Would a public/private school have put you in better stead?
- Thread starter jsmoke
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Well if its anecdote time then I know two girls who were privately educated, one didn't get much out of it and married to be a housewife and the other spent the next ~20 years in education then medical training, now lined up for a consultants position. Mind you, that's a compromise of its own in that it's hard for the second to have a family herself.
Who you are matters when it comes to what you'll get out but a private school will put more effort into trying to teach you.
I went to boarding school. I loved it and had a huge amount of fun. It certainly didn't give me connections to leverage but it gave me some great friends and terrible a levels. To be fair almost all my friends are quite successful in their fields but I don't think it was an academic benefit. May be just an expectation that you can do well.
One of the top public schools, yes. They train you for greatness and your peers will most likely be future politicians and board members. It always will be that way in the UK. That's not to say you can't do it mainstream, but it's certainly harder.
Caporegime
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Maybe you attract the broken ones.
I went to boarding school from the age of 8 (forces child) and absolutely loved it, both prep and secondary.
I'd say the point about confidence is a big one. I have a natural air of superciliousness and authority that allows me to make others feel inferior to me, even if they're richer and more intelligent
. In all seriousness, if you're in industry it comes down to talent. People don't care how you talk or how rich your parents are, as long as you can do the business. In traditional public school jobs, you still need talent to succeed. It's not just the massive old boys club that it's painted to be.
In my opinion talent will rise whichever the system of education, but certain aspects of private education give you a better experience and in my opinion, a better chance of forming yourself into a character that's more likely to succeed.
I spent my early secondary school in some pretty basic and not-great state schools, but then got the opportunity to go to private school from the age of 14 to do my O-levels and A-levels. My parents were not rich, but I got an 'assisted place' where they didn't have to pay anything 
The three big factors which made a difference for me were:
- Quality of teachers, which were generally very good.
- Class sizes. I had a class of around 20 for my O-levels, and 8 (yes eight) for my A-levels
That's pretty much personal tuition.
- Definitely the confidence thing. When you are told regularly that you are the 'best of the best' then some of that rubs off.
I would disagree with the idea that all privately educated people use their connections to get ahead though. I never kept in touch with any of my school friends or used any connections, but still have done very well for myself (despite getting great A-levels and then deciding not to go to Uni anyway - much to my parent's horror).
So, can it make a difference? Yes. Do you need it in order to succeed? No (My kids have all gone to state schools and have all got exam results on a par with the best privately educated children).
The three big factors which made a difference for me were:
- Quality of teachers, which were generally very good.
- Class sizes. I had a class of around 20 for my O-levels, and 8 (yes eight) for my A-levels
That's pretty much personal tuition.- Definitely the confidence thing. When you are told regularly that you are the 'best of the best' then some of that rubs off.
I would disagree with the idea that all privately educated people use their connections to get ahead though. I never kept in touch with any of my school friends or used any connections, but still have done very well for myself (despite getting great A-levels and then deciding not to go to Uni anyway - much to my parent's horror).
So, can it make a difference? Yes. Do you need it in order to succeed? No (My kids have all gone to state schools and have all got exam results on a par with the best privately educated children).
I think I would have benefitted if I did go to a private school. Getting an education would not have been a battle as it was in my school.
It wouldn't have guaranteed a better place though.
i got there in the end and had good experience. So no regrets.
It wouldn't have guaranteed a better place though.
i got there in the end and had good experience. So no regrets.
Soldato
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It has for me.
Man of Honour
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I went to public school when we moved to the UK, I'm doing okay, but I'm also not hugely career driven and quite lazy. That said, I work hard when I need to but happy to be just above coasting otherwise. Lots of my friends who didn't go to public school are doing as well or better than me. Some aren't. Some of those that went to the same school as me are hugely successful, others are just doing okay.
Whilst the school is important parents and teachers also have an arguably more important role to play.
I did get to play a lot of sports though which was amazing, and had a lot of opportunities to do extra curricular activities. Interestingly, I remember most of what I learned even at GCSE a couple of decades later so maybe that's down to the school? But more probably down to the quality of teaching. Now, it can be argued that the best schools attract the best teachers...
Before I moved to the UK state schools was all I knew but they were great IMO much more relaxed than in the UK.
Whilst the school is important parents and teachers also have an arguably more important role to play.
I did get to play a lot of sports though which was amazing, and had a lot of opportunities to do extra curricular activities. Interestingly, I remember most of what I learned even at GCSE a couple of decades later so maybe that's down to the school? But more probably down to the quality of teaching. Now, it can be argued that the best schools attract the best teachers...
Before I moved to the UK state schools was all I knew but they were great IMO much more relaxed than in the UK.
The operative word here is "Senior"
Just how many "Senior" Army Officers, Judges/Whatever attended private school within the last 20 years or so?
Associate
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I went to a private grammar school after a short time at the local comprehensive. I believe it helped me get to where I am today. I haven't experienced the leg up from being an "old boy". I did benefit from the better standard of teaching, class sizes, lack of really disruptive students (they were kicked out), daily sport etc.
The main thing for me was being around a group of people who were interested in doing something and expected to achieve things in life. My friends from home expected to leave school with no qualifications and work rubbish jobs.
I think it depends were you live and what the local schools are like. My parents were in no way rich but decided that it was worth scrimping and saving to send me to a better school because of how bad the local schools were. If the local schools had been better I doubt they would have done the same.
The main thing for me was being around a group of people who were interested in doing something and expected to achieve things in life. My friends from home expected to leave school with no qualifications and work rubbish jobs.
I think it depends were you live and what the local schools are like. My parents were in no way rich but decided that it was worth scrimping and saving to send me to a better school because of how bad the local schools were. If the local schools had been better I doubt they would have done the same.
Associate
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Didn't work for this kid, but then I think that illustrates the point about the impact parents have on their children's futures.
No. Fortunately I think I just made it through primary/secondary school before the "everyone is special and equal" brigade "ruined" education.
Also, my parents were/are awesome and amazing.
But at school, disruptive kids (which was me on one occasion after I allowed myself to be misled) were immediately removed from the classroom and properly dealt with by the headmaster. Some had a teaching assistant work with them (to keep them quiet in the same classroom) or made to work on their own in the cloakroom type area outside the classrooms - supervised.
Violent children were excluded from the school for some time.
I only have one or two friends that went to the likes of Eton. They don't seem to have been much better-educated than I was, though they probably had more variety in their subjects. But lots more class-A drugs.
Also, my parents were/are awesome and amazing.
But at school, disruptive kids (which was me on one occasion after I allowed myself to be misled) were immediately removed from the classroom and properly dealt with by the headmaster. Some had a teaching assistant work with them (to keep them quiet in the same classroom) or made to work on their own in the cloakroom type area outside the classrooms - supervised.
Violent children were excluded from the school for some time.
I only have one or two friends that went to the likes of Eton. They don't seem to have been much better-educated than I was, though they probably had more variety in their subjects. But lots more class-A drugs.
You mean like circle jerks and stuff?