[Goblin Face]

I've read a few opinions and in general a lot of people seem to say private primary isn't necessary.
Can anyone share why this is so?
I'm not really interested in the whole public vs primary debate, but just the reasons why people say kids are just as well off if they go to public primary opposed to going private the whole way through.

[KnightsofNi]

My DH was insistent that the kids go to private primary. He believes that as primary school encompasses the formative years of learning, that we should chose the best the school available, which in our case is a private school.

I thought it would be nice to save the money. But I do kind of agree with him and we are sending the kids to a private R-12.

[Excentrique]

we started public ended up private.

Reasons I like private better:
- smaller school
- teachers are interviewed and carefully chosen by principle
- nicer set up/ facilities
- better playground and ration of children on playground
- excellent oshc

[EBeditor]

It really depends on the schools in your local area. there is no hard and fast rule. Personally I love the sense of community that our local public school fosters.

[newphase]

My DS1 is in a public primary school after a private, I loved the private primary (a k-12 school) but it was not for him. I don't overly like his state primary, but it is a much better fit for him, in the schools defence it is the best one in my area out of about 10+ state primary schools...they have great facilities, programmes and OSHC etc and some lovely dedicated teachers including the assistant principals. I just like the private one more.

My DD stayed at the private primary thru grade school and now is in a state high school which I love...but fought to get into as we are not zoned for it.

The private primary was great for my DD as she was/is academically focused, DS is not and it was a constant battle with him there. The pressure is off at the state school, and though the standard is nowhere near the same it is better for him as he is open to learning more as he isn't under the pressure he was at the private school which wasn't helping him at all as he'd closed himself to learning as he hated it.

I'd have loved to have swapeed DS to a smaller Christian school which is mid way between the two, and starting to rival the private school he was at BUT there were no vacancies for his age group so state was it.

DD thrived in the academic environment, hence why I needed a great state high school to carry on the standard she was use to and I am very happy with her there....I could not afford the high school fees at her private school after divorce hence the move. Primary was just ok, state not so.

So different schools for different kids.

I'd love to send my 4yo to the private school as he is more like his sister academically I believe, but fees have gone up so much last few years I doubt I could afford it now. Pray for a miracle !

I too am like your DH, the foundation sets the course for future study/school life.
My DS is going to find it hard I think with the homework expeted when he gets to high school from his current school which has minimal, but hopefully he will have matured enough to cope by then unlike primary school.

This post has been edited by newphase: 26/12/2012, 09:47 PM

[SoxyMama]

we started public ended up private.

Reasons I like private better:
- smaller school
- teachers are interviewed and carefully chosen by principle
- nicer set up/ facilities
- better playground and ration of children on playground
- excellent oshc

See I don't think that's a decent argument.

Smaller school - ours is small and class sizes this year of P-2 were 16-19 kids per class. I've heard of some private schools with class sizes up to 30 kids.

Teachers are interviewed by principal - this is the same selection process in Victoria, the teachers apply like you would in a regular job - and the best teacher for the school/criteria is selected by the principal and selection panel within the school, and definitely not externally.

Nicer setup and facilities - I think this all depends on the school - I agree some private schools appear to have more and better equipment. Though our public is pretty damn good I think

Better playground and ration of children - same as above.

Excellent OSHC - our school now has an excellent OSHC.


My cousin's daughter just got through primary and high with a VCE score of 99.45 - she was at a suburban public highschool. It is possible to get outstanding results with a public education.

To me, I think it depends on what is AVAILABLE. Our choice of primary schools locally is supreme - they are all excellent, with great facilities and teachers, with great results and all very caring communities. However, this is all lost once you go to high school and most families are forced to choose a high school that is private. So I'll be definitely choosing private over public come to high. So I think the greatest reason to determine what school is what is available where you live.

This post has been edited by Katakacpk: 26/12/2012, 09:43 PM

[Phascogale]

We started public and then went private.

The public just wasn't the right school for my kids. Great school, great programs, great reputation. Just a bad fit. Some of the kids in the class weren't particularly conducive for my child to learn either. And not so much because they were naughty but rather that my daughter needed a teacher (and coordinator) that knew what she was doing (nothing but hid it well) and could keep on her to make sure she was learning. We essentially wasted a year that year. The private was also stricter. When my daughter didn't do her homework it was enforced that she did it in her lunchtime. This didn't happen at the public school so she learnt very bad habits. Some is teacher based, some is the school. So very much depends on what is available in your area and also your child. So it's not just about saying one is better than the other.

The private also had a different culture - it was a low fee christian school and just suited the kids more.

When we moved we looked for a similar school and it seems to be working.

[MakeLoveNotBacon]

I've never understood the argument either. To me primary school is more important (if I had to choose) because it sets up the foundation; the basics of learning and education.

[TheMuriels]

We also started public this year, but we're swapping to private next year. We had a horrible year this year and we're so hoping next year will be better.

[SCARFACE CLAW]

See I don't think that's a decent argument.

I don't think it's meant to be an argument, people are just saying what they like about their private or public school experiences

Private here, for many of the reasons mentioned by PPs.