Private education

[alijangra]

What do folk think about private schools? Particularly if you went to one yourself or your children have/do attend one.
Do you think they provide a better standard of education? How much do they cost these days anyway?

[SKA]

I went to a private school so I my younger sister and my brother is currently in one. Some friends of mine who went to state schools have dropped out of college and Uni most of my high school friends are still studying.
Personally I think some people are affected differently so you can�t tell if it�s the school or people.
And erm shouldn�t this post be in under the education bit?

[alijangra]

Yes I guess it should, but I wanted a quick answer and that place is very slow. Im sure it will be reported and moved in due course. Im sorry I have broken the rules, a slapped wrist for me!
In a way it is to do with body and soul as I am soon starting a family and I like to be organised, I just wanted to know how much these schools cost so I can break it gently to my other half. He is against spending the money, but Im all for it.

[cazzz1975]

a lot of my friends who went to state school went on to complete their degree's at uni, its about the individual really, with plenty of support at school and home then there is nothing stopping your child having a great education.

the support is paramount I believe, I have known friends from private school who dropped out of uni, also recently a private (quite famous) school near where I live failed its ofsted inspection...

its about the child, if they are a good worker they are bound to do well in any case even excel with the right support, some kids just dont like academic work!!

[cazzz1975]

normally ranges between 12k to 16k per year (depending on the school)

[SKA]

LOL ok well I think my sisters 6 form fees were around �7000 a year but it�s cheaper for younger kids.
I reckon if you haven�t got the money then there�s no point because the kids in these schools will have the best of everything so your going to get harassed for all the latest things from yours, but then again it depends on your children!!
I also think it depends on the state schools in your area, some are quite decent but then some are little s**t holes (excuse the language).

[paulos66]

"You can't turn a donkey into a race horse"
and
"The cream always rises to the top"

[alijangra]

Money is not an issue at all, more so my other half being a bit tight with it ;) I suppose I am best contacting the schools in my area as it would appear the fees vary, probably depends a lot on area etc

[alijangra]

paulos66, yes that is very true! I am just worried because I live in a city that my kids might end up in a very rough school (there are a few around here!) in huge classes that have different teachers all the time.

[jake-the-peg]

I went to one but I'm not sure that it's relevant so long ago.

It was a rather strange atmosphere - all male and everybody called each other by their surname - that sort of thing might or might not still go on I don't know.

You do tend to grow up isolated from people who can't afford private education and that tends to give you a rather polarised view on life.

There is however a certain atmosphere of expectation. Very few people left at 16 and it was the natural expectation that you'd go to University.

I'd be cautious as to judging the standard of education, they'll wave their exam results but when they pick the children they take, exactly how much is due to them and how much is due to the child and the support they get at home?

I've even heard rumours of some private schools booting kids out to a neighbouring state school if they think they're likely not to do all that well and drag down their statistics.

I think you ought to be looking at particular schools and getting opinions from people who have children at those actual schools rather than considering them all in one big lump.

Some people may drop out of university for financial reasons, people who can afford private schools can often afford to help towards University education - I'd therefore expect more drop outs from the state sector if only for this reason

[alijangra]

Both my partner and I come from backgrounds with very little money so my children's whole immediate and extended family would not be from a private education background. Im not trying to be snobby or be something Im not, I just know my high school was terrible and I was lucky to get the grades I did and I would prefer my children to be in an environment where they are supported and encouraged in areas such as sport, music, languages etc

[VillageVicar]

As an alternative, might you consider a church-school? By no means am I promoting religion at all. It�s that the structure is a bit different and the bar is set higher. It�s a wonderful start for young people and of course, you can always change to a state school years later. So what would be the commitment from you and hubby to get your child enrolled? The preference list places regular church-goers at the highest of the list.

I wish you every success

Fr Bill

[alijangra]

VillageVicar, I was raised in an area that is ruled by the church to the point where I believe people are being bullied and oppressed so my experience of things 'church-based' are not particularly good!

[Octavius]

I went to a very rubbish state school, which closed down the year I did my A Levels. Many of my class mates left and did apprenticeships in trades such as electricians and plumbing etc.

I stayed and wanted to do a bit better, so I was probably a bit more determined to succeed and didn't want the crap school to affect the rest of my adult life. There were less than a handful of people in my year who actually stayed on for higher education. I did all the usual but had to work for 5 years before I could go to Uni and have had a flourishing successful career ever since.

There is nothing particular wrong with state schools, it depends on the head teacher of the day, the area and the general demographic of the pupils. I would not hesitate to send my child to a state school, providing it was well managed and had teachers and pupils who were relatively ambitious with a thirst for experience and knowledge - not a crowd control exercise.

My co-partner in the business unit at work has just had his son accepted into a private school and the fees for that are �20,000 per annum.

Schooling is a very individual and subjective experience and success depends upon the individual and the inspiration from peers. �20k is a waste if the boy hates the school and the teachers and ends up being a miserable failure. The choice of school can make a person, but only if they really want it.

[cazzz1975]

you also have to bear in mind that this is years away yet and fee's, reputation and lots of other factors will change most certainly in that time.....

[alijangra]

Yes cazzz I cant help thinking that the state of our education system will only get worse though. I guess I will just have to wait and see. Thank you all for you perspective on things, some very helpful advice.

[Shadow Man]

I may be hated for saying this, but the only people who knock private education are those who can not afford it.

I went to a fairly decent public school (i.e private!!!) and from day one it was instilled that we must go to university, we must be sportsmen, we must be decent citizens etc. State schools do not have this ethos. Yes, I agree cream will always rise to the top and I strongly believe we live in a true meritocracy, but with state schools, there are always other activities (like girls!!!) to avoid doing schoolwork.

[cazzz1975]

but surely without experiencing a mixed state school you can only speculate as to whether private is better.....

I went to a very good state school, we also had a very positive ethos of achieving the very best and leaving at 16 was virtually unheard of...

I have a few friends who went to a private school at the same time as I went to a state secondary, we often used to compare notes...

[wendilla]

Have read through all the posts the standard of education might be better I really can't comment on this but what I can tell you is many years ago I worked at Gordonstoun in Scotland in the kitchens and it was the time Prince Charles was there and we used to find cigarette ends up the old stone stairs and there was always a way the boys managed to smuggle girls in .I know this is not what you wanted to know but it just came to my mind when I read your question.

[natalie_1982]

Cazzz, that's a good point about not knowing unless you have attended both.

I attended quite a rough stateschool, as did my husband, although the schools were 15 miles apart.. My family drilled it into me that I should be going to uni and should better myself, etc (both parents low paid jobs, left school at 16, etc), but I just couldn't bearthe thought of it. I got half way through my a'levels and dropped out, I dissappointed them and I didn't have anything to fall back on myself. My hubby had no support from his family, in fact they ridiculed him, but he got 3 a'levels and decided to go and work. As it is now he decided to pursue a manual work career anyway!

I guess my point is that it will always be down to the individual child and the influence from their parents and peers. THere were many public schools in the area I grew up and we never seemed to get anything but trouble from them. Prince Harry in fact visited one of the schools with a view to attending. They were renowned for hard drugs, high suicide rates, intense bullying and for a while were holding off-licenses up at gun point. So, my experience of state schools is not great. For my personal choice, I would never send a child of mine to a public school, the few people I know well from public schools have been small minded and rude. I am only speaking from experience and I know this is not true for all pupilseverywhere, but sadly speaks for the few that I know.

[alijangra]

I cannot say I have ever heard anything bad about the private schools in Aberdeen but I wouldnt have been paying much attention. My friend who was a school nurse covered one of the private primary schools and she always maintains the pupils were much better behaved and much less incidences of head lice!!