• Basically your choices are:

    • Comprehensive
    • Grammar / selective state schools
    • Private/Independent
    • Public schools
    • home school

    While public schools are private, they usually (but not always) refer to the older well known and more expensive schools like Eton, Harrow, etc. that are largely boarding school. Fees for those are >£30k vs £10-15k for regular private schools. The breadth of the market means you can choose quite specifically what you want for your kid in terms of style of education. Most will be selective so you will still need to coach your kid even for primary.

    Selective state schools often have a private school vibe with trad. values, more sport, more able pupils. Typically you buy your way into the right catchment area, or rent in one until you've got your eldest enrolled, then pay for tuition to coach your kids for an exam called the 11+. However, that is no longer the win it used to be as there are more kids competing. So if you want to go that route you've probably got to start training your kids from at least 9yo and looking at extra curricular activities to make them stand out. Musical instruments are prised by most of those schools, so that is currently a good option.

    Comprehensives are normal state schools that vary based on all the factors you'd expect.

    Anyone can home school their kid.

    As mentioned sport and ex curricular activities are a major difference. Even arty private schools will have a 3-4hrs a week.

  • In Buckinghamshire, entrance to selective state schools ("grammar schools") is 100% on performance in the 11+, extra-curricular stuff e.g. music plays no part whatsoever

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