Why do British royal children not go to state schools like the Scandanavian royals?

volver

^And, if there were no independent schools which offer boarding facilities, what would happen to the children of British parents who work overseas where the local schools may not be suitable?^

Well here's a thought. Establish schools for expats' children that provide education for free, but charge for room and board. They don't have to be "independent".

A little bit of imagination and a willingness to find novel solutions, that's what we need.

I think you mean that's what you think we need, volver.

If you stand out due to fame or celebrity then state schools can be difficult, as Stella McCartney states. If you can blend in as being nothing out of the ordinary then state schools are fine, but Royalty would stand out more than anyone. I can't see how it would work, it's an unrealistic suggestion. I'm sure they have given the matter much thought and are doing what they think is best for their children.

Why only the royal children? Why this obsession with them when loads of other parents in politics, celebrity, sport etc also send their children to private schools? My grandson who attended a normal state school has just achieved 4 A*s at A level. Doesn't make him typical, and much was achieved through parental input!

Why "obsess" about what any other people decide to do, Rosie. What does it change?

DaisyAnne

MayBee70

GrannyGravy13

volver if your local state school is falling down I suggest you complain to Ms. Sturgeon as education is devolved.

Whilst the U.K. has a choice of schools, Grammar, comprehensive, academy and private it’s down to parental choice. If they can afford school fees, I really don’t see why they cannot spend their money as they wish.

As for the Cambridge children, a prep school in Berkshire is preferable for their safety and privacy.

Because when people can send their children to private schools if they have the money they don’t care about the plight of children having to go to comprehensives. In Scandinavia, I believe, they don’t have private schools so it’s in everyone’s interest to make every school provide the best education as possible for every child, no matter what their background. My daughter left teaching because she was burnt out but also in despair at the lack of resources the school had.

Maybee, do you think that when people feed their children, they do not care about the plight of those who can't?

As has already been said, many families will use both systems for their family, aiming to find the best school for each child at different stages of education. It's also worth remembering that there are a proportion of parents who send their children to state schools who, once they are there, don't care about their input into the school or the system either directly or indirectly.

Scandinavia comprises Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland. Also, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Åland. Each country runs their system of choice. They are not one political system. The system in Finland, which does not allow private schools, has been mentioned several times.

I’m sorry, I don’t understand the point you’re making. If a parent can’t afford to send their child to private school then the only choice they have is to go to a state school. And that child should receive as good an education as any education that can be paid for.

Most parents get the best schools for their kids and pay for good schools if they can afford to do so.

Until no fee paying school is tolerated it's reasonable for Royals to send their kids to an expensive school.

Rosie, you might tell us exactly what "parental input" as this is important.

Did they have a house with books and no television or computer games? Did they insist on outdoor exercise and healthy food? Was having books read to them fun for their pre-school kids? Were conversations in their house inquiring and curious about the big world?

Caleo

Rosie, you might tell us exactly what "parental input" as this is important.

Did they have a house with books and no television or computer games? Did they insist on outdoor exercise and healthy food? Was having books read to them fun for their pre-school kids? Were conversations in their house inquiring and curious about the big world?

Encouragement, creating a space in a teeny tiny house where study could be achieved despite a sibling (shared bedroom) with complex special needs, parents going without to facilitate a 'special interest' (sorry, not going to be more specific as could be identifying)
Limited TV, extensive computer literacy but a limit on computer games (too generous in my opinion lol) books a plenty (express an interest or passing thought and either parents or grandparents bought appropriate books), exhibitions, workshops, physical exercise, definitely healthy food alongside a good dose of unhealthy popular fast food, open conversations about anything and everything, encouragement to explore other views......
I'm extraordinarily proud of my son and daughter-in-law, they have encouraged my grandson to develop his own views, morals, and norms while exposing him to as much variation as possible.
All this while dealing with two completely different children. One who is highly gifted and intelligent, the other who is neurodiverse and educationally challenged. Both equally loved and valued by us all.

volver

Oops, forgot something.

I an astounded that any child going to state school might be accused of depriving another of a place. Where on earth does that come from?

If the state school is over subscribed, then some children can’t get ‘in’ there, and have to go elsewhere.

So the 3 Cambridge children are probably helping local children get in the state school of their choice perhaps?

?‍♀️

In other words, 3 children getting an expensive education in an elite school is really a public service?

What has happened to this country?

Our children went to state schools and we lived in a big townhouse which we'd spent years renovating. I'll never forget my 11-year-old son bringing a friend from his school up the path and saying to him, 'Ignore the house. They bought it cheap.' Friend was from a run-down council estate (and before someone shoots me down for whatever reason let me add that I was too, and brought up in poverty). The kids have friends from state and public schools and what interests me is that I can't see what advantages the ones in public schools gave them as adults. (Have you seen the private boarding school where children can take their ponies? Very Enid Blyton. )

It’s no different to those who own their own homes moving into the catchment area of the schools that achieve better ratings than others.

Incomes vary. and what people chose to do with their own money is their choice.

Some parents sacrifice holidays, new cars to send their children to fee paying schools.

Some parents sacrifice holidays, new cars etc., to send their children to ballet, football, tennis, pony club etc, do you advocate banning extra curricular activities because some children do not participate/parents cannot afford for them to participate ?

Most Scandinavian state schools are better than British state schools, by better I mean - far more money invested in state education in those countries, particularly Finland which tops achievement charts. We all know that cuts over the last 10 years have meant fewer teachers and TAs, bigger classes, crumbling buildings, fewer opportunities for sport , drama, arts, music etc etc. But that doesn’t matter because those who make education policy wouldn’t dream of sending their kids to their local comp.

It is very clear that in countries where all children go to State Schools, including those of influence and means- education is properly funded, with excellent staff and facilities. They also have less class conflicts, as children have grown up and been educated with a huge variety of children form very varied backgrounds.

Because when people can send their children to private schools if they have the money they don’t care about the plight of children having to go to comprehensives.
But that doesn't apply here because what we are talking about in the case of the Cambridges is a prep school up to age 11 years. The choice of school is often made and registered before the child is even born, so it has nothing to do with being disillusioned about a particular state school or not caring about other children.
I agree the parents might be wrapped up in their own wealth and status, but to say they don't care about other children is unfair.
Private schools themselves welcome children from state schools to join in quizzes and matches. During covid times many invited key workers' children to attend their schools and also gave or loaned computers, books and other equipment to state schools.
Just because parents at private schools have money, it doesn't mean they don't have a heart.

GrannyGravy13

It’s no different to those who own their own homes moving into the catchment area of the schools that achieve better ratings than others.

Incomes vary. and what people chose to do with their own money is their choice.

Some parents sacrifice holidays, new cars to send their children to fee paying schools.

Some parents sacrifice holidays, new cars etc., to send their children to ballet, football, tennis, pony club etc, do you advocate banning extra curricular activities because some children do not participate/parents cannot afford for them to participate ?

In a country which is meant to be civilised, some parents are sacrificing their ability to eat on a daily basis so their children can have their lunch.

As I said above. Let me paraphrase. If you want your kids to have a pony and give up the Maserati so that they can, fair play to you. If you want your children to have the best education available, which will make them successful and happy human beings, but you can't have that because only the rich folks are entitled to that and you are on minimum wage? It's an entirely different thing.

Grannygravy
I agree, our children were the same, we tried to match the school to the child, it’s not a case of one size fits all.
Nothing whatever to do with snobbery.
I’m sure the Royal Children will be going to the school their parents have decided best suits them.

Parents send their children to private schools if they can afford it because they get a better education, discipline is better, pastoral care is better, special needs provision is better, curriculum options are better, teachers are better and career options are better.
That does not mean it is fair to give your child advantages, here we have 2 highly rated grammar schools, parents groom their children with extra tuition to pass the 11+ and get a much better academic education at no extra cost.
Others have idealogical objections to any kind of selection, that’s tough, even in communist countries the elite send their children to private schools often in other countries

teachers are better
I'm not so sure.

Private schools themselves welcome children from state schools to join in quizzes and matches.

I hope the peasants are suitably grateful for getting the crumbs from the rich man's table.

Parental input as you describe it Rosie51 or even just interest and encouragement makes all the difference for many children.

Caleo your description @ 00:25 of some of the things children need was excellent.

Money-whether children are ‘royal’ or not makes a difference to the choices people can make, whether in education, healthcare, housing, food, holidays or even the choice, or ability to own expensive devices they use to communicate on social media.
All those things are unfair.
I wholeheartedly agree that all children should get a good education, regardless of whether parents do or don’t pay taxes that pay for education or whether they can afford to pay that tax and pay again for choice of schooling.
For those protesting about the right to choose, are you advocating a communist system of rules about what we can choose or do?
Do you believe that those at the top of such a system would have no more choice than those at the bottom?

volver

In other words, 3 children getting an expensive education in an elite school is really a public service?

What has happened to this country?

If that’s how you choose to interpret it, yes.

Hypothetically, if I lived where they do, if I had primary age school children who couldn’t get in a local, over subscribed state school, then yes, I would be pleased that 3 more places were being created because the Cambridges had gone private.

The same as if Catherine had her babies in the private Lindo wing, perhaps that frees up a midwife in the NHS.

Lots of wealthy people, not just Royalty, pays for private stuff.

volver

^Private schools themselves welcome children from state schools to join in quizzes and matches.^

I hope the peasants are suitably grateful for getting the crumbs from the rich man's table.

If you are referring to the children as peasants, they really didn't bat an eyelid or notice either way and why should they? But yes, they though the school meals were far superior! ? ?

I am in my fifties and still have a teenager, they did the whole visiting a local private school. They noticed immediately the differences.

As an aside, at the London prep school I taught in, 18 families left the school for the countryside (Norfolk, Suffolk, Cornwall etc) during covid times. That was nearly 30 kids in 2020-21. This September 2022 every single place has now been filled, so demand will continue to be as high as ever.