Which school would you send your children to a private or public

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It's more complicated than a simple state versus private argument. There are various different types of both: grammar/comprehensive/academy/CTCs & not for profit/for profit/public etc, as well as very significant variation in teaching standards within each category. Personally, for ideological reasons, I would rather send my children to state school as long as the standards of my local schools were reasonable. I would also never send my children to a faith school since I do not believe in the indoctrination of young minds.

Reply 41

LolaLowe

oh I forgot to say, if a faith school was the only available option I would home school them.

Reply 42

Insanity514

Private no question about it . Unless I have like 5 kids or there is a better performing state school in my area. If you had the money to be able to easily afford private education I don't see why you wouldn't.

Reply 43

aspiringwhatever

Original post by Tyrion_Lannister

State comprehensive.

I don't agree with the teaching methods in private schools and I don't think they benefit children in life. If I wanted them to learn a load of posh people's opinions as fact without learning actual life skills, I could do it for a lot cheaper than £10,000+ a year

I went to a private school, however it was an International School in Europe. We had the absolute best preparation I could hope for in our exams, and our teachers bent over backwards to make sure we knew everything we needed to know before the exam.

Of course there were flaws in our school, but there are flaws in every school, and I am sure in a State school they are much worse. Or well compared to the state school in my area, I was extremely lucky to be going to a private school. Also they taught me many valuable life skills such as confidence, communication, social skills, respect and others.

I am now 19, and I know that in my life plan, I am far ahead than most people would be at my age and so are many of my ex classmates.

So don't go slagging off private schools, just because you know some horrible people from one or have a warped impression.

(oh and btw, I have been in private education since I am 6 years old)

Reply 44

The Epicurean

Private schools are like a foreign world to me and it would be like sending my kids into an unknown abyss. I'd prefer to stick to what I know best. Plus I think parents exert the greatest influence upon their children and see it as my duty to instil manners and to make my kids aspire to better themselves rather than expecting the school to do all of that. I highly doubt I will ever have enough money to afford to send my children to private school though, but if I did, I would rather spend the money of the things which I personally feel will be of more value to them.

Reply 45

the mezzil

Private.

Better standards, better education.

Reply 46

Ripper-Roo

Original post by LolaLowe

oh I forgot to say, if a faith school was the only available option I would home school them.

Home schooling is good too :smile:

Reply 47

Ripper-Roo

Original post by the mezzil

Private.

Better standards, better education.

You can promote values and standards at home.

Reply 48

Le Nombre

Original post by Maid Marian

I don't even know where to start with this :no:

There's absolutely nothing wrong with grammar schools. Mine was an amazing school. I am of average intelligence, and my parents tutored me a bit so I would pass the entrance exam. I always felt like I was the underdog there, in the lower years I was always in the bottom half of the class results, but that pushed me to try harder and I came out with good grades in the end.

Basically, all the intelligent/hardworking people are scooped together and placed in one school where everybody wants to learn and get good results. What's wrong with that?

Not all subjects are academic? I was in top sets at school for the academic subjects, presumably the majority of kids in there would have got into grammar (we were set 1 of 18), like English, Maths blah. However, most of them were hopeless at PE, if I'd had to do PE with them it would have been incredibly frustrating, as only a few would be of a similar level. I was also hopeless at art, again if it was just the academic top sets across the whole school I'm sure I'd have frustrated the hell out of those who were bright and good at art, but I didn't I could be in a class with all the artistic failures and we could struggle together, without hacking off those who were good at it.

Basically grammars assume that your ability at the 11 plus subjects is indicative of your ability across the range of school subjects, and that's just not the case.

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 49

the mezzil

Original post by Ripper-Roo

You can promote values and standards at home.

I know?

Reply 50

Le Nombre

Original post by aspiringwhatever

But what if your child's bright anyway? I doubt I'd have done significantly better at independent, my gf literally couldn't (straight A*s, straight As pre 2010) so sending some kids there is just spunking money away. It's good if your kids are average, but who thinks that about their kids? Surely you always believe your kids are in fact clever and will do well anywhere?

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 51

itsheatherlol

Original post by Maid Marian

State grammar schools are the best :yep:

I would agree with this. Free too...

Reply 52

HJ M

Original post by Maid Marian

State grammar schools are the best :yep:

I agree with you. I think it is wrong that most of them closed. The good thing about them is that it gave intelligent young people from poorer backgrounds the opportunity to do better, be academically challenged and gain social mobility. With the current system it's sort of a one size fits all and more intelligent young people in schools aren't challenged enough to reach their full potential and those who need more help can't get it as well because classrooms are filled with students of varying abilities. I'm not saying this happens all the time and a lot of students come out of state education and go into great university's/careers, but I tend to find that comprehensive schools either cater for those who do well or those who don't do as well as they cannot cater to all.

I do think that, as well as grammar schools, there should be private schools as parents should have a choice of how their children are educated. A better system would be to use education vouchers (valued at the amount it costs to get someone through education) which can be used at any institution to allow anyone the chance to go to a private schools, more schools will pop up and people will be able to better choose a school which matches their needs and abilities. In this model we would still have schools run by the state, but it allows for a more dynamic educational model.

I also think Finland has an interesting education model.

That's just my opinion, let me know what you think :smile:

Reply 53

carrotstar

Original post by Diane118

If you had enough money which school would you send your children to a private school a private faith school or a public school. Your reasons why please?

A public non-faith school, because it would give them the most freedom and options with life. Plus all the people I knew when I was younger who went off to private schools are now completely up themselves and although they know everything to the moon and back they can't do anything practical. Plus I'm an athiest so if my child became religious it would have to be their own choice.

Reply 54

Ripper-Roo

Original post by the mezzil

I know?

Then why send them to private schools (other than education) for "standards"

Reply 55

the mezzil

Original post by Ripper-Roo

Then why send them to private schools (other than education) for "standards"

Better educational standards, that is all that I meant.

Reply 56

Ripper-Roo

Original post by the mezzil

Better educational standards, that is all that I meant.

I think state schools are as capable though.

Don't get me wrong though it is your choice to send to private school.

Reply 57

Alice_95

Original post by Tyrion_Lannister

Well as someone who spent 7 years in private school I can tell you that you clearly have no idea what you're talking about. My school provided bursaries for many children (like myself and my twin sister) who showed academic promise but could not fund such schooling without assistance. I certainly didn't just 'learn a load of posh people's opinions.' I was taught the National Curriculum, exactly what state comprehensive students are taught but the manner it was delivered was different. On a side note: At the time I was looking at secondary school my only option (as decided by the local authorities) was a school full of gun crime, knife crime, bullying and poor leadership. The school has since done a full 180 thanks to government funding and better leadership, so my younger sisters attend that school. But my parents didn't want me going there are the time. Anyway, back to this.

"without learning actual life skills."

- I have learned to live and collaborate with people of other faiths, cultures, family backgrounds, financial backgrounds and social standing. Just as we have to in the real world.

- From the age of 11-18 I was apart from my family for most of the year. While the school was my legal guardian during this time I had to grow up and become more independent much faster than other children.

- Without being an academic hothouse, my school pushed each student to achieve their very best and discipline themselves to learn independently, skills required at university and beyond.

I actually feel I may have been a little young to go to boarding school, but what it has taught me is still part of my life. Until the government stops bashing private schools by trying to lower grade requirements and expectations for state school university applicants, sorts out how it is actually going to teach children and ensure this does not change dramatically after every election or every year, and bring up the standards of a lot of state schools (I won't deny there are some great state schools), I would love the opportunity to give my children a private school education.

Reply 58

Pallas Athena

Where I live, public schools are absolutely rubbish so it would most definitely be a private school, but only because there would be no other option.

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Reply 59

username242140

I went to a mixed state grammar and I would be perfectly happy sending them there. My boyfriend on the other hand went to a single sex private school and he wants to send them there because he feels he reached his best potential being educated without girls to stare at.

Apart from his lack of socialisation with girls which has left him quite poor at talking to girls, he isn't stuck up and doesn't have "rich person views". I wouldn't mind sending them there but I'd try and encourage them to interact with the other sex outside of school in that case so they aren't left a bit socially retarded like he is.

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