If you are a parent, you may be considering what type of schooling will be most suitable and beneficial for your child. The private and public education sector is a fairly controversial subject matter. In this post, we will explore the features of both types of education systems.
Private schools
Private education can cost an average of about £20,000 a year per student. Whilst many parents who send their children to private schools believe this is one of the best investments for their future, are private schools really more superior than state schools?
There are undoubtedly many advantages to sending your child to a private school, and many believe that the tangible value in the independent education system can greatly enhance their child’s future career prospects and authority in society. Popular belief in certain demographics adopt the notion that those who have studied at a private school have a greater chance of achieving better academic results, and many parents who send their children to private schools believe that private education provides a stronger platform for better opportunities later on in their future.
What are some of the advantages?
- Better engagement
The smaller classes offered at private schools are said to allow students to have more of a personal focus on their individual education, in comparison to that of a state school environment, where many classes are in groups of up to or around 30 students per teacher. Better engagement and interactivity with teachers and students within lessons can help enhance productivity and overall learning experience. The added intimacy can assist with personal development as students have the opportunity to receive more devoted mentorship from their teachers. Regular staff meetings ensure that quality delivered to each individual student is always at the forefront of the school’s focus.
- Better focus and quality
Many parents find the single sex aspect that many private school systems operate in appealing as it is commonly believed to help students channel their focus and concentration towards their studies. The extra-curricular activities and facilities commonly offered at independent schools is also an attractive attribute amongst parents. Private schools do not necessarily have to adhere to the national curriculum and have the luxury of creating their own, allowing room for adaptability to individual students’ needs and ability. Private schools also tend to encourage incorporating programs in the Arts, such as Drama and Theatre, giving students more of a diverse education, rather than simply academic education.
- Better funding
The tuition funds through private education allow more expansion and contribution towards creating a better learning environment, as well as enforcing extra-curricular activities such as exclusive field trips and trips abroad. These added opportunities encourage personal growth, develop life skills such as independence and camaraderie. Private schools generally have stricter discipline guidelines too, which helps eliminate disruptive behaviour that can cause other students’ education to become affected as a result. The high standards that private schools adhere to ensure that each students’ quality of education is not compromised, and any problems will be handled in the most efficient and effective manner.
State schools
On the contrary, a recent study from The University of Cambridge found that state school pupils are in fact more likely to perform better than those who were privately educated. It was found that for every two privately educated students who achieved an A in their A-levels, three students who attended a state school received a first class honours degree. Some research has also shown that some who were privately educated felt more complacent and had less self-discipline to work much harder and relied on the teachings in school and their tutors whilst doing minimal work themselves. Another assessment carried out from The University of Cambridge indicated that overall, students that attended private schools were in fact less likely to achieve a First Class Honours, or even 2:1 in their degree. Last year, research conducted by the Department of Education revealed that the best 500 state schools in the country performed better in examinations than that of those that were privately educated.
Why state school?
- Better support
Some parents say that many state schools offer more support to children with mild to severe learning disabilities such as autism, ADD, dyslexia and ADHD, whereas the private sector tend to not facilitate the needs of such students to a great degree.
Those who are advocates of the state school system appreciate the multicultural exposure and that it helps provide a better foundation for community-directed change. Many parents want to encourage their children to be part of a community and embrace the different varieties of lifestyles and cultures that state schools appear to offer more of.
- Cultural diversity
State schools, in general, are more culturally diverse, in comparison to that of private schools. Some parents prefer their children to be exposed to people “in the real world”, and have an open mind to other people’s cultures and lifestyles. It is very different studying sociology in school and actually being in a community with other people, experiencing and interacting with people from different origins and social backgrounds.
- No school tuition fees
Attending a state school will mean that you will not have to spend an average of around £20,000 a year on tuition fees. More parents and more parents are choosing to invest money in hiring a private tutor that can work one to one with their child instead of putting their child in a private school, as classes are still in groups, albeit smaller ones. Moreover, teachers in private schools do not have to have any extra qualifications to be able to teach at a private school, so technically the quality of the teaching is not necessarily more superior. Having a private tutor who can act as a mentor as well as a tutor can be invaluable to students and parents, as they have undivided attention with a someone who can offer personal guidance as well as build a professional and personal relationship with during the course of tuition.
Conclusion
The overall performance from a student ultimately comes down to a wealth of factors, and simply sending a child to a prestigious school, private or state, will not guarantee a grade or a prosperous future. The quality of the school is merely a platform and is highly dependent on the school’s mission, philosophy and quality of teachers. It has also been said that state school teachers attend more teacher trainings on an annual basis than that of private educators.
Ultimately, when it comes to education and styles of teaching, there is no “one size fits all”, and so it is important to assess each child and family’s needs separately. It comes down to your beliefs, values and financial capabilities. Children are individuals and respond differently, and we should appreciate the broad range of institutions that we have available to cater to the many varieties of students there are. It is advisable to contact the individual institutions and perform sufficient research into each school to weigh up your options and speak to individual admissions advisors before completely ruling out either system. Since private schools are not part of a government program, the quality of each varies significantly. Similarly, the standard of each state school will vary. If your priority is for your child to obtain a place at a prestigious college, then it is worth mentioning that admissions officer evaluate the quality of their candidates as an overall person, and not merely the qualifications or the institutions attended.
Which education system do you feel is best for your child and why? Leave a comment below to let us know about your personal thoughts and experiences!