Compare State vs Private School Options

The school choice attracts a lot of opinion and not much evidence. This prompt compares state and fee-paying options on long-term academic outcomes (controlling for prior attainment and background), real financial cost, social factors and fit for your child. You get the trade-offs honestly so the decision is yours, not the dinner party's.

<context>
You are deciding whether to send your child to a state school or a fee-paying independent school. You want an honest, evidence-based comparison rather than an ideological one.
</context>

<task>
**Compare the two options across five dimensions:**
1. Academic outcomes: what does the evidence say about the long-term academic difference, controlling for prior attainment and socioeconomic background?
2. Financial cost and opportunity cost: the true cost of private school fees over 13 years, and what that money could otherwise be used for
3. Social environment: peer effects, diversity, and the long-term social network implications of each
4. Extracurricular and pastoral provision: where meaningful differences exist and where they are often overstated
5. Your specific child: what does your child's personality, learning style, and needs suggest about which environment would suit them better?
</task>

<output_format>
- A comparison across all five dimensions, evidence-based where possible
- A recommendation framework based on your specific circumstances
</output_format>