State vs Private School

1. Are private schools better?

Not necessarily – 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. However, you might be concerned about the lack of spoken English or the social mix of children that your child will be growing up with. London in particular has polarity between good independent schools and bad state schools. In an ideal world, middle class families would send their children to the local primary, support the teachers and help ‘improve’ the school from within. But this poses challenges on many levels.

If you are extremely fortunate, you might live close to a state school that shares teaching resources with an excellent independent school, such as Harris Westminster, which is heavily supported by Westminster School (from which an average of 50% of pupils go on to Oxford or Cambridge). The decision then becomes much easier. The Tatler Guide to State Schools offers some excellent but limited suggestions to other good state schools and you can also compare schools by league table results.

All schools market themselves on having high expectations for their students. But in theory, in independent schools, parents have the power to push harder, teachers can be given more flexibility and may, arguably be better because the pay and working conditions are preferable. League tables would suggest this is true. However, they often fail to look at something called, ‘Value Add’. We know for a fact that children in many independent prep and senior schools have extensive tutoring from teachers and professional private tutors. Children in state schools don’t. So which schools are actually better? If you get your child into “X” independent school you might feel a warm satisfied glow but will your child succeed without additional investment in private tutors? The flip side of this argument is that in a good independent school peer-to-peer learning will probably be enhanced because they are in a class with lots of brighter children, from whom they will learn. The average level of attainment will be higher, and it is this level that really counts for most parents (whose children are, as much as they hate to admit it, academically average).

2. Private schools are less regulated

Heads of independent schools often suggest that a major problem for state schools is government regulation, in the form of the National Curriculum. They would say that there is little room for passionate teachers to deviate from the main curriculum. We are not sure how much this matters in practice: a good teacher will inspire regardless of the curriculum they have to wade through. The importance placed on Continuing Professional Development in state schools means that teachers will be trained and continue to learn at an accelerated pace. The main problem is that preparation for national tests drain precious teaching time; when children leave state school they might be very good at passing tests but they might not have been as well grounded or inspired academically as their independent counterparts.

Independent schools sell themselves partly on the wide range of extra curricular activities. Why are these important? Because they give children who aren’t good at mainstream subjects like English or maths a chance to shine, and therefore to gain confidence. The more options there are, the more likely they will find something they excel at.

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. Those schools who have charitable status, also receive tax relief from the UK government, the Independent Schools Council say that UK independent schools receive more than a £100 million in tax relief due to said status.

School fees are not necessarily a deal breaker because 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. A small number get a 100% fee reduction. The problem is that even if your child can afford to be at the school, will they feel comfortable? Will they, for example, be put off by their friends going on expensive holidays? I would argue that this is probably a small price to pay for the excellent education they will receive. Financial limitations are more likely to cause problems later in life when children can’t take an apprenticeship or a free internship because they can’t afford to not work; whereas their more wealthy friends can.

Additionally, you really have to ask yourself, ‘what else could I 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? Does your child really want permanently stressed parents, with no holidays, no pet, no hobbies and, in short no fun? Just to serve the greater good of a future they might never be able to appreciate without the help of therapy?

4. The Middle Way – Mix and Match

It is possible to choose both state and independent. Prep school is a luxury – the state primary won’t do any harm. After this, there are several stages at which you can make 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 this level, it is clear that sending your child to independent school may confer advantages when it comes to Oxbridge application. However, there are many other brilliant universities, 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 the choice may not be so clear.

Children at state schools should be 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. In the words of Tony Little, ex Head Master of Eton College, ‘nothing can replicate what a parent can provide’. 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 around £40,000 a year, with Eton, Harrow and Westminster all costing more than £45,000. However, this doesn’t vary hugely outside of London, for instance Gordonstoun in Scotland and Malvern College in Worcestershire charge £40,000-£45,000 a year. Fettes in Scotland is slightly less, with annual fees of £37,000 a year. Interestingly, while it goes without saying that boarding school will be more expensive, it works out to be around 50% cheaper to send your child to a London day school such as Ibstock Harrodian or Francis Holland (£20,000-£25,000) 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 (£27,000), St Mary’s Calne (£34,000) and St George’s Ascot (£27,000) working out more expensive than many of the top London day schools, except schools such as Emanuel Battersea which is £23,000.

It is interesting to note that that day prep schools will not always be cheaper than senior school. While some prep schools are significantly cheaper (Hill House is £18,000, schools like Eaton Square (£26,000) and Wetherby Prep  (£25,000), 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 not just the grammars) as well as some underperforming ones – 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 trustee’s 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 schoolchildren 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?

The average fees for private schools in the UK are around £5,000 per term or £15,000 per year for day pupils. For boarders, this figure is between £10,000-12,000 per term on average. However, there is significant variation within this, including regionally – London day schools, for instance, are more expensive than those elsewhere in the country – and by age, with older pupils paying more than younger ones. Annual school fees can range from as low as £4,000 for the most affordable independent schools, to more than £50,000 for some of the most prestigious boarding schools.

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 are 7 times more likely to win a place at Oxbridge compared to those in non-selective state schools, and more than twice as likely to be accepted to Russell Group universities.