What are the advantages of sending my child to a private school vs grammar school?

Smaller class sizes. This will vary from school to school, but the average class size in a private primary school is 16.1 pupils compared to 27.4 in a state primary school. In-state secondary schools the average class size is 22 compared to 15 in private schools.

Having smaller class sizes has many benefits – students get more individual contact time with their teacher; teachers get to know their students exceptionally well and tailor learning to their strengths and weaknesses; it’s easier to create a nurturing environment with fewer distractions students can make progress.

Excellent facilities. Private schools tend to have better facilities which allow them to put on extensive sports and extra-curricular programmes. For example, King Edward VI High School For Girls in Birmingham has nine science labs; a state-of-the-art sports centre; multiple choirs, orchestras and ensembles and a dedicated performing arts centre.

Many private schools have the resources and funds to provide a more rounded, holistic education, emphasising soft skills as well such as leadership, compassion and resilience.

A greater range of subjects. Whilst private schools tend to focus on a more traditional curriculum, and therefore are unlikely to offer more vocational courses, they offer an array of subjects not available at state and grammar schools. For example, many private schools offer a huge range of languages, such as French, German, Spanish, Latin, Greek, Russian and Mandarin, and other less common subjects like Classics, Philosophy, and History of Art.

Private schools also have the freedom to choose from a greater range of exam boards (for example iGCSE or Pre-U rather than A-level) which can offer students an additional challenge.

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What are the advantages of sending my child to a private school vs. grammar school?

Greater social diversity. Grammar schools tend to accept students from a wider range of socioeconomic backgrounds than private schools do. Even though more and more students at private schools are on scholarships and bursaries, most pupils are still from very wealthy backgrounds, which can create quite an intimidating and insular environment.

On the other hand, Grammar schools offer the best of both worlds as students will be similar in terms of their academic ability, but different in that they will not all be from the same backgrounds.

Accessibility. In some ways, grammar schools are the cheapest option of all, as parents do not have to pay the tuition fees they would pay for a good private school, but they also do not have to pay an extortionate amount to live in a house in the catchment area of a good state school. For example, many parents pay a premium to live in the catchment area of the ‘Outstanding’ Cherwell School in North Oxford, where the average house price is around £ 850’000. 

More opportunities for brighter students. As state schools choose students solely based on where they live, there is a huge discrepancy in students’ abilities. This is not the case with grammar schools – the entry exam (the 11+) means that students have a more similar baseline ability, which enables teachers to go faster and have more time to stretch and challenge the brightest students. Behaviour issues also tend to be less of a problem at grammar schools, allowing more time to be dedicated to learning. 

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What are the disadvantages of sending my child to a private school?

Cost. Unless a student has a significant scholarship or bursary, there’s no way around it: private school fees are expensive. On average fees range from £15,000 to £30,000 per year per child, depending on whether parents are looking for a day or boarding school.

Talented students can apply for scholarships in specific areas such as academics, music or sport, but these normally only take 10-20% off the fees. Bursaries are more generous, but parents will have to fulfil certain criteria (for example, their assets and income must be under a certain amount), and they are very competitive.

Awkward entry points. Many private schools only have a 13+ entry, which means that they start in year 9. Therefore, if a student is at a primary school that stops at Year 6, their parents have to find somewhere else to go for Years 7 and 8, which means moving twice in three years.

Some private schools may have an attached prep school which students can attend first – for example, Rugby School has a junior school called Marshall House for Years 7 and 8, whilst St Paul’s Boys’ School has St Paul’s Junior School for boys aged 7-13, but this is not always the case.

Insular environment. Private schools can be a bit of a ‘bubble’, and not all students enjoy being in such an intense and academically competitive setting. Whilst pastoral systems at private schools tend to be excellent, and students are offered plenty of support, there can also be a lot of pressure on students to excel constantly.

It’s important for parents to honestly judge their children’s ability; if they are overly coached for the entrance exam, they may struggle to keep up with the pace of learning once they go to secondary school.

What are the disadvantages of sending my child to a grammar school?

Lack of choice. Because many grammar schools were abolished in the 1970s and ’80s, only 163 grammar schools were left across 36 English local authorities. Some counties like Kent, Essex, Buckinghamshire and Lincolnshire offer a range of grammar schools (Kent has 37 alone), whilst cities like London, Birmingham and Brighton hardly have any, and whole counties (such as Oxfordshire) have none at all. Therefore, it is somewhat of a ‘postcode lottery’, and where you live may severely limit your options.

They are highly competitive. As there are relatively so few grammar school places, competition for each space is fierce. Last year at The Queen’s School in Barnet, London, 2300 boys applied for 180 places, whilst in Slough, 3500 students applied for 540 places across four grammar schools. On average, across all grammar schools, there are roughly 10 applicants for every place, which puts a huge amount of pressure on children sitting the 11+ exam, who may find preparing for the test very stressful.

Single-sex education. There are many advantages and disadvantages to single-sex education, and every parent will feel differently about whether they want to send their child to a single-sex school.

However, if a parent wants to send their child to a grammar school, they may not choose: in 2015, 74% of grammar schools were single-sex (although many do have a mixed Sixth Form). If parents want to send their child to a co-educational grammar school, they may have relatively few options.

To conclude the comparison of private school vs grammar school, every school and every child is different, and parents will know what suits their child’s ability, interests and needs. School open days (even if they are virtual) are an excellent way to get a feel for the school and ask any necessary questions to help put your mind at ease. 

About the author

Kristina is an Oxford English graduate and qualified English teacher. She trained through the Teach First programme before working at one of the top independent schools in London. She is now a private tutor and freelance writer.