Grammar Schools vs Private Schools

I don't think it's that much of a transition from top private schools to university, before sixth form, the classes average about 20+ so it's not exactly a vastly smaller number then that at a grammar school. And besides- they are boarding schools, the two schools that you mentioned and so the students are more accustomed to independent learning and actually being able to organize their time, so how are they less prepared for uni life?

I don't care about those tables now I'm in year 13 do I???? But could you name me these schools please?

Ok then ask the guy above why he travels an hour to go to his grammar school.

There aren't good schools near me which is why I go to the school I go to (albeit boarding) or why my parents contemplated sending me to schools like KEGS which aren't exactly close...

I thought you were in Year 11 and asking about whether to stay on - why are you worrying now? What's done is done.

I'm not wasting any more time on a pointless thread; I've got work to mark.

Well, at sixth form my classes were certainly larger than that... Also, sixth form at a state school is much more about independent study (or at least it was at mine, which admittedly was rather large) - our teachers rarely set compulsory homework, I had to do a lot of independent study from the textbook and working through exercises at home, etc. The teachers just ran through the exam board specification and taught all the essential content, but didn't require any more detailed knowledge or exploration of topics (although admittedly a few were willing to provide suggestions for extra work/ wider reading, but certainly not all teachers). This atmosphere is pretty similar to university - lots of independent work and generally less compulsory homework (except coursework).

In contrast, I've heard that good private schools (and grammar schools - assuming we define good as being generally prestigious/ getting students good grades) tend to teach the content in much more detail than is strictly required for the exam, enabling students to better understand the content and underlying or related ideas (helpful in more challenging exam questions and university interviews). Homework may be more strictly set and marked, forcing students to actually study. I'm not so sure about the boarding side, most private schools AFAIK tend to have a lot of day students anyway though...

Yeah the boarding side is the same.

I didn't 'assume' - you created a pointless thread as hothing is going to change where you are or your belief that is is somehow 'better'.

Isn't prep at boarding school supervised? Most do.

Yes, I have students who have interviews and want me to look at stuff for them.

I don't think it's that much of a transition from top private schools to university, before sixth form, the classes average about 20+ so it's not exactly a vastly smaller number then that at a grammar school. And besides- they are boarding schools, the two schools that you mentioned and so the students are more accustomed to independent learning and actually being able to organize their time, so how are they less prepared for uni life?

What I'm trying to say is that some people at mid ranking private schools , which are generally day schools ie. Not Eaton or Harrow etc. find the transition from sixth form to uni more difficult than their state school counterparts even those in grammar schools as class sizes are smaller in private schools than in grammars where there are as many as 32 in a class. Smaller class sizes allow them to receive more attention from teacher ; this amount of attention is not replicated at university so they struggle as they are expected to find out information themselves rather than being "spoon fed" information by teachers

Does going to a top private school (Eton, Harrow, Westminster, St Pauls) as opposed to a grammar school actually give you that much of an advantage in life?

Ok I understand but obviously your not entirely sure of your future plans are when you start either. I guess so but in terms of academic rigor, which would you say is better?