private schools
Discussion
billb said:
right u lot are rich...what do u look for in sending your child to a private school? with falling numbers generally am interested what it is parents look for exactely when choosing one?
ta
A few things:
1/ Does the school have an atmosphere of "security", where the other kids are courteous and seem to enjoy being there.
2/ Talk to other parents who send their kids to that school.
3/ What is the teacher / child ratio.
billb said:
right u lot are rich...what do u look for in sending your child to a private school? with falling numbers generally am interested what it is parents look for exactely when choosing one?
ta
1/ First question to ask .......how bad is your local state school ?
2/ Will your child get the attention and help they may require at an independent school ?
3/ Try and get some "insider" information. Do you know any teachers in your area? Not all independent schools are better than state schools although due to parental support discipline is normally better.
4/ Some state schools are very bad. More to do with poor parenting than poor teaching.
IMHO Will
PS ignore the first 3 replies as they could not think of anything helpful
>> Edited by will_t on Tuesday 19th April 10:54
I'd be looking for a selective school first and foremost - that tends to ensure a general decent standard. Many grammar school would offer better value for money than many public schools IMHO as the education is technically free - you only pay for boarding fees.
I'd also be looking at after school activities, the commitment from teachers to those programmes is aldo a good indication of the overall commitment.
Results are important, as is number of subjects, and indeed the subjects themselves. Look at the A level general knowledge pass rates and their grades - IMO that can indicate that a more general level of knowledge is imparted to the kids than just the curriculum.
And unless it is a satirical piece on the way of the world today, essay's and general work handed in and accepted in txtspk is a nono!
Phil
I'd also be looking at after school activities, the commitment from teachers to those programmes is aldo a good indication of the overall commitment.
Results are important, as is number of subjects, and indeed the subjects themselves. Look at the A level general knowledge pass rates and their grades - IMO that can indicate that a more general level of knowledge is imparted to the kids than just the curriculum.
And unless it is a satirical piece on the way of the world today, essay's and general work handed in and accepted in txtspk is a nono!
Phil
Quite rightly fidgits said:
the problem now-a-days is parents send their children to private (bording) schools expecting them to discipline them...
However ferg said:
the problem now-a-days is parents send their children to private (bording) schools, stae schools, youth clubs...just about anywhere expecting them to discipline them.
Mannginger said:
I'd be looking for a selective school first and foremost - that tends to ensure a general decent standard. Many grammar school would offer better value for money than many public schools IMHO as the education is technically free - you only pay for boarding fees.
I'd also be looking at after school activities, the commitment from teachers to those programmes is aldo a good indication of the overall commitment.
Results are important, as is number of subjects, and indeed the subjects themselves. Look at the A level general knowledge pass rates and their grades - IMO that can indicate that a more general level of knowledge is imparted to the kids than just the curriculum.
And unless it is a satirical piece on the way of the world today, essay's and general work handed in and accepted in txtspk is a nono!
Phil
Totally agree..... As it happens, I went to a Private school, which was crap, and was not worth the thousands of pounds of fees. The local grammar school had better results in terms of A levels and O level results. Granted there are some fantastic private schools, but I really believe that if a kid is bright and motivated, and is actively encouraged by their parents, they can do anything they want to.....
Mannginger said:
Look at the A level general knowledge pass rates and their grades - IMO that can indicate that a more general level of knowledge is imparted to the kids than just the curriculum.
General knowledge, though, should be learnt (like manners etc) in the first instance from parents and life generally through a desire to learn also instilled by parents. Kids should pick up a book once in a while (fiction or non-fiction, but ideally historical books on engineering and motor racing teams
) and find stuff out! I've long believed that somethings can't easily be learned in school and funnily enough I think spelling is one of them. Tests every week on particular spelling rules are all very well, but if kids read the words every day....that's when it sinks in.
I would always choose a state grammar school over a public/privater school - far better social mix and generally higher academic standards. And free.
Having said that, State Grammar Schools are now few and far between (and I'll resist the temptation go political here) so many of us are faced with a choice of utterly sh1t comprehensives or paying for a decent education.
I chose the latter route and the first thing you can forget is that I am "rich". I am skint, permanently, in no small measure because I pay school fees. I'd not be "rich" whatever that means, anyway, but fees are a big burden. The cars outside the school at home time - a few big new Mercs/Beemers etc and large number of clapped out bangers. People make sacrfices to pay for a good education.
I chose the school on two simple criteria - what were girls who'd been educated there like, and did they like it, and secondly academic standards. Some people look at sport facilities too but since mine are a-sporting that wasn't really an issue.
Having said that, State Grammar Schools are now few and far between (and I'll resist the temptation go political here) so many of us are faced with a choice of utterly sh1t comprehensives or paying for a decent education.
I chose the latter route and the first thing you can forget is that I am "rich". I am skint, permanently, in no small measure because I pay school fees. I'd not be "rich" whatever that means, anyway, but fees are a big burden. The cars outside the school at home time - a few big new Mercs/Beemers etc and large number of clapped out bangers. People make sacrfices to pay for a good education.
I chose the school on two simple criteria - what were girls who'd been educated there like, and did they like it, and secondly academic standards. Some people look at sport facilities too but since mine are a-sporting that wasn't really an issue.
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