Independent or grammar?

[outsider]

which do people prefer and why?

[lottie78]

Hi,
would love to have the choice but has to be grammar as not in the financial position to go independant, until I had kids I never gave it much thought but when my 9 yr old asks me "will I get a better job if I go to Grammar school" I had to start considering it. The whole process scares me as I feel so lost but we will give it a go for ds sake!!

[hermanmunster]

depends where you are in the country - I have found that some areas with first rate GS have fairly mediocre indies while the opposite can occur in others, where the state school are "unexciting" the indies take off and attract many of the bright kids.

Both circumstances tend to be self perpetuating

[outsider]

Sorry, I was interested in those people living in and around the Birmingham area more specifically. However, am always interested to hear others views or experience.

Thanks Outsider

[hermanmunster]

Sorry, I was interested in those people living in and around the Birmingham area more specifically. However, am always interested to hear others views or experience.

Thanks Outsider

Fair enough! Used to be a no brainer in the old days KEHS and KES had huge numbers of free places, county reserve places (paid for by LEAs round Birmingham) and large amounts of fee support. No one turned down a place through lack of money (except maybe a few in Staffordshire).

There was a huge gap between the GS and the Edgbaston schools then - am not sure if it is such a gap now - reading the forums makes me think that edgbaston schools are a backup if the GS place is not forthcoming?

[BaccHus25]

My DS prefers KES over KECH and he will be starting it in Sept 2012.

[mike1880]

It also depends on your child and the schools and which you think would suit your own child best, assuming indie is a realistic option financially.

I shall also stick in a recommendation for state boarding schools and point out that "comprehensive" is not necessarily synonymous with "failing" (although it does really help to live in Solihull, obviously).

[edit]

There was a huge gap between the GS and the Edgbaston schools then - am not sure if it is such a gap now - reading the forums makes me think that edgbaston schools are a backup if the GS place is not forthcoming?

I think the gap is narrowing and is now fairly slender, esp between CHB/CHG and KES/KEHS, and I imagine what remains is purely down to class sizes. However, I've made the point elsewhere on a similar thread that I suspect there's very little overlap between the GS population and the indie population. Daughter's classmates are all from EHS prep, Bluecoat, etc., and I think most would be unlikely to have seen GS as first choice.

Mike

[hermanmunster]

It also depends on your child and the schools and which you think would suit your own child best, assuming indie is a realistic option financially.

I shall also stick in a recommendation for state boarding schools and point out that "comprehensive" is not necessarily synonymous with "failing" (although it does really help to live in Solihull, obviously).

Mike

State boarding schools can a great option.!!

Agree with the comment about the comprehensives ... I have come across a fair few iffy ones, not of course in Solihull where some of them used to be Grammars .. eeek I nearly went to Malvern Hall (when it was an all girly GS)

[DenDe]

What is interesting is how your (mine anyway) values change once you have children.

Growing up in a very socialist household I was always, absolutely, no argument against private education (and private health for that matter) Since having my children I am ashamed to say those values have gone out of the window Although we didn't apply for any of the indies for our older 2 children, we did consisder it and will consider it again for the younger two.

We are so happy with the grammar schools DD and DS go to (as are they) and we don't have to pay! However, I know parents with children in the B'ham and Solihull indies who are also very happy with their child's education. Equally I have friends with DC in Solihull comps who rave about the schools.

You need to look at your DC and try to work out which option best fits him/her and feel lucky if all options are available to you.

[moseleymum]

This question comes up time and time again on this subforum, when I had this dilemma I did a search using the above facility on the page.

From personal experience, there are several factors in deciding. Of course, what fits the individual child cannot be overemphasised, and this was a primary point in our decision.

Financial aspects are very important too, my son says most boys he knows at KES have some sort of financial assistance so it does not necessarily follow that Grammar school families are different to Indie families as mentioned previously, as we know many who have made the switch from an Indie Primary to State Grammar. I know no one, however who has turned down a free place at KES for a free Grammar place, indicating that finances make the all important difference, especially if you have several children and need to take into the account the schooling of all of them. If all things are equal I.e free, most would choose KES.

There are others I know who politicise their choice, as they are fundamentally opposed to private education, even if they have the financial means. Others view grammars as finally getting something worthwhile back for all the taxes they have paid over the years (know several who say this).

If a particular school has a good record in your child's key strength coud play a part, eg he or she could be particularly sporty, musical or into science and some parents view grammars as more science/maths orientated which is what they want, rather than somewhere with an all round facility (KES recent projects have no significance, such as performing arts centre, modern languages, science labs investment) etc.

Finally some have made a decision primarily on the IB v A level debate for KECH v KES boys schools.

There are so many reasons, it's an oversimplification to give a simple answer in many cases