Private schools paying for education

Anyone been down this route?  Want the best for my child so am considering it but it is such a long term consideration financially not sure if we can do it.

I'm a teacher here in the UK and have taught at both state and private schools so am happy to offer advice.

I would say it depends on the local state schools in your area and what your child is like.  Some children will thrive wherever they are and private doesn't necessarily mean better teaching but will almost certainly mean smaller class sizes.  They can be quite pressurised environments though, my best advice is to visit both and see where your child will feel the most comfortable.

I live in Baltimore city and the idea of private vs public (state) schools is a huge discussion around here. My thought is - money doesn't necessarily buy you a better education. If you do your research of the schools in your area, you may find that a non-fee paying school is actually a better fit for your child. 

I think it requires research about what is available in the local area. There are good state and fee paying a schools just as much as there are not so good ones. It just requires some digging, looking at Ofsted reports, talking to local parents and so on.

It also really does depend on the individual child's needs, your values and views as a parent and balancing it against what is on offer.

Being realistic about finances is also important. I'd want to teach my child good money skills. 

My thought is - money doesn't necessarily buy you a better education.

Absolutely. I went to private school but it was in all honesty miles better than the public school system where we lived. However, around here two of my friends have recently pulled their children out of private schools and enrolled them in an excellent local public school which has been getting rave reviews.

Thanks for your responses. I think I am keen on the idea of smaller classes
So she gets more personal attention. I hated school
As did hubby so we want to give our daughter the best if possible. I junk the state schools
Here are ok but not spectacular. Now the schools from the age of 11 just aren't good in this area and that's the problem

Very interesting, it is really good, I think.

We seriously considered a Quaker day school in another city.  Aside from the money it would have meant moving there, which would have meant DH having a long commute to work.  Always regretted not being to do it.

We seriously considered a Quaker day school in another city.  Aside from the money it would have meant moving there, which would have meant DH having a long commute to work.  Always regretted not being to do it.

Always thought Fulneck was Quaker, but maybe it is just Christian?  

ETA Think they are Czech Unity of Brethren, apparently, or so google tells me. 

Always thought Fulneck was Quaker, but maybe it is just Christian?  

ETA Think they are Czech Unity of Brethren, apparently, or so google tells me. 

I thought they were Moravians?  Maybe that's the same?  (All I know about Moravians is that they have coffee and ginger biscuits for Communion. Seems like a cool idea to me  )

There are two Quaker schools in York:  Bootham and The Mount (where Judi Dench went) and also Ackworth in Pontefract.

I thought they were Moravians?  Maybe that's the same?  (All I know about Moravians is that they have coffee and ginger biscuits for Communion. Seems like a cool idea to me  )

There are two Quaker schools in York:  Bootham and The Mount (where Judi Dench went) and also Ackworth in Pontefract.

I got to the Czech Unity of Brethren somehow. Moravia is in the Eastern part of the Czech Republic. Fulneck Moravian Settlement was the original village (now part of Pudsey), so I *think* Moravia is where the immigrants were from, but the Christian religion is descended from / is from Czech Unity of Brethren. The website itself doesn't indicate (other than Christian) and I could be wrong, but that's my logic, if that makes sense. 

I like their Communion food. And Judi Dench rules.   

My niece and nephew went to Ackworth, although Niece has decided to travel to Sheffield High School for sixth form.

Their parents think it was worth every penny, and poor niece wanted to change her mind and stay on for sixth form after all but her parents had already paid for her first term at SHS and they wouldn't refund, unfortunately.

I like their Communion food. And Judi Dench rules.