Should I Send My Child To a Private School?

Choosing whether to send your child to private or public school is a dilemma many parents in the United Kingdom are faced with when it comes to admitting their children to primary or senior school. It requires particular attention if they have initially attended public early years education.

Sending your child to an independent school has both pros and cons, whether it be a private school in Berkshire, Sussex or Oxfordshire. Here, we share with you those pros and cons of sending your child to private school in the UK.  

Pros of Private Schools

Stats Tell The Story:

Statistics suggest that children going to private schools have an easier route to employment in certain skill demanding career options. They are better prepared to deal with a corporate environment and its level of expectations. Hence they progress within business faster compared to those from public schools.

Better Monitoring:

There is better monitoring in place in terms of quality of education in private schools. The Independent School Association has a strict set of parameters and every private school needs to adhere to them. This improves the overall quality of education that is delivered.

Smaller Class Size:

Private schools have smaller classes with a better teacher to student ratio. This ensures that the children receive more attention from the teacher when compared to a public school.

Infrastructure:

It goes without saying that private schools in UK have a better infrastructure when compared to public schools. If your child is aspiring to be a sportsperson or a marine biologist, they offer the perfect platform to groom these skills.  Some independent schools offer post-secondary education, such as this Sixth-form Berkshire based institution. And, if your child has additional learning disabilities –  there are specialist private schools which provide tailored teaching methods and a bespoke curriculum. This can range from private day schools, such as this special needs school Oxford, or residential schools for autism and other learning difficulties. 

Soft Skills Development:

In today’s competitive market, soft skills often prove to be the differentiator when it comes to employment and higher studies. Private schools lay more emphasis on the development of soft skills such as debating, communication, teamwork and problem solving.

Cons of Private Schools:

Private School Fees:

While it may not be apt to term this as a con it definitely acts as a roadblock for many parents. Funding private school tuition can be tough and it is certainly a long term financial commitment, hence private school is often seen as something that is an opportunity for those children from a more affluent background. Well, even private school uniforms are exorbitantly priced!

Homogenous Composition:

Most private schools draw students from the same socio-economic backgrounds, unlike the public schools that include children from diverse sections of the society. Thus, students in such schools often find it tough to integrate easily into a diverse community.

Underachievers Find It Tough:

The environment at private schools is highly competitive. This directly translates into increased stress on the children. If your child isn’t able to fare well in a cut-throat environment, then it could have an adverse psychological effect.

Entrance Exams

Admission to most private schools comes via an independent school entrance exam. Whilst this allows them to select the achievers in the first instance (hence better performance), those who don’t make the cut may live with a sense of defeat affecting their future academic performance.

In Summary

These pros and cons of private school apply differently to different children and their parents. They should be taken into consideration, but there are many more lifestyle factors that should be taken into account.

Did you attend private school? Is it something that you would recommend? Was it a good investment? Tell us the benefits that you got from private schooling in the comments below.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *