going private . . .

[minestrone]

I got expelled from private school, smacked someone and told a teacher to feck off. I am sure that does not surprise you.

[sasguru]

But is it worth the amount you pay. I really don't think so. I know kids who went down the private route at my age and felt absolutely no disadvantage whatsoever. They don't play rugby in big teams, they don't play piano concerto's or appear in Theatres or write books. The friend of mine who went on to play international rugby (league) was at the local comp. If you're good at sport you'll shine and you'll be spotted, you don't need a private school for that. I had plenty of opportunity to "be spotted" and coached at all sorts of sports. My sister who was naturally good at sports was offered the opportunity to go into the local town's swimming team, which coached youngsters to olympic standard. She turned it down, because she didn't want to spend 4 hours a day swimming.The key is not the school but your parents.

I admit if you have bad parents a good school can compensate, so if you really know you are good parents you don't need to fork hundreds of thousands on an education, you can send them down the local, comp, and get them involved in the local activities. I used to be in the Jazz Youth orchestra funded by the local education commitee, I didn't take part, but they toured the US, made records and one member of the jazzband had or still has his own TV show.

The plebs still have culture. I think most of the criticism comes from people who never went to a "comp", and are prejudiced. My parents were also pretty agast at the thought of the "comp" originally. Yes there are bad schools, but in my opinion they're the exception rather than the rule.

You can't spell or think straight. A private education might have been of benefit.

At the moment we have one sprog. Definitely going to public school.

[Peoplesoft bloke]

wanted to ... private from 3-11 then onto a grammer school (still have them in bham)

went to our 1st open day on sat, ok school nothing special, teachers and governers all seemed a little too desperate but the costs are extorinate, we're talking around £6k p/a on average up until 11 yrs old - thats a lot of money & of course whatever we do for the one, others ..

)

I'm in the same boat - wife wants to send the kids private. This is largely because where we currently live, the state secondarys are terrible.
....

A lot depends on where you live, and the calibre of state schools in that area.
Where I live now, in the state schools you will get pupils who, lets say…are not academically inclined (future Big brother candidates). So I have put my kids in private. But the plan is to move to an area where they have grammer schools and hope the kids do well on 11+. Plan B is to emigrate….

WPLATYSAID.
Have to agree completely,...
For me, it gets a lot more difficult at 11, they are more independant and will be influenced by peers and not you. A good school gets you kids with a different attitude to the world as much as an education.
...

Back to skool all of you

[sasguru]

Back to skool all of you

Quite. Seriously it's kucky you guys can make a living as itinerant jobbing IT people, because with your grammar and spelling you wouldn't quite fit in at a high level.

[AtW]

Quite. Seriously it's kucky you guys can make a living as itinerant jobbing IT people, because with your grammar and spelling you wouldn't quite fit in at a high level.

Are you saying that basic competencies are completely options to the high level people?

[Pondlife]

Quite. Seriously it's kucky you guys can make a living as itinerant jobbing IT people, because with your grammar and spelling you wouldn't quite fit in at a high level.

[Zippy]

I got expelled from private school, smacked someone and told a teacher to feck off. I am sure that does not surprise you.

Er, no

[d000hg]

I went to the local village school until about 7 or 8, then private after that - I remember having to take the entrance exams!

I think that's a better route... especially 3-5, private school is daft as long as you actually interact with the kid yourselves.

I think private->public as suggested is a tough route, putting your posh pampered kid into a state school at 11 is tough on them... but the opposite I think is better if they show signs of being bright.

[shaunbhoy]

Quite. Seriously it's kucky you guys can make a living as itinerant jobbing IT people, because with your grammar and spelling you wouldn't quite fit in at a high level.

Oh kuck off back to your shed, bellend!!

[Bagpuss]

You can't spell or think straight. A private education might have been of benefit.

At the moment we have one sprog. Definitely going to public school.

Oh course they HAVE to where you live in the inner city, or little SAS will end up talking like a gangster innit?