Private School Vs State School in the UK: Which is Best? | Tutorful (2024)

In the UK, around 6% of school children are educated by the independent sector (according to the Independent School’s Council (ISC)). But the Chancellor recently confirmed that tax breaks for schools are ending and 20% VAT will be added to private school fees from 2025 – reopening debates about private school vs state school education in the UK.

So, what are the real differences between state and private schools? Is investing in private education worthwhile, especially now fees are subject to VAT? And are there other ways to get a slice of private education without the expense?

Here’s the lowdown.

Is private school better than state school in the UK?

As a general rule, private schools tend to get better academic results than state schools in the UK.

But this doesn’t necessarily mean that private schools are better.

Firstly, they’re often selective – which means their high academic results can’t just be put down to good teaching.

And secondly, there’s a big variation in the quality of private schools in the country – it’s simply not the case that all private schools are academic powerhouses, or that all state schools are not.

Rather, you get good schools and not-so-good schools in both sectors – and it’s perfectly possible for a state school to outperform a private school.

With that in mind, it’s impossible to say for sure whether the best school for your child will be a private school or a state school.

Instead, the answer will depend on lots of different factors, like where you live, the schools available, your child’s interests and your financial situation.

Having said that, it is possible to make some generalisations about both. Which brings us onto…

Benefits of private schools

Many families who choose private schools for their children do so to reap the following benefits.

1. Class sizes

One of the biggest benefits of a private school is often lower class sizes, which can lead to pupils getting more individual attention.

In the UK, legislation caps class sizes for infants to 30 children – although the average for 2023-24 is 26.6 according to Gov.uk.

However, many private schools sell themselves on lower caps and will often have fewer pupils per teacher.

ISC reveals that the average pupil-teacher ratio in their independent schools is 8.9:1 – compared to 18.0:1 across all state schools in 2022.

That said, choosing a private school doesn’t always mean lower class sizes. So, always check the school’s policy when you’re choosing!

2. Less regulated

Private schools aren’t subject to the same levels of government regulation as state schools are.

While regulation certainly has its benefits, it can remove a teacher’s freedom to teach and inspire in their own unique ways.

It also means that teachers have to spend valuable time filling out mountains of paperwork – time that could otherwise be spent planning inspiring activities and lessons that would directly benefit pupils.

This is unlikely to hold your child back from performing well in tests and exams – but it may prevent them from being as inspired and challenged as they could be.

3. Can be selective

Both state-funded and private schools can be selective or non-selective.

But unless you live near a grammar school, a private school may be the only option if you want your child to benefit from academically-selective schooling.

In a mixed-ability class, a teacher will be less likely to spend time pushing the most able pupils, as they’ll also need to help those who are struggling.

On the other hand, pupils are more likely to be pushed and challenged in a selective class, as the teacher won’t be catering to students of such varying abilities. Plus, pupils can benefit from peer-to-peer learning.

That said, some non-selective state schools also stream pupils by ability, so there certainly isn’t a hard and fast rule here!

4. Better exam results

As we’ve already touched upon, private schools generally get better exam results than state schools.

Let’s take 2024’s GCSE results as an example.

Nearly half of private school entries scored at least a grade 7 – compared to around a fifth of entries from comprehensive schools and academies (according to the Independent).

Some of this may well be down to differences in teaching.

Remember, private schools often have lower pupil-teacher ratios. Plus, they often find it easier to attract top teaching talent, as they can offer teachers benefits that state schools may not be able to – whether it’s a higher salary or longer holidays.

However, let’s not forget that many private schools are selective – so, we certainly can’t negate the fact that they have a higher proportion of able students to begin with.

Plus, it’s worth mentioning that private education isn’t the only way that parents can help to guide their children towards better exam results – families can also choose to give their children extra support through private tuition.

At Tutorful, it takes just eight hours of tutoring on average to move up one GCSE grade!

5. Extra curricular activities

Private schools often attract families with a wide range of clubs, sports and extra-curricular activities – which can be a fantastic way for children to explore their interests and grow in confidence outside the classroom.

Of course, children can also join clubs outside of school. So, this won’t be a dealbreaker for everyone.

However, some working parents might struggle to ferry their children between activities. This means that having the provision at school can be a real benefit and convenience.

Similarly, some state-funded schools have little or no provision for wraparound care, which can be important to parents of younger children.

In this case, opting for a private school that has excellent provision for before-and-after school care can be a real attraction.

Benefits of state schools

Even if you have the financial means to send your child to private school, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best choice for your family. Rather, state schools have their own unique benefits for you to consider. Here are a few.

1. Local friends

Many families believe that the social aspect of school is just as important – if not more so – as the academic side.

Choosing your local school will mean your child has local friends who they can spend time with outside of school.

It also means your family gets to be a true part of your local community.

2. Free

Parents often comment on the fact that they believe the money they save on private school fees is better spent elsewhere.

For instance, the savings might allow your child to try more extra-curricular activities, or to access enriching experiences outside of school such as holidays, day-trips and theatre tickets.

Often, families can do all this and pay for a private tutor to support their children in the areas where they need it most.

At Tutorful, you can book lessons with experienced tutors from £20 per month – giving you a slice of private education without the commitment or hefty price tag!

3. Convenient

Sending your child to your local state-funded school is often a more convenient option too.

Pickups and drop-offs are easier. Once your child reaches a certain age, they may even be able to walk on their own.

Plus, if you have several children, they can all attend the same school, rather than going to different schools according to characteristics like their academic ability or gender.

4. Real life

Many families choose state-funded education because they want their children to meet people both like and unlike them in all sorts of ways.

Perhaps you want your child to attend a mixed school with both genders, or you want them to attend a school with people of multiple socio-economic backgrounds.

Either way, a state school is often more likely to represent ‘real life.’

This may well give your child a more insightful understanding of how the world works, and prepare them better for life after school.

Private schools vs state schools statistics in the UK

So, what do the stats say?

Well, in 2023, we polled 2,000 adults in the UK and collated data from a number of sources to understand the impact of their schooling.

Here’s a summary of what we found:

• 1 in 5 adults in the UK has attended a private school as a child
• This figure rises to 33% for those in London and is as low as 7.2% in Northern Ireland
• Men are likelier to have attended private school than women in the UK (1 in 4 men vs just over 1 in 7 women)
• Just over a third of former private school attendees feel that their private education resulted in a better career
• Almost 1 in 5 state school attendees feel they have a better career as the result of attending a state school
• But 60% of state school attendees feel that their state education made no difference to their career in comparison to those who attended private schools

Head over to our blog on private school statistics for more details.

As you can see, our respondents couldn’t agree on whether or not private schooling can really further your career.

And this ambiguity is further backed up by a recent study on school academic selectivity in Australia by Taylor & Francis.

The study shows that by age 25, the outcomes for selective and non-selective school students aren’t significant, even when it comes to education and employment outcomes.

The only difference the study found was in general life satisfaction – attending a selective school increased a student’s general life satisfaction score by just 0.19 points.

This led the co-author of the study, Andrew Wade, to comment: “These very modest findings indicate that attending an academically selective school does not appear to pay off in large benefits for individuals.”

What to consider when choosing a private school or state school

If you’re umming and ahhing about whether to choose a private school or state school for your child, remember that every school and every child is different.

Rather than choosing between two sectors, take a look at the schools near you and ask yourself how they perform on the factors that matter to you most.

For instance:

• What extracurricular activities are available?
• Do they offer wraparound care?
• Are the schools single sex or mixed?
• Are they academically selective?
• What does it cost? (and what else could you spend that money on?)
• What are the pupil-teacher ratios?
• What is the quality of teaching like?
• How diverse is the school?
• What will your child’s social life look like?
• How close and convenient is it?

Remember, private schools aren’t by default better than state schools. Instead, it all depends on the quality and calibre of each individual school – and how each school’s ethos fits your child.

Plus, there may be other ways that you can gain similar benefits without opting for private education. Which brings us onto…

Private school vs state school + tutoring

Of course, you want to give your child the best start possible.

But investing in your child’s education doesn’t have to mean shouldering the commitment and fees that come with private schooling.

That’s why, instead of just choosing between private vs state schools, many families find themselves choosing between private schools vs state schools with the addition of private tutoring.

For many, the latter option offers the best of both worlds.

At their local state-funded school, children can make friends within their community and parents can avoid overstretching themselves financially. Meanwhile, regular support from experienced tutors ensures that children are being pushed to reach their full potential.

A Tutorful parent once told us that “tutoring is like a slice of private education.”

And we couldn’t agree more!

Our handpicked private tutors will tailor sessions to your child’s strengths, weaknesses and learning style to help them grow in confidence and flourish academically.

So, which is better in the UK: private school vs state school?

It’s impossible to give a definitive answer when it comes to which is better in the UK – private vs state schools.

After all, every school is different and you can find good and bad schools in both sectors.

Plus, it all depends on your child, your financial situation, the schools in your area and your value system. There’s no one size fits all!

If you’re keen to give your child the best education possible but you’re worried about stretching yourself financially, investing in a private tutor can be a fantastic solution.

As a Tutorful parent once said, “tutoring is like a slice of private education.”

Whichever sector you choose for your child, our handpicked tutors can give them the one-on-one attention and dedicated support they need to reach their full potential.

Simply register below to get £25 credit towards your first lesson.

FAQs

Is it worth sending a child to private school?

That depends on your financial situation, your child’s needs, the schools in your area and your priorities.

Private schools will often give your child access to a vast range of extracurricular activities. Plus, they tend to perform better academically – although this may be in part because they’re more likely to be selective.

Why do the UK call private school public school?

In the UK, private schools are also known as public schools because they accept students from anywhere – rather than restricting intake to a specific catchment area.

Why do parents choose private schools in the UK?

There are lots of different reasons why parents might choose a private school for their child. For instance, private schools are more likely to be selective, they often have smaller class sizes and they tend to get better exam results.

What is the best age to send a child to private school?

There’s no definitive best age to send a child to private school. Rather, it’s likely to depend on your goals and financial situation.

Sending your child to private school from the age of four can give them a nice sense of continuity. But equally, switching your child to a private school ahead of their GCSEs or A Levels can give them a boost before these important educational milestones.

Are teachers better at private schools?

The quality of teachers can vary across both private schools and state schools. However, private schools often find it easier to attract top teaching talent as, even if they don’t offer a higher salary, they can usually offer other benefits such as longer holidays.

Is private school really worth the money?

That depends on your financial situation. The average private school day fees in the UK were £16,656 per year in 2023 (according to Statista).

This may be worth it if the private school you choose is an academic powerhouse. But it’s worth noting that private tutoring can also help to boost your child’s grades without the same commitment or financial outlay.