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seahorse
Senior Member
USA
1075 Posts |
 Posted - 22 July 2004 : 22:44:24
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Hi All,
It finally looks like I'm going to be transfered to the UK home office and I was wondering I some of the Brits here might be good enough to explain a little about the education system in the UK.
Private school refers to government sponsored education.
Public school refers to what is know as private individually paid education.
Is there that much of a difference between the two in the UK? Back at home in sunny brushfire ravanged California, if you live in a good enough neighborhood, the local government sponsored education is as good as if not better that privately individually paid education.
Thanks in advance for your comments.
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Ken
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Worldwide Partner Group
Microsoft |
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HuwR
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
20600 Posts |
Posted - 23 July 2004 : 03:14:56
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quote:
Is there that much of a difference between the two in the UK? Back at home in sunny brushfire ravanged California, if you live in a good enough neighborhood, the local government sponsored education is as good as if not better that privately individually paid education.
It is exactly the same here. |
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Nathan
Help Moderator
USA
7664 Posts |
Posted - 23 July 2004 : 07:18:34
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I've always used the terms public and private the other way.
Private Education - Indivuals Pay
Public (or Socialized) Education - State Pays
Is it different in the UK, or other parts of the world for that matter? |
 Nathan Bales
CoreBoard | Active Users Download |
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pdrg
Support Moderator
United Kingdom
2897 Posts |
Posted - 23 July 2004 : 08:15:27
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'Public' school dates from the days of yore - prior to this you would only have private tuition, hence these new-fangled 'public' schools where anyone who could afford the fees could gain learnings. This has carried on over the generations - that's just what it's like here - history is all embedded in the culture and language.
'State' schools are the other option now - state-sponsored education free for all at point of consumption.
'Private' is not a term generally applied to schools, although when used it would mean the same as 'public' above, and just meant as a disambiguator.
Public and state schools all vary in quality - you should have little problem finding out what is a 'good' or 'bad' school - Try The Times or Telegraph newspapers, they're keen on league charts.
Spending money on a public school will not guarantee you a better education, but there is a strong corrolation as class sizes are often much smaller, activities more varied, and your kids may rub shoulders with future kings or lords etc ;-) And the 'old school tie' is worth more to an Etonian than someone from a state comprehensive school - loads of potential contacts for the future.
Gordonstoun is the public school favoured by the royals, Eton is another of the biggies, Harrow another, but there are loads of 'lesser' public schools with different specialities (Millfield for sports [esp Tennis], for instance)
Personally, I went to a state comprehensive, and it was fine. Most people do, and get by perfectly well in the world, but you do have the option of public schools if you want them.
hth |
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seahorse
Senior Member
USA
1075 Posts |
Posted - 23 July 2004 : 11:14:39
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I was state educated back in California all the way up to university (UCLA!) and have had no complaints.
The UK is just such a different place that I don't think I've quite got my head around it at the moment. Strangely enough the move to Japan seemed less... foreign.
I don't know about hobnobbing with royalty, but I would like my kid to get a good education. Thanks for the comments. |
Ken
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Worldwide Partner Group
Microsoft |
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HuwR
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
20600 Posts |
Posted - 23 July 2004 : 12:41:00
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we also still have a hundred or so Grammar schools which are sort of in between the two, they are either state run or independant they are not "public schools" but you will have to take an exam to get in (used to be called the 11+ when I was a kid).
It can be quite a daunting task, my brother has just moved out of London because the area he lived had very bad schools and he wants his kids to get a better start than learning how to steal cars
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seahorse
Senior Member
USA
1075 Posts |
Posted - 25 July 2004 : 10:29:58
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An exam to get into a school? How old are the kids when they take the exam?
Yeah, I can understand why your brother might move. That's the reason my parents moved out of Los Angeles proper when I was a youngster. I figure if I had grown up in the neighborhood I was born in I'd either be dead or in jail by now.
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Ken
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Worldwide Partner Group
Microsoft |
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HuwR
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
20600 Posts |
Posted - 25 July 2004 : 13:01:56
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quote:
Originally posted by seahorse
An exam to get into a school? How old are the kids when they take the exam?
11 |
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seahorse
Senior Member
USA
1075 Posts |
Posted - 25 July 2004 : 21:52:02
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Oh, well. I guess we have some time then.  |
Ken
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Worldwide Partner Group
Microsoft |
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Jezmeister
Senior Member
United Kingdom
1141 Posts |
Posted - 26 July 2004 : 05:40:00
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| although u do take an exam at 11 in state schools that doesnt effect whether u go on or not. |
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pdrg
Support Moderator
United Kingdom
2897 Posts |
Posted - 26 July 2004 : 07:52:38
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Oh, also try out for scholarships for public (or 'prep' if they're still young) schools, if your kids are smart they may get a free private education (but you may still have boarding fees etc, I suppose).
'Prep' schools are like public schools for under-11's - it is short for 'preparatory school'. It's to get the kids used to the funny uniforms and being away from home etc ;-)
For a bit of fun, have a look at schools like Winchester (public) School - they have their own superset of English pupils are encouraged to use, eg 'bogle' for 'bicycle'. I think it's all to do with exclusivity, probably not something in your genes if you hail from the US ;-) |
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seahorse
Senior Member
USA
1075 Posts |
Posted - 26 July 2004 : 08:54:10
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To me scholarships are for university. Can't imagine one for grammar school.
Tell me is the class issue that big a deal? Who goes to public schools?
By the way, we're talking the Manchester area. I've also started perusing house prices and the pound figures have absolutely no meaning to me. |
Ken
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Worldwide Partner Group
Microsoft |
Edited by - seahorse on 26 July 2004 08:55:46 |
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pdrg
Support Moderator
United Kingdom
2897 Posts |
Posted - 26 July 2004 : 09:29:02
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lol those pound figures will have very real meanings all too soon - enjoy the peace!!!
Public school students *tend* to be from better off families, as they can afford the fees, so draw your own conclusions :) This goes doubly so for the 'best' schools (Eton, Winchester, Gordonstoun, Harrow, etc) where you are paying for the prestige as much as anything. I say *tend* to, as most also offer scholarships, so some smart ruffians ( ) will be able to benefit, especially if they're local (and so will not board). That prestige may make it easier for your kids in later life in terms of contacts etc, but you'll pay for it in cash, as on top of fees there will be preferred uniform suppliers etc, and social events can be dearer (eg school trip to America as opposed to france), plus other unforseeables (tuck shop bills etc!!).
All in all, if you want to give your kids the very best chance in scholarly (and societal) life, and can afford it, you may wish to send them to a public school. You may prefer to send them to an American school if you want them to learn amongst their fellow Americans, but if you send them to school in the state sector, they'll probably come through just fine, as do the overwhelming majority of British kids!
Out of interest, what are their current ages? It's a lot less common to go to public school under 11 yrs old, and the state system seems to provide very well for this demographic :) |
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seahorse
Senior Member
USA
1075 Posts |
Posted - 26 July 2004 : 21:48:48
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My son is going to be 5. If this were the States, he'd just be starting school.
If kids do tend to start public school from 11 then I guess there'll be more than enough time to think about it.
I don't know about the society contacts. Something about it doesn't quite sit right with me. My parents are from farm families and there was very little "society" where I grew up (central Los Angeles and later the suburbs). Maybe it's just me. I think I might feel more comfortable with your smart ruffians.
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Ken
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Worldwide Partner Group
Microsoft |
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pdrg
Support Moderator
United Kingdom
2897 Posts |
Posted - 28 July 2004 : 07:09:17
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Jezmeister
Senior Member
United Kingdom
1141 Posts |
Posted - 29 July 2004 : 20:54:25
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| coming from my pov as a current full-time student i have to say i prefer state schools - ive never been to private one but at a state one, sure anyone gets in - but you also "toughen up" quicker - gets you more ready for life outside school. from what i know about private schools (Which admittedly is not an awful lot) and my own experiences of state schools - at private schools u just get an education, at state schools you get an education and a lot more. |
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