Mumsnet Talk

It is going to be very uncomfortable to afford all seven years at senior school for our family privately, but we can do five. I'm not sure what universities assess on initially or when you apply - do they look mostly at GCSE results, or AS level results?

So, would you:

a) send to single sex ex-grammar state school from 11-13 (friends are going there - this is a plus as DC1 is sensitive) but then take out at 13+ to a school where most of the intake at that age is likely to be boarding (we will be day) and stay for 6th form. The private school has good pastoral care.

b) send to private school from 11-16 and possibly have to remove for A levels. A lot of local privately educated A level students move to the ex-grammar for A levels. It is mixed at that stage.

I would go for option a as his friends are going there - but why remove him later for private school if it's a good ex-grammar?

Because (and there is a whole other post on this somewhere) it is very sporty, he is not, and I'm not sure how good the fit is. We may well just send him there though.

Start from 13+ then go through to A levels (or whatever they do these days?). If you pay upfront for a few years you can negociate a discount. Maybe apply for a sponsorship or bursary rather than all that chopping and chanding.

Aren't they changing 13+ exams - so it'll be harder? Just heard a friend talking about it but wasn't paying too much attention.

Personally I think moving a child mid school 13+ is tricky. I think it would be emotionally hard for them to feel connected make friends etc AND start GCSE course.

Def do first 5 years and them hopefully they'll get into good 6th form.

You'd have to be sure he was on board for the 13+ and convinced he wouldnt change his mind - he might be a grumpy 13yo settled with his friends by then.

I'd start private at 11. Better to have a solid foundation and who knows he may win a bursary/scholarship to sixth form. That aside there are lots of good sixth form options available

13 to 18 if possible.

Many children start a new school at 13 due to the preps finishing at that age. There will be plenty of new kids on the block at the same time.

13-18: it's the normal school life-cycle for many schools. So all academic trajectory and the social, pastoral and friendship aspects will be naturally in step.

13-18 definitely, because that is the whole of the senior school for a lot of private schools. Bear in mind that some private schools charge more for sixth form if pupils join at that stage. And there is a whole year before starting GCSE courses / options.

I would go with age 11- GCSE's. My childrens school doesnt have a 6th form so the children currently leave to go else where anycase. Many go on to Private school, but we have a local comp that does pretty well and many switch back to there for 6th form.

My DH was awarded a full scholarship for 6th form.

I think it's not fair to disrupt a child for two years to then disrupt them again. If he likes the school I think it would be hard to remove him and then you could be left with a poor school.

How will the child be prepared for common entrance at 13? At least with sixth form entrance the requirement is GCSE's, not an unusual exam.

Option B -I would start at 11 the early years are very important, also if he is sensitive it would be very difficult to move him away from all his frinds after 2 years wouldn't it?
If he does well he may get a scholarship for 6th and your finacial situation may well have improved by then.

Sixth form. Seriously, it's the only stage where bright kids really need to be clustered together for best effect.

If you have spare cash before then, it's worth sending them on language courses each summer and so on instead of school fees.

I would start at 11 (very hard to disrupt a boy at 13 - especially if sensitive).
By the time he is ready for A levels your circumstances may have changed, he may be able to get a bursary for 6th form. He may even not go on to 6th form.

6th form. Socially it's easier to mix with a new set of people when you are that bit older. University offers are based on A level results and those smaller classes can make a difference. If money is an object ,you are only paying for 2 years and therefore you can afford to send your child to somewhere very special rather than the local private day school.

To be looking at what universities 'assess on' is a red herring given the two types of school you seem to be talking about. Both appear to be good, so it will make next to no difference. Different universities and courses weight AS levels differently.

I'd say 11-16 too.

Sue52 'University offers are based on A level results ' - isn't it a bit late then? I'm sure I applied to University in Lower Sixth [but that was a very long time ago].

Yellowstone - the state is an ex-grammar, not a grammar, so there may be some differences in outcome. Do you mean some Universities focus on AS and some focus on GCSEs?

I meant A level predictions and I seem to remember you apply in the first term of upper 6th.

I would say that 11-16 would be my first choice as it is a time when your child's friends will be moving school as well - and many will also be making a fresh start. I also think it is good to do A levels in a state secondary sixth form or purpose built state sixth form college - reasons being: kids need to learn to work independently (and be self-driven) and the private schools do push them every step of the way (to keep up their reputations). When your child finds themselves at university they will be more prepared to work for themselves from the state sector than from the private.

Definitely 11 to 16. My DCs all went to/go to single sex indies and there is considerable movement at 6 th form. You risk him being considerably behind the curve at a 13 entry when a lot of ground work is already done.

And who knows what your financial position will be when he's 16?

Why move him at 13 if he's happy? Secondly if lots are boarding then to be a day child in a minority is not advisable. Thirdly as already said at 13 he may have to pass CE or its equivalent and will not have been prepared for it by his currant school. Finally many of the more academic schools will not just look at you GCSE's but expect you to sit an entrance exam to get a place in their sixth form and this can be very demanding. Many children come from abroad for 6th form because their English has significantly improved and the less academic schools take these often bright children to improve their results and league table position so the competition for places can be very fierce.

11-16y

I would say option A - 13-18. I know that the move at 13 would be hard, but I'm sure he would thank you for it in the end. I did the same thing - moved at 13 when older sister left private 6th form, as parents couldn't afford 2 children at the same time.
I do think that 2 A-level years are considerably more important than Yr7 and 8.