So called left wingers who pay school fees

I don't think private education is that rare, here in the north east our children and those of work colleagues went to good private schools.

harrigran fewer than 10% of children and young people attend private schools. 90% of children are educated in state schools, most of whom are happy and well educated.

I did not pay a penny for my children to be educated in their local schools and they are both high achievers too! Not sure it's always to do with the money you spend!

The state school in our area was known for it's drama and sports not academic subjects. I sent DC to a school with traditional teaching methods and to mix with like minded students. I wasn't trying to be better than anyone else, we just wanted our children to be happy.
I don't accept that bright children will succeed anywhere, I have seen bright kids dumb down so that they fit in with their peers.

Just because a school is known for a particular subject does not always mean it does not do well in other subjects too!

I accept I am 'hard line' re private education. It's aenathema to me. I have heard all the arguments from teachers, parents and some students too who are in favour of private education but I have not been convinced it is the best for a country /nation.

Trust me, you would have agreed with me if you had seen the local school.
Remember too nanaej by removing our children from state education we made class numbers smaller and in effect paid for education twice.
If the state education had been up to standard it would never be an issue. DS will probably not send his children to a private school even though he went.

There are good private schools and good state schools. Ditto bad. This thread actually started as a complaint about our elected representatives who make the educational policy which determines the fate of the vast majority of our children and then decide it isn't good enough for their own offspring. If they had no choice, they might make decisions based on more urgent considerations than political ideology. As long as there are fee-paying schools, everyone (except politicians) has a right to pay for their children's education. I believe the same applies to private health care.

Well said, lily. Absolutely spot on.

Bags

Yes Lilygran I started the thread and I agree with your post and would defend anyone's right to send their children to private school, but just don't say you are fundamentally left wing if you do so because it sounds so lame. I also believe in an ideal world we would just have good state education and everyone would subscribe to that, however, clearly that's not the case.

Fascinating thread!
@nanaej quite right to point out that less than 10% of population go to independent schools. The picture varies greatly across the UK. In some parts of London, the socio-economic make-up of people living next to the top state schools is 'higher' than that of people living next to the top independent school in other parts of the country. So going to a state school doesn't necessarily mean you're going to get a raw deal and going to an independent school doesn't necessarily mean you're rolling in money - granted, you have to have disposable income, but many scrimp and save to afford it. I can't see how it can be true that independent schools are creaming off the intellectual top - first of all, they aren't all selective and secondly, with only 7% of the school age population in independent schools, it's a statistical impossibility. But something's clearly happening in those schools that translates into progression to university. Someone - sorry can't remember who - posted that what's important about school is having a good socio-economic mix and I agree. I also think the recent call for 'open access' to independent schools is a good thing. It will open up existing independent schools to children from lower income families in a far greater way than offering a few bursaries ever could and, if the Government allow it, it could be a small baby step towards a more egalitarian school system. @baNANA it IS annoying for so-called socialist journalists to turncoat when it comes to their children's education. I understand their motives and don't condemn them, but they are really two-faced if they then continue to spout ideals that fly in the face of their own actions.
Our family was in a similar situation last year and I came across this on Google. It doesn't really add much to the original point of this thread, but it may just be useful to someone out there if you're trying to decide between school types: www.mydaughter.co.uk/educating-your-daughter/7-11/education-choices/independent-vs-state-how-do-i-make-the-most-of-my/
Personally, I find the whole concept of choice in education quite alien. But it's all different now!