well where I currently live so..... erm yeah good work on the post i guess, thanks for taking part. | |
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| Private education. on 18:00 - Mar 17 with 743 views | mutters |
| Private education. on 20:53 - Mar 16 by Nthsuffolkblue |
I believe they failed over safeguarding which is a serious failing. My understanding is that they are moving to a computerised system that they believe will overcome their shortcomings.
They have tended to be a very traditional school but, from my historic experiences providing a good education. I have no idea whether that has changed. Failing the Ofsted over safeguarding does not, in itself, affect the quality of the level of education. Although, I repeat, it is rightly a serious failing. |
Thanks for that, makes me feel a bit better as my family goes there. I did see the report and the educational level is still good, which is a positive thing. Shocking on the safeguarding. absolute failure there. | |
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| Private education. on 18:13 - Mar 17 with 736 views | chicoazul |
| Private education. on 17:57 - Mar 17 by mutters |
What a nonsensical statement! I must have been off school that day when you got to choose your parents. At what age did that happen?
Also, Grammar schools are still is alive and well where I currently live so..... erm yeah good work on the post i guess, thanks for taking part. |
The first part was a joke; there are vanishingly few grammars now all of them in well off middle class areas; and the direct grant system doesn’t exist anymore. | |
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| Private education. on 19:18 - Mar 17 with 722 views | MattinLondon |
Just to say that the little boy had his parents evening yesterday and his teacher said that he has really come out of his shell and is a lot more confident. Contributing to class discussions and his work has seen a marked improvement. Think we’ll park private education for a while if he continues to make strides.
Thanks for all of your thoughts. | | | |
| Private education. on 10:00 - Mar 18 with 638 views | stopmoaning |
| Private education. on 13:15 - Mar 16 by Edmundo |
My experience and that of friends with children is that the state schools seem eager to stop things during the last 2 years, but private schools seem more keen on ways to keep going, be it school trips, lessons or sports. It might seem irrelevant now, but there is still a lingering loss of valuable education which might be easier to catch up in a smaller class environment where kids are helped to find their strengths and achieve in sport, academia and life. Just my opinion, and yes, I was privately educated but my partner wasn't. |
That's because they made decisions based upon money, instead of wellbeing. |  | | |
| Private education. on 11:28 - Mar 18 with 602 views | Stevoski |
| Private education. on 16:20 - Mar 17 by hype313 |
That sounds great for your children, and by now way am I being facetious or jealous, it's just such a shame that the gulf in education is decided by the have's and have nots. I'm sure there are some remarkable teachers at state schools, but as you say, there does seem to be disruptive kids within state schools which brings everyone down including the teaching. |
You are correct, it is a shame that there is a gulf between state and private education. One thing I would say is that most private schools have awards, scholarships and bursaries for students with parents who may not be able to afford the fees. The students don't necessarily have to be the most academically gifted or sporty either. Eagerness to learn and potential does seem to be taken into consideration in my experience. | | | |
| Private education. on 11:51 - Mar 18 with 582 views | BluJu |
In education, money does NOT guarantee quality.
Local to me (East Mids) the state school outperforms the nearby, very well respected private school. But still people throw money at it, because it's shinier, or it's what they had as a child.
Go on recommendation and current record. Remember that private schools often preselect pupils, meaning that results are skewed in their favour (as they naturally take a more able average pupil).
The comment "Simply, if you can afford to do it, you won't regret it." I couldn't disagree with more. I see private schools being obsessed with their own status and position in league tables etc. Pupils getting forced down certain routes because of less risk of failure in exams, again reflecting better on the school. They don't seem to treat pupils as individuals. I've also heard plenty of horror stories about behaviour, serious stuff beyond bullying, in and out of school.
We are extremely happy with the education being received by our 3 in the state school. They are treated as individuals with different needs and aspirations in terms of their level of education. All pupils are set individual targets based upon their current position, meaning that they are more realistic and achievable. The name top of the school achievement board does not have to be someone in "top set", it's down to personal effort.
Simply put, it is down to the individual school.
Find a good school, ignoring whether it is private or state.
It's great that your are proactively addressing the issue, btw - many do not. I would offer a personal opinion that for primary school age kids, private schooling is a complete waste of money unless it happens to be the best school locally. Don't be afraid to make demands of your boy's current school. If there is an issue, make them address it. |  | | |
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