I'm interested to know peoples thoughts on private education in Sheffield.

Do you educate your children privately at the moment? How much are the fees per term if you do?

What would convince you to pay for private education given the chance?

I have a theory that parents are reluctant to pay for education in Sheffield, am I right?

Please don't judge by my post that I am for or against Private education, I am just interested in peoples thoughts on this matter.

In Sheffield, we are quite lucky to have some good state schools. Personally, I went to City school which isn't regarded as a "good" school at all. It has a bad catchment area and poor results, yet I managed to get out with an impressive set of results, as did quite a few others.
I went to Silverdale school for the 6th form, which is regarded as an excellent school and has parents fighting year round to get their kids in there. The work ethos is entirely different than at City, and I loved the entire 2 years that I spent there.

There are some very good state schools in Sheffield, but you do have to jump through hoops to get in them (especially if you don't live in the catchment area)...

I don't think I would pay out to educate my kids (in a long long long time I might add) in Sheffield, as there are a few select schools that I'd have every faith in. Whos to say that a private education will set said child up for a better life anyway? A friend of mine who went to Handsworth Christian school came out with very poor results in comparison to mine, yet she was my academic equal, quite easily. Yet her class sizes were much smaller (mine were about 30, hers were between 5 and 10) and she got more 1 on 1 attention. So a private education isn't always a better one, if you ask me!

If somewhere like Brantwood ,for instance, abolished it's fees, would you send your children there?

If it was closer than taking the hypothetical children to Silverdale, then yep! (So long as it had not gone down the nick!)

what do you mean by "gone down the nick"?

Umm basically "gone down the nick" means that it has lost its reputation. IE gone from a very good reputation to a not so good one :)

So would that mean that paying means the education is better? As if fees were abolished there is a chance it will go down hill

Certainly not! Silverdale is a state school and it hasn't gone down hill!

In my opinion, to pay for a private education in Sheffield, would be stooopid! We've got some good schools that don't cost a penny, so long as you can get your kids in them!

Originally posted by caprice
Umm basically "gone down the nick" means that it has lost its reputation. IE gone from a very good reputation to a not so good one :)

But do you mean that not charging could result in it going "down the nick"? or losing its reputation

I'm just still unsure about what you meant.

Lol Okay, I shall clarify.

Sheffield has some good schools and some bad schools. I came from a bad school (City) and then went onto a good school (Silverdale)... I have not paid for my education at either schools, and both of them were state schools.

A school that used to charge, then abolished its fees may not neccessarily "go down the nick"... Or lose its reputation... It could, but that's just as likely as it staying the same. There'd still be a demand for an ex-private school due to the teaching standards, school ethos etc... But that kind of reputation is built up through consistantly high results etc, not because they used to charge people to be educated there!

In Sheffield, we are quite lucky to have some good state schools. Personally, I went to City school which isn't regarded as a "good" school at all. It has a bad catchment area and poor results, yet I managed to get out with an impressive set of results, as did quite a few others.
I went to Silverdale school for the 6th form, which is regarded as an excellent school and has parents fighting year round to get their kids in there. The work ethos is entirely different than at City, and I loved the entire 2 years that I spent there.

There are some very good state schools in Sheffield, but you do have to jump through hoops to get in them (especially if you don't live in the catchment area)...

I don't think I would pay out to educate my kids (in a long long long time I might add) in Sheffield, as there are a few select schools that I'd have every faith in. Whos to say that a private education will set said child up for a better life anyway? A friend of mine who went to Handsworth Christian school came out with very poor results in comparison to mine, yet she was my academic equal, quite easily. Yet her class sizes were much smaller (mine were about 30, hers were between 5 and 10) and she got more 1 on 1 attention. So a private education isn't always a better one, if you ask me!

Hi, i know this is a little out of subject but do you know the fees of the Handsworth Christian School? Thanks :)

i am going to look at handsworth christian school for my daughter but city school did me no harm

If by paying private it gave my children a more child led and interest based education then yes possibly. As they will probably follow the same old curriculam as in a state school then no probably not. I suppose the only real benefit is smaller classes.

Senior (forms S1-S5 & Sixth Form) £3248 per term
Preparatory (forms P1-P4) £2682 per term
Pre-Preparatory (forms PP1-PP3) £2267 per term

Learning Support (all years) £357 per term
Individual Music Tuition (all levels) £16.50 per lesson

These are the current fees for Birkdale. Certainly not for the faint hearted.

Hi please can someone tell me the fees of Handsworth Christian School? I am interested in this school for my son it sounds really good. Thank you :D

Some of the children I care for attend Birkdale, the education is good , smaller groups and individuel learning , I think i would pay for that. They have also done exceptionally well in exams.
However brantwood doesn't prepare girls for the big wide world out there and thats caused some problems for some Birkdale sixth form girls.

If I had a son, I would certainly do my utmost to enable him to go to Birkdale. From all I have seen, this school excels in providing a truly rounded education,fostering a real love of learning and a sound attitude to manners, social reponsibilty and high academic standards.

The private schools for girls? Not so much ...

I'm probably leaning more towards home education for my little one. But don't feel confident enough to do it on my own. There's no way we could afford to pay for private education unless our financial position changes drastically. If I could afford it, I would pay for private education - for the higher levels of pastoral care, smaller classes and a well rounded education.

i'm the same as u hun would love to home education for my daughter, i am a level 3 ta but still dont know if i am confident enough to take such a huge step

I'd consider it and also home ed. Thinking a private education is the easy option! I wonder if it#s necessary in Sheffield. By all accounts, the schools in my area seem to be very good.

I worry that there would be a lot of elitism and consumerism in a private school and wonder whether wealthier kids often have pocket money that gives them more opportunity to get up to no good?

Ultimately, I suppose I'm looking for an education that supports my values and it's not just the school that will provide this but also the child's peers and their parents.

I must say that I do not think this is necessary. My daugther , aged 12 is at King Teds and I am very happy with this. The most important lesson in life is to be able to get on with people in the real world and by sending your child to a private school, you may get a better level of attainment academically but not necessarily and it will cost you a fortune.

Your child will not experience what it is like to be with others who are from all walks of life.

I'd pay for private education for my son if I could afford it. I went and it definitely was a good thing for me.

As I don't have that sort of money, I've opted for home education or perhaps internet schooling. But I have a few years yet before I have to decide for sure.

I'd pay for private education for my son if I could afford it. I went and it definitely was a good thing for me.

As I don't have that sort of money, I've opted for home education or perhaps internet schooling. But I have a few years yet before I have to decide for sure.
Just out of interest, do you not think that state education if you go to a good school is enough?

Just out of interest, do you not think that state education if you go to a good school is enough?

It's complicated. I have a lot of reasons for wanting not to send my son to state school.

1. I live in a "rough" area and the local schools are not reported to be very good.
2. Most schools have a bullying problem. Okay, some have a bigger problem than others but I felt (when I was on the receiving end) that state schools didn't deal with it effectively. When I was at school, I didn't realise that this could well have been because of bureaucratic red tape but even if I had, it wouldn't have made it any easier to cope with. I don't think that spending the majority of the time at school worrying what will happen to you when the bullies catch up with you/get you alone out of the sight of a teacher helps children concentrate on learning.
3. There is no option at school other than to follow the NC. I understand why there has to be a standard within a large establishment, but I also think this can disincline children to learn. It is not easy to teach somebody something they genuinely have NO interest in. I found that myself at school. If I liked a subject I'd be near the top. If I hated it, no amount of persuasion/force would make me learn it (adequately).
4. Timetables. Again, I understand that in school, the children can't all run around doing what they want when they want or there would be chaos. But I do remember once I did start to take an interest in something I was learning, no sooner had I started to enjoy myself than it was time to pack up my things and move onto something else. I found this frustrating and disheartening.
5. In school, children are educated based on their age rather than ability. This was (for me) one positive aspect to my private education, as we were placed in a class according to our ability. In my last year, there were some children in my class ranging from 14 years to 18. So some children who cannot keep up can end up getting further behind (and again disinclined to learn) and some children who are far advance are bored and kept waiting while their schoolmates catch up.
6. I don't like the ratio of teacher:pupil. I'm not sure how many children there are in classes these days, but say 30 children to one teacher. How can that teacher possibly give enough attention to all the class?

That's by no means a complete list of why I am inclined to education my son away from school, but this post is getting a bit long now, so I thought I'd put my main reasons for considering it.

If you've got this far, well done!

It's complicated. I have a lot of reasons for wanting not to send my son to state school.

1. I live in a "rough" area and the local schools are not reported to be very good.
2. Most schools have a bullying problem. Okay, some have a bigger problem than others but I felt (when I was on the receiving end) that state schools didn't deal with it effectively. When I was at school, I didn't realise that this could well have been because of bureaucratic red tape but even if I had, it wouldn't have made it any easier to cope with. I don't think that spending the majority of the time at school worrying what will happen to you when the bullies catch up with you/get you alone out of the sight of a teacher helps children concentrate on learning.
3. There is no option at school other than to follow the NC. I understand why there has to be a standard within a large establishment, but I also think this can disincline children to learn. It is not easy to teach somebody something they genuinely have NO interest in. I found that myself at school. If I liked a subject I'd be near the top. If I hated it, no amount of persuasion/force would make me learn it (adequately).
4. Timetables. Again, I understand that in school, the children can't all run around doing what they want when they want or there would be chaos. But I do remember once I did start to take an interest in something I was learning, no sooner had I started to enjoy myself than it was time to pack up my things and move onto something else. I found this frustrating and disheartening.
5. In school, children are educated based on their age rather than ability. This was (for me) one positive aspect to my private education, as we were placed in a class according to our ability. In my last year, there were some children in my class ranging from 14 years to 18. So some children who cannot keep up can end up getting further behind (and again disinclined to learn) and some children who are far advance are bored and kept waiting while their schoolmates catch up.
6. I don't like the ratio of teacher:pupil. I'm not sure how many children there are in classes these days, but say 30 children to one teacher. How can that teacher possibly give enough attention to all the class?

That's by no means a complete list of why I am inclined to education my son away from school, but this post is getting a bit long now, so I thought I'd put my main reasons for considering it.

If you've got this far, well done!
I agree with what you have said and understand those reasons. Hoever, even though my daughter had to cope with all that , she appears to be doing very well and as I couldnt afford a private education anyway, then it is of little consequence. I just want her to live in a reality situation and I am unsure whether you get this in a private existence.

I agree with what you have said and understand those reasons. Hoever, even though my daughter had to cope with all that , she appears to be doing very well and as I couldnt afford a private education anyway, then it is of little consequence. I just want her to live in a reality situation and I am unsure whether you get this in a private existence.

I don't know. I did feel that I still had to face reality. I just got on better at private school than I did at state. I suppose it depends on the individual as well. Some children do thrive in a big school, others don't.

I think bullying would be my biggest reason for preferring my private school. Although that doesn't mean nobody at private school gets bullied. But I did notice it got sorted out a lot quicker than it did at my state school.

It's highly unlikely I'd ever be in a financial position to send my son for private education, but based on my experience of it, if I could I definitely would.