going private . . .

[BlasterBates]

It was a longtime ago. I went to a comp, it's fine, it doesn't need to be a grammar school. The real trouble makers don't actually turn up anyway. The classes will get streamed and so your kids will end up with like minded kids in most of the classes. Obviously want to avoid schools with huge social problems, but I would expect in spite of the media that these are the exception. A nice school (i.e. without social problems such as drugs etc) without a great academic track record is also fine in my opinion. It's far more important to provide a stable home and provide support than send a kid to private school. I spent a few years at a school where we didn't learn much for a few years, my parents thought we were heading for academic oblivion, but really it didn't make any difference in the end. When the GCSE syllabus started it what we'd done before (sitting in classes throwing paper planes around etc etc) didn't matter. It is 99% learning stuff from memory and regurgitating standard answers. The only thing a kid needs before the GCSE syllabus starts is the ability to read and write and arithmetic, and basic algebra, nothing else. I remember we started learning a foreign language from scratch 3 years before the GCSE.

[DodgyAgent]

It was a longtime ago. I went to a comp, it's fine, it doesn't need to be a grammar school. The real trouble makers don't actually turn up anyway. The classes will get streamed and so your kids will end up with like minded kids in most of the classes. Obviously want to avoid schools with huge social problems, but I would expect in spite of the media that these are the exception. A nice school (i.e. without social problems such as drugs etc) without a great academic track record is also fine in my opinion. It's far more important to provide a stable home and provide support than send a kid to private school. I spent a few years at a school where we didn't learn much for a few years, my parents thought we were heading for academic oblivion, but really it didn't make any difference in the end. When the GCSE syllabus started it what we'd done before (sitting in classes throwing paper planes around etc etc) didn't matter. It is 99% learning stuff from memory and regurgitating standard answers. The only thing a kid needs before the GCSE syllabus starts is the ability to read and write and basic algebra, nothing else.

Sport, Music and other extra facilities are almost as important as the academia. you will also find in the state sector that more GCSEs and A levels are taught in softer subjects. Unless your kid can get into a grammar school they will be disadvantaged against the private school kids

[Zippy]

Or WIS.

Honestly, I think I'm invisible sometimes.

[DodgyAgent]

Or WIS.

Honestly, I think I'm invisible sometimes.

So you did

[doodab]

The only thing a kid needs before the GCSE syllabus starts is the ability to read and write and arithmetic, and basic algebra, nothing else. I remember we started learning a foreign language from scratch 3 years before the GCSE.

That rather depends on whether you want them to aspire to more than simply passing their GCSEs. Self discipline and a love of learning will be a big help in later life.

[Churchill]

Or WIS.

Honestly, I think I'm invisible sometimes.

<shush>The men are talking.

Put the kettle on and dig that pack of digestives out. There's a love!

[BlasterBates]

Sport, Music and other extra facilities are almost as important as the academia. you will also find in the state sector that more GCSEs and A levels are taught in softer subjects. Unless your kid can get into a grammar school they will be disadvantaged against the private school kids

I think music as a taught subject in school even a private school isn't much cop really, you want them taking private lessons where they can really learn an instrument; as for sport I think any comprehensive school offers the standard football, rugby and swimming. Don't quite see what else they need to do, kids should be doing this in their free time anyway. I don't see many private school trained football players in the premier league.

I remember at University the Professor telling us that there was an inverse relationship between A level grades and the class of degree, which I think was due to private school and grammar school kids being spoon fed good A level grades; didn't help them though when the playing field was levelled.

As above I would favour a state school and go for the extra-curicular i.e. local football team, private music lessons, get them reading etc etc. My sister and I went to the comp and my brother went to the grammar school, he was the one who fluffed his A levels and can't play instrument or sing to save his life, nor do sport for that matter, whereas my sister was on the school netball team, and can knock out a Mozart piano concerto.

[Zippy]

So you did

<shush>The men are talking.

Put the kettle on and dig that pack of digestives out. There's a love!

Sigh ... Two sugars and chocolate digestives?
And 30%?

[Churchill]

Sigh ... Two sugars and chocolate digestives?
And 30%?

There's a good girl

[BlasterBates]

The interesting thing is that after my sister passed her grade 8 piano exam, she's hardly touched it since. Weird. My parents used to have a piano, and she almost completely ignored it, and hasn't bought one or even got an electronic keyboard. Except very ocasionally when she was really really bored and in front of the piano, suddenly play. I even wonder if her husband knows she can play it.