In an ideal world which school would you choose? Post Reply

[FrenchMummyInLondon]

Hi
sorry, don't want to derail the topic - but why is there so many places available in Year 3 and above?
Where do the reception/Year1/year2 pupils go??

[Mrs Contractor Mum]

Private schools or people move out of the area.

[FrenchMummyInLondon]

Is the move to private school is that massive? why?

My daughter is at Belleville and I was thinking that (due to the amount of "fighting" to get in) the kids will stay until moving to secondary school... but it doesn't seem to be the case?
Are the schools not as good for Year3 and above then?
what decided parents to move the kids to private?

[papinian]

Is the move to private school is that massive? why?

My daughter is at Belleville and I was thinking that (due to the amount of "fighting" to get in) the kids will stay until moving to secondary school... but it doesn't seem to be the case?
Are the schools not as good for Year3 and above then?
what decided parents to move the kids to private?

Because to get into private/independent schools at 11 you need to be on track before then. It's not necessarily about the quality of the education it's about the focus of the education. It's similar to the idea that if you're learning a subject it's not just about learning it generally, it's also about being prepared for the exam.

I think you have things the wrong way around re parents fighting to get their children into Belleville. Those parents are doing that in part because it saves them the money they need to pay the fees later on for prep school (8-11).

[Mrs Contractor Mum]

Ooh - papinian got there before me but yes, prep schools start at 7+ and are called prep schools to prepare children for onward private education at 11 or 13.
What I am surprised at is there isn't the otherway turn of kids that go to pre-preps then taking up the spare capacity in the 'sought after schools' afterwards? I suppose the expectation is if you have spent the money at pre-prep you may as well keep spending.

[KatherineHepburn]

Belleville is an excellent school and no the quality doesn't drop off in year 3. It's just private school fees can be huge. So parents set on a private education for their kids use the state system for when it suits them and then shift over to the private system when they feel it counts. The kids are older and need prepping for further private education.
It is sad as folks are desperate for state school places around here from reception and private education isn't always a financial option or a personal choice of education and yet they may well miss out on a place at a preferred school with spaces only then turning up again in later years.

[FrenchMummyInLondon]

Oh, all of this got me worried (I kind of thought I was done with the school decision for several years...)