State vs Private School

1. Are private schools better?

Every school, every child, and every family situation is different, so it is impossible to answer this with a simple yes or no. Ultimately, it depends how good the particular independent or state school is. Not all independent schools are academic powerhouses and many state schools are academically excellent, even if they aren’t grammars. Families need to consider affordability, access to good state schools (many parents are at the mercy of catchment areas and postcode lotteries) but also the character and aptitudes of each child. For example, team sports are an area where the independent sector excels, but a state school may be more suitable for a student with more vocational or less traditionally academic interests. In terms of future success, private schools do seem to give their students an edge. Around 31 percent of students at Oxford and 28 percent at Cambridge went to private schools, almost five times the national average, and studies have shown that by age 30, those who attended private school earn an average of £10,000 a year more than their state-educated peers. The important thing to remember though is that nothing can automatically ‘buy’ a place at a top university, a great entry-level job or a lucrative career. Hard work, ambition, enthusiasm, talent, drive and determination: these are what will determine your child’s future, and in the words of Tony Little, ex Head Master of Eton College, ‘nothing can replicate what a parent can provide.’

 

2. What are some of the key differences between state and private schools?

Private schools have traditionally been known for three things. Firstly, smaller class sizes: in the state sector, the average key stage 2 primary class size is 28 and in secondary schools it is 22.5 (in private schools this is closer to 16). Secondly, world-class facilities: Windermere School in the Lake District has its own watersports centre; Bryanston School in Dorset has an ampitheatre-style outdoor performance space; Stonyhurst College in Lancashire has three historic libraries and a Victorian observatory for astrology; whilst Tonbridge School in Kent has over 150 acres of playing fields. Thirdly, private schools are known for excellent academic results: they continue to dominate league tables, and private school pupils are twice as likely to attain A*s or As at A-level than their state school counterparts.

However, there are some other, perhaps less-publicised, factors to consider:

1) Behaviour: Whilst parents may claim to be impressed by a heated hockey pitch or large music hall, ultimately what they are choosing for their children is a peer group. Some state schools have incredibly high expectations for behaviour, but this is not the case for all, and the reality is that children at state schools are almost three times more likely to have their lessons disrupted by poor behaviour than their privately educated peers.

2) Subject choice: From Mandarin and Greek to History of Art and Robotics, private schools try to cater for a range of niche interests. According to a British Council Survey, Latin is only taught at KS3 at around 3 percent of state schools, compared to 49 percent of private schools. International GCSEs are also more popular at private schools and they are also more likely to offer the International Baccalaureate – a situation which will only be exacerbated by the government’s decision to cut funding for the IB at state schools this year.

3) Less regulation: Heads of independent schools often suggest that a major problem for state schools is government regulation, in the form of the National Curriculum, which leaves little time or space for passionate teachers to go off-piste. A counter-argument is that a good teacher will inspire regardless of the curriculum they have to wade through, but there is no doubt that preparation for national tests drains precious teaching time. Some independent schools, such as Bedales in Hampshire or Latymer Upper in London are even developing their own courses in a bid to break free of what they see as the tedium of GCSE courses. The lack of pedagogical freedom in the state sector means that when children leave they might be very good at passing tests, but they might not have been as well-grounded or inspired academically as their independent counterparts.

4) Quality of teaching:  Across the UK, schools are struggling to recruit or retain teachers, although this crisis is being felt most acutely in the state sector. It is worth parents inquiring about staff turnover at prospective schools, as teachers leaving mid-way through exam courses can be incredibly disruptive. It is also worth noting that at more and more schools, subjects are no longer being taught by specialists: for example, nearly half of state secondary schools have used non-specialists to teach at least some Maths lessons in the last year, whilst half of students studying Physics GCSE will be taught by someone who does not have a Physics-related degree. This is less likely to be the case at private schools.

5) Special educational needs: Confident, academically-driven children may thrive wherever they go to school, but students who are quieter, less naturally talented or need additional support may fly under the radar at a much larger comprehensive. Private schools also often have much better resources to help students with additional needs. For example, Appleford School in Wiltshire, which specialises in supporting students with dyslexia, has a team of occupational therapists and speech and language therapists on site. Mainstream private schools can also offer excellent levels of support through their Learning Support units.

Despite the benefits that private schools offer, they are still a huge financial investment (or sacrifice). Putting a child through private school from reception to Year 13 could cost at least £250,000. VAT would then increase this to £300,000, or nearly £550,000 pre-tax income for a higher rate taxpayer.

Many parents may therefore conclude that such eye-watering figures would be better spent on their children elsewhere: for example, on private tuition, future house deposits or once-in-a-lifetime holidays or trips. A lot will come down to where you live: if you live in the catchment area of an Outstanding state school like The Cherwell School in Oxford then the decision may be a lot easier.

 

3. How are private schools funded and are the fees worth it?

Independent schools are usually funded by the fees charged to parents, or through donations from alumni. Many are also run as charitable trusts under a Board of Governors, while some are still privately owned or owned by companies.

School fees do not have to be a deal breaker: financial help is usually available. Nearly all schools offer bursaries (means tested) and scholarships (ability tested). Independent schools offer around £950m in scholarships and bursaries, which benefits approximately 30% of pupils. You can read more about scholarships and bursaries in our guide here.

However, parents may ask what else they could do with the money. A report by stockbroker Killick & Co pointed out that the,“£236,000 paid by parents of a day pupil would, if invested, return nearly £800,000 over the child’s lifetime–enough to pay for university, put down a substantial deposit on a house and leave £500,000 for retirement.” If finances are being stretched to breaking point, who benefits? Parents need to reflect honestly on what financially committing to private school will entail in terms of their family’s lifestyle and happiness – if private school means permanently stressed parents, no holidays, no hobbies or extra-curriculars, or, in short, no fun, then it may not be worth it.

4. The Middle Way – Mix and Match

It is possible to choose both state and independent. Nowadays many people see prep school as more of a luxury – at primary school level parents have much more control and influence over their children’s academic success, whereas teenagers tend to be much more swayed by their peer group.

After this, there are several stages at which you can consider the move to independent. You will need to do some preparation though, to help get your children up to speed for the 7+ or 11+ or 13+. No matter how intelligent they are, they will be at a disadvantage against children who have been prepared intensively for the last several years. Regular private tuition will help bridge the gap and although not cheap, will cost no more than the equivalent of a term’s fees to get much the same result at Common Entrance as several years at a prep school. (Or you can go to Galore Park and download sample papers and handbooks and have a go yourself.) Sixth form is another good time to make the switch.

5. The Most Important Part – Getting a Good Job

The almost universal pre-requisite to getting a good job is attending a decent university. So how important is school type in terms of getting to university? Privately-educated children remain many times more likely to get into Oxford and Cambridge than their state-educated peers, though the number of successful state applicants is rising at Oxford and Cambridge. Though children from independent schools are over represented at Oxbridge, they are only slightly more likely to be admitted once you factor in the fact that their A Level results are typically higher than their state counterparts. The advantages of sending your child to independent school may be limited, therefore, when it comes to Oxbridge application.

There are many other brilliant universities in the UK, and in fact 90% of UK undergraduates are from the state system and every member of the Russell Group recruited more students from state schools than independent ones. (Although this last statistic is skewed by the fact that there are many more children at state than independent schools).

Academic results notwithstanding, the major concern of a state school education should be the acquisition of soft skills. As John McDermott believes, without good eye contact, a firm handshake and the ability to speak grammatically and hold an argument, students will simply not get jobs; no matter what their academic qualifications. There are reports on how state school confer a disadvantage in terms of confidence but anyone who did not enjoy their independent school will know that fees don’t necessarily guarantee confidence.

Conclusions

If money truly is no object, the obvious choice would seem to be to choose a good independent school: one that your child likes and will thrive at (not necessarily the one that you want to brag about at the dinner table).

For many parents however, the choice may not be so clear. Average boarding fees now account for 56 percent of the take-home pay of a household in the wealthiest 10 percent of the country, up from 41 percent in 1997 (it is much the same story when you look at day fees). This 15 percentage point gap means that the children of engineers, doctors, accountants and other middle-class professions have increasingly been priced out, and so the decision is not so straightforward.

Parents should not despair, however. There are many, many excellent state schools out there, and even if your child doesn’t end up at your first-choice school, there are so many other ways in which you can help and support them. Primarily, children at state schools will thrive if they are taught the realities of life beyond school. They need to be aware that academic results are not everything and soft skills, confidence and self-belief are vital in the world of work. If you raise your child to be mild mannered, confident, pleasant and ambitious then it won’t matter particularly what school they go to. The world is becoming more transparent and meritocratic and they will be just fine.

The following might be interesting for some readers:

How much does a private school education cost?

While fees vary according to the school, location, and whether your child will be boarding, there are general trends regarding the cost of private school. If you wanted your child to attend one of the top London boarding schools, you’re looking at annual costs of greater than £45,000 a year, with Eton, Harrow and Westminster all costing more than £60,000 since the addition of VAT.

However, this doesn’t vary hugely outside of London: for instance Gordonstoun and Fettes College in Scotland, and Malvern College in Worcestershire, also charge around £55,000 a year. To learn more about the impact of VAT on school fees, please read our article here.

Interestingly, while it goes without saying that boarding school will be more expensive, it works out to be significantly cheaper to send your child to a London day school such as Ibstock, Harrodian or Francis Holland (around £30,000 a year) than a regional boarding school.

It also can’t be assumed that moving outside of London to send your child to a country independent school as a day option will be any cheaper, with schools like Oundle (£38,000), St Mary’s Calne (£44,000) and St George’s Ascot (£35,000) working out more expensive than many of the top London day schools.

It is interesting to also note that that day prep schools will not always be cheaper than senior school. While some prep schools are significantly cheaper (Wandsworth Prep is around £18,000 a year), schools like Eaton Square and Wetherby Prep (£33,000), are almost at equal cost to their senior school counterparts.

Should I send my child to private school in London?

The London school ecosystem is perhaps the most complex in the UK. Alongside outstanding private prep and senior schools, there are some weaker independent schools which, on balance, may not be worth the money.

London includes some excellent state schools – and many very impressive grammars – and these are often just a stone’s throw away from one another.

Other things to consider are that London private school fees are typically higher than those elsewhere in the country and there are comparatively few boarding options (though there are plenty just outside the city).

Ultimately, it comes down to your child, what you are looking for in a school, and the particular schools you are considering. If you would like personalised advice on which school is right for your child, our school admissions consultants know London schools better than anyone and would be glad to help with your decision.

What is a private school?

Private schools (also known as independent schools or public schools), are fee charging schools that do not receive funding from the government. They usually fund themselves through school fees or donations from various alumni. They have a board of governors or trustees that are independent from any organisation, and they are not required to follow the national curriculum.

These schools are sometimes referred to as public schools. This name comes from the Public Schools Act of 1868, where seven schools were given direct jurisdiction, including Eton College, Harrow School, Charterhouse and Westminster School. Now the name can be used to refer to any independent or private school.

What is a state school?

The term state school refers to government funded schools which provide education free of charge. These schools usually have to follow the national curriculum but are not necessarily non-selective. The most common type of state schools are community schools, foundation schools, academies and grammar schools–all of which have varying levels of control. Academies are run by a governing body which is independent from the local council and can follow a different curriculum, but do receive government funding.

Another type of state school is a free school, which is funded by the government but has control over term length, and does not have to follow the national curriculum. Free schools are non-selective.

What is a selective state school?

While many state schools aren’t selective in academic ability, the exception to this are grammar schools. Grammar schools are state secondary schools which select students at the age of 11, based on the result of the 11+ exam. This exam is very similar to the independent school 11+ exams, and tests on English, Maths, Verbal and Non-Verbal reasoning.

Grammar schools are considered to be quite controversial, and because of this there are only roughly 163 true grammar schools in English, with none existing in Scotland or Wales. Grammar schools still have to follow the national curriculum, and do not charge fees.

A different type of selective state school is a faith school, which differentiates on religion, rather than academic ability.

Frequently asked questions

Is private school better than state school?

Not necessarily. Generally speaking, private schools achieve better academic results than state schools–though this may not be because the teaching is better, as many private schools are academically selective to begin with. Private schools will typically have more extracurricular resources than state schools to fund provision for sport, drama, music and other activities. However, there are many excellent state schools (and not just grammar schools) and many below-average independent schools. It all comes down to the particular options available in your area that meet your other requirements–as well as location, you will want to consider the school’s values and ethos, its teaching staff and senior management, and the other pupils which attend.

What percentage of UK children go to private school?

There are around 2,500 private schools in the UK, which educate 620,000 children. This equates to 6% of UK school children attending private school. The figure is slightly higher in England, where 6.5% of children go to private school.

How much does private school cost in the UK?

Since the addition of VAT to private school fees, the average fees for private schools in the UK has risen to around £6,300 per term or £19,000 per year for day pupils. For boarders, this figure is around £15,000 per term on average.

However, there is significant variation within this, including regionally–London day schools, for instance, are typically more expensive than those elsewhere in the country–and by age, with older pupils paying more than younger ones.

If you do your research, you may be surprised to find more affordable private schools. For example, City of London School for Girls is-by London standards-relatively affordable, with fees at around £24,000. Given how prestigious the school is-it was ranked top independent school in the country for GCSE results by The Times in 2022 and 2023 – this may seem very good value for money.

Do private schools get better results?

Private schools achieve significantly better public exam results at GCSE, A Level and IB than state schools. For instance, privately educated pupils are around twice as likely to achieve top grades (A*/A at A Level, 9-7 at GCSE) than their state-educated peers. This is driven by a range of factors, including that most private schools are academically selective; that more private pupils come from affluent backgrounds, which is generally correlated with higher academic attainment; and that private schools have more financial and other resources to spend on their pupils. In terms of university admissions, independently-educated pupils make up around 32% of Oxbridge students (while only 6% of children in the UK go to independent schools). However, once you allow for A Level results, independent school pupils are only slightly more likely to get into Oxbridge than their state counterparts.