Private or State Primary School: A Former Pupil's Comparison

Drawing on personal experience in both state and private primary schools, the author describes how private schools offered earlier language study, smaller classes, and more intensive teaching, but also showed signs of elitism and social pressure. State schools had larger classes and different pacing, especially at secondary level. The author concludes that school quality and culture matter more than whether a school is private or state, and recommends choosing based on the specific school and the child's needs.

My experience across private and state schools

I attended both state and private schools as a child. My early years were at a state primary, then I moved to two private schools on scholarships, and I finished part of my primary education back in the state system. Those shifts shaped how I judge the two sectors.

What private schools offered me

In my private primary classes I encountered faster-paced lessons and earlier introduction to subjects. For example, my private school started French when I was in Year 2. By the time I moved back to a state secondary, I had several years of language study while many classmates were only just being introduced to French.

Class sizes were noticeably smaller in the private schools I attended - often under 20 pupils - so teachers could give more individual attention. Teaching felt more specialist in core subjects such as English, and I left with strong spelling and grammar skills.

There was also a heavier school routine. One private school day I remember ran long into the afternoon, and the culture emphasized tradition: standing when an adult entered the room, house systems, and visible rewards and penalties.

The downsides I saw

Smaller, selective cohorts carried a social cost. Scholarship entry concentrated academically able pupils, which sometimes created sharp comparisons between classmates. Children who fell behind could face ridicule. I experienced being publicly singled out after failing a cross-country run.

Elitism showed up at times. Staff and assemblies occasionally framed private education as superior to state provision, which affected relationships once I moved back into the state system.

How the state schools compared

When I joined a state secondary, many subjects were taught at a different pace. Larger class sizes meant teachers could not always give individual attention; some classmates struggled with basics I had learned earlier. That said, I wasn't fundamentally different from my peers - education levels can vary by school rather than by sector alone.

Choosing between them

Private primary education, in my experience, can deliver more intensive teaching, earlier subject coverage, and smaller classes. Those advantages often come with greater time in structured school activities and an environment that can feel more traditional or selective.

State schools can and do provide excellent education; at secondary level especially, many schools offer strong academic and extracurricular programs. Ultimately, the right choice depends on the specific schools available, your child's needs, and family priorities.

Final thought

After both experiences I remain undecided about which sector is intrinsically better. The decisive factor, I found, was the individual school's culture and teaching quality rather than the label "private" or "state."

: Confirm whether modern English national curriculum requires foreign languages in Key Stage 2 (primary).

1. Confirm whether the current English National Curriculum requires foreign languages to be taught in Key Stage 2 (primary).