In relation to private schools or even schools in general, is it a case of “you get what you pay for?” Our local public schools have great reputations but so do our local private schools. We’re not religious at all so that part doesn’t sway us one way or the other. I was told by a good private school that we need to register our kid for her prep within the next term for 2021 and am undecided whether we bother or go to a cheaper private or even just the public school?
16 Replies
In my personal case, yes you get what you pay for! I had my daughter at a public school and moved her years ago to a private school. She is doing so much better in the private school and there are many more activities and extra support staff for her there and I'm so glad I made the change. I was raised Anglican but I don't really consider myself religious now. Also yes you do need to get in early, my daughters school is also taking enrollments for 2021.
For me, yes 110%. I cannot ever agree with people who argue that they all learn the same curriculum or that it's the same education.
Granted, yes, it is the same curriculum HOWEVER, private schools have a lot more funding for co-curricular activities, the funds to employ surplus employees allowing further elective options, further study support, smaller classes and a range of other things. I have been to both public and private schooling and the difference is huge.
HOWEVER, for primary school, I think public school doesn't offer a whole lot more unless your kid is actually educationally motivated and wants to learn. I preferred the private school in primary as it suited my needs better, however for primary I don't think it offers a huge amount extra.
Not in our case. We bought into an area with the some of the best ranking public high schools in the state. The private schools in the same area don't even come close. I actually went to one of the local private schools and although supposedly quite good, there quiet a few incidents which put me off that school. I would not send my kids to the private high schools in the area. I really think it does depend on the area and what schools you are looking at.
I believe in the public system. My kids go to a fantastic public school, I went to public primary and high schools in a low socioeconomic area with a dreadful reputation, because of that they got more funding and I got opportunities/specific education that I don't know I would have received elsewhere.
In my adult life, I have been on par (in terms of intelligence) with my colleagues who attended even the most prestigious private schools, I actually feel my humble beginning has been an asset to me, certainly not something that held me back.
There are other reasons I won't consider private education, though these are more specific to my experiences and schools in my area.
A) My family aren't religious. I don't want my children being taught one religion as though it were factual (though I'm happy for them to learn about religion as a whole). I don't want my kids precious time at school being spent doing prayers or attending mass/church etc.
B) A lot of the Private schools in my area promote a sense of superiority. Many of the students from these schools look down on and even hurl abuse at public school kids.
C) I feel the private schools in my area are more about conformity and most of them have antiquated and unreasonable rules/dress codes that take away from learning time when being enforced. I don't feel they appreciate the diversity and uniqueness of their students.
So, to summarize. I do feel it's a waste of money.
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It all depends where you live and the individual schools. Catholic schools generally follow the same curriculum as public except of course religion added into it, so there is not a better education offered. Of our local schools there are 2 public schools that are preferred over the local private schools. Kids with learning difficulties, autism etc seem to be catered for better in public schools too. Each school is different, private does not necessarily mean better.
How long is a piece of string? There are some private schools with an awesome array of subjects on offer, excellent facilities like science wings, swimming pools etc with dedicated and amazing teaching stuff with the odd not so great (you get them at all schools). There are also prestigious, some all boysprivate schools, that can produce elitist even misogynist views, with a high tolerance to bullying.
There are large public schools in some areas that have more subjects on offer than their private counterpart. There are also some pretty ordinary catholic schools that have less funding for important things like reading recovery, so some kids miss out where they would have got it at a public. There are also public schools in low socio economic areas where kids can run with the wrong crowd, if they are easily influenced and that way inclined.
It is like asking, what’s the best car? It depends on the family.
All schools have strengths and weaknesses. Some are traditionally elite sports whilst other are achieving in the arts sphere, these aspects are obviously more important in the high school years.
My advice, for primary school, go to the schools, forget private and public and just feel the vibe of it. See the teachers, how engaging are the classrooms, get a feel for the environment, what are the class sizes, what’s your take of the principal at the information night? Trust your gut, you don’t know what you are looking for now, but trust me, after going to a few, you will have a much better picture. Forget NAPLAN scores, if your child is academic, they will excel anywhere and some schools teach to it, although this doesn’t necessarily assist with the results, like they think. A thorough undertsanding and teaching of the entire curriculum is much better preparation than going over past exams over and over, if only they knew that! Anyway, I digress.......
It’s not a public versus private debate, it’s a which school is right for my child debate.
Those who are all for public, perhaps knew people or had one bad experience from private.
Those who are all for private, same same.
For the record, I went to a public school and went on to get two degrees, however, for high school, I’m considering ALL in the area for my son. He is currently at a public school that is amazingly nurturing and he is thriving academically, however, I’m not ruling out private for high school. Not sure yet! Have an open mind, that is the key.
I think we have the same mindset. This is a great approach
Depends on the school.
I’ve come across some horrible private schools and some horrible public schools. Also what is fantastic school for one is a nightmare for another child.
I went to a very exclusive private school for 3 years in high school. Worst 3 years of my life. I was bullied, beaten up and basically told I was a waste of space. One day I snapped and refused to go to school until my parents moved me to another school. Took a few weeks to find the right one but I ended up at a public school and it was brilliant.
Not all that glitters is gold.
Oh and my 2 kids will never go to a private school. I would never do that to them.
It was the opposite for my child. She was at a public school where she was constantly bullied and they did nothing. Put her in private and yeah every once in a while someone says something nasty but the school is always right on top of it and she is so much happier there. It really just depends on the school itself and not whether it's public or private.
You need to look at your area. We got offered positions in the local private schools but I declined them when I realised their sports, music, art programs etc were crap compared to the local state schools. Why pay money for less opportunity?
I went to the local public school as did my siblings. Many of my friends and my siblings are scientists, high ranking doctors and I work in psychology.
I had the option to study a huge range of subjects that private schools had not even considered teaching.
Do your research on local public schools. You can apply for private but you don’t have to accept a place when one comes up if you decide it’s not right.
The current minimum ATAR for a Bachelor of Psychology is 52.9 (which for those that don't understand, is low). For science, it's 60.2. About the average for a lot of students to attain.
I am not discrediting the careers in any way, in fact quite the opposite, my point is that whether it be public or private, these careers are very attainable for anyone. It isn't a matter of public vs private for career options, I mean sure if you have high hopes of being a lawyer or doctor then attending a school that offers appropriate support or even IB as the curriculum would put you ahead. And they do tend to mark up a fair bit based on the general score for each student. So when applying to prestigious universities you would be more ahead of the game than others. However, as with all schools, you get what you put in. If you expect to attend a private school and miraculously be smart and not be bullied, it isn't the right school. But if you have high hopes of succeeding and getting into a career path at a prestigious university then put the hard yards in and you can attain a higher score, study said above degrees at universities that care more about students than government funding etc.
At the end of the day it comes down to relationships, education philosophy, and opportunities that meet your childs interests.
I don't believe so. I'm public school all the way and I had no intention of sending my kids to a private school at all.
I used to work with a woman though, who struggled to put her 4 kids through private schools, at around $50000 per year per child, but she wouldn't have it any other way. (Her hubby was well off.) Her kids were bright children and knew what they wanted out of life. They would often visit our work on school holidays and sit in our lunch room doing their projects or extra study while their Mum worked. Her eldest two (twins) and my son all did their VCE in the same year. Now I'm not saying my son is a brainiac, in fact I will openly admit he struggled at school, BIG TIME. His favourite subject at school was home time, and he never did any home work or study for exams. But his VCE scores actually outdid the other two by a long mile.
I think it comes down to the teachers attitudes. If the teachers cannot be bothered, then the students aren't going to learn anything. If the teachers are good, they will capture the students and they will be sitting in the calssroom taking it all in. Which is what I firmly believe happened with my son - brilliant teachers that knew he wasn't good at taking notes or concentrating, but they still took the time to make sure he learnt what he had to to pass, and pass well.
People also talk of curriculum and funding. I'm sorry but blaming the curriculum is a crock of sh*t. They all learn the same things as the exams are standard across Victoria. So how can a private school teach something better or different, when the exams are the same? And funding, well yes private school get way more the public because of the fees the parents pay, so of course they are going to be given an advantage.
If I were you, I'd do tours of the schools you are looking at. Get feedback from others in area.
Good luck.