(UK) If you could afford to send your children to a private school, would you?

Question

What about a boarding school? And give reasons please. (I'm not a parent, I just want to know if I ought to start saving!)

Answer 1

Yes I would. I want my children to have the best possible start in life, and it is a fact that children from public schools have better prospects than those from state schools. They are far more likely to go to university, particularly the prestigious ones, though it's always nice to hear of those who buck the trend.

EDIT the schools you pay fees for are "public" in the UK, and the free ones "state"

Answer 2

If I had it to do over again, I would gage the child, because the first one went to college and got a business and spanish and internet something degrees. Shelearned excellent goal setting skills and always was competitive. The second child was of rebell, hellious nature, and had a propension for other similar peer group although fine at home so it was eighth grade, before real issues surfaced, nonstop for 8yrs and two rehabs+one baby boy later. I'm afraid she is sober now but I still detect a lack of morality/maturity. Third son the smartest, but not convienced colllege is his thing. I'd sure have gotten my second kid into a small charter school way back when and spent the rest of the time leading her into more constructed activites where I was a very very involved parent. Hey, some kids need double the persuit cause if I knew then I would have seen the need.

Answer 3

There are a lot of excellent state schools and if your son is classed and gifted and talented at primary, ask the secondary school what provisions they make for gifted and talented pupils. I would also go as far to say that it's not always down to the school but the individual teachers. I teach some very intelligent chn but they don't become bored and restless because they are given work to do at the right level, they have extension activities to do when they have finished their work and they know that I accept nothing less than excellent behaviour. Any child, irrelevant of IQ can become bored restless if they aren't stimulated enough or the work is too challenging. You need to find the right school for your son, irrespective of state or private.

Answer 4

no i wouldnt. well definatly not boarding school anyway. i wouldnt want my kid to be a snob, although they might claim to be cleverer if they go there, i see it like a prison and think that they should have a proper childhood. if the parents encourage their child to so well in any normal school then it shouldnt make a difference what school they go to, and possible save the money that they would spend on the private school and buy more important things that they could use at home, helping them to learn outside of school aswell. id want to see as much of them as i could.. they grow up so quickly and when they have left school and are grown up (whether they have a good job or not) they'll never get the days back where their kids would come home and read to their parents everynight and show them their work. nowadays.. i think privare schools are more about dicaplin than better grades.

Answer 5

No, all my four children have gone through state education, the youngest just passed his GCSE's and they all have had a good education and are all doing very well for themselves. Unfortunately the state schools are struggling financially at the moment and of course they must try and attract more quality teachers but on the whole I think the standard of education is still good. I think that although a child needs a good education they need to be in a family environment in their formative years, I just can't imagine sending a small child away to boarding school at a young age, it must be very frightening and confusing for them. Perhaps it's just me but I think a child should be brought up surrounded by it's family, a good education is all very well but there is no substitute for love and security.

Answer 6

I'm not a parent, but I would send my child to a private, though maybe not boarding school, as it would give him or her the best opportunity in life. If money is tight, you could apply for a scholarship or bursary.

Answer 7

I don't have children either, but I completely disagree with private schools, private healthcare and anything else like that. So no, if I had children, I wouldn't send them to a private school.

Answer 8

welli wouldnt do boarding schoool simply as i beleive kids especially primary age need their parents if circumstance allows, private school yes i would when you pay directly you have more of a say, i have aspecial needs child who incidentally is quite intelligent if i couldl get her the schooling she needed without having to air our whole life and attend meetings and capaign for anything shes ever given and plead as to why sh e wshould have it to justify the public ocst beleive me this school system in the uk may be free but it certainly has its failings if you ask me the good schools areeither full or hard to find so in answer to your question yes i would but not boarding school.

Answer 9

No, 2 of my kids have done well and I see no need to see the other 2 to be any different. They will just turn out to be snobs if they go private. None of my kids have left school to go on the dole and be Idle, and I'm proud of what and who they are.

Answer 10

if i could afford it yes i would send my children to private school but not boarding school. but we do our best and live within our means and give them all the help and support we can.