So, if you did win £100m, where would you educate your child?

[Basketofchocolate]

Was not me who won, but we did have a discussion at home about what we would do.

Options open up for sure, but which to pick?

Just need to know in case my numbers ever come up

[motown3000]

I send them to the worst "School" in the country....

[Weegiemum]

I'd leave mine in the fantastic state school they're in, where they are receiving a fantastic bilingual education that isn't available for any money!

I'd probably employ a chauffeur to take them to/from school, though!

[Rooble]

My DH went to a very fancypants school (I mean expensive) but it has left him quite a balanced and socially aware human being with an amazing capacity for work (not sure how much of this is the school and how much is the man). Having looked round it (not as a prospective parent!) I got the rage about the inequality of opportunity we had had (I went to a comprehensive). I would be sorely tempted to send DS there if we won £100m.
It's tempting to say leave him where he is, but I think that insane amount of money can create a social gulf. Which my DH would also say - he went to his school (Sevenoaks) on a scholarship and with input from the state as his parents worked abroad with the FCO. But he was painfully aware of the family's inability to afford any trips, any extras at all, as well as having summer holidays to a caravan on the south coast rather than anywhere exciting. I think if you were incredibly wealthy in a "normal" environment you may well feel similarly out of place.

[fuxache]

I would keep my kids at the state school they currently attend but I would pimp that school!

That way so many kids who wouldn't have the opportunity to go to a great school with fabulous facilities would have the chance.

I'd have new buildings built, new resources, perks for teachers to keep the good ones there. But most importantly I'd make sure none of the kids would be hungry at school again!

[TunipTheUnconquerable]

Awww, Fuxache. That's a lovely idea.

I'd get a fabulous tutor and home ed mine. It would be a very sociable tutor and they'd do things with loads of other home edded kids and have a whale of a time.
If she wanted, dd's best friend could join in too.

[TunipTheUnconquerable]

Or I might send them to Bootham.

[Basketofchocolate]

Ooh, fuxache, you are great. That hadn't even occurred to me!

I would prob take DS out of his school where he is right now as it's not that great, but equally would love to move from this damn house which we live in to be able to commute to work (which wouldn't if banked £100m). I promise though, if I won that much money, I would donate some books written since 2001 to his current school before we left the area.

[Beastofburden]

What future would my child be preparing for?

If they were not hugely academic, I might go for a school where they would develop self-esteem and a social conscience, and be relaxed about qualifications because they can always run mummy's charitable foundation .

OTOH if they want to be a brain surgeon, I would send them to a highly academic school. But I would go for a highly selective grammar school type place- indeed, I might buy my way into a grammar school catchment.

[ouryve]

At the specialist ASD school I'd have founded.

[Basketofchocolate]

Oh, and Weegiemum, where is this school you speak of??? Sounds great!

[motown3000]

Rooble. the problem with that type of Money , is not for the parents ( though Begging letters from everybody). The Family would probably have to move to Wealthy Area where there can just fit in. An area where being Wealthy or Rich was normal and not out of the ordinary In a "Poorer" area the families life would be come impossible, as they would become either "Celebrities" , or would attract serious "Envy".

It would almost certainly be impossible for the kids to stay in a Normal Comprehensive School , with that type of Wealth. The Wealth level is the same as David Beckham's kids, The Bullying ,Sarcastic remarks ( Even from Teachers) would make their lives hell. With that kind of wealth it has to be Private ( You Would still be the Richest family there) or maybe a very Middle Class Grammar School at A push, where even there you would stand out Hugely....

[Basketofchocolate]

Beastofburden It's a dilemma isn't it?

We were thinking overseas to widen horizons and languages. Some stability there if not travelling all the time and also, easier to bridge that divide that Rooble mentioned as wouldn't know so much about what's 'posh' in another country....maybe .

[worldgonecrazy]

I would send my daughter to the school she goes to* because she loves it and I love it too, and I think the young adults it sends out into the world are amazing.

I know one parent of an ex-pupil is probably in the tens of millions so I wouldn't be alone.

[duchesse]

Nobody need know how much money you have. You could remain incognito in any school you chose. Although of course Mr Trotter (I presume we are talking indirectly about him and his DD) has chosen to go public.

The school should suit the child. Having a lot of money would mean any school would be feasible within reason.

[motown3000]

It May be Different in West London, but any Family worth over £2 Million Pounds or so ,in the rest of the country is in a Completely Different World than most and Stands out) from the mainstream hugely.

[MaddAddam]

I'd send them to the local state schools they are already happy in.

We might have some seriously good holidays though.

(where's the [diehard leftie] emoticon when you need it?)

[duchesse]

Motown- that's nonsense. My DC's (admittedly fee-paying but not very expensive) schools have a huge range of income from benefits to helicopter-flying slebs, and you would never be able to tell which is which if you didn't already know iyswim.

[Scholes34]

motown - no, plenty of children of dot com millionaires at our state school, which is in the East.

[meditrina]

I'd leave the DSes at the school they're in at least until through GCSEs, and then see if they were interested in a different sixth form (boarding would be affordable, and they'd be old enough to decide whether to change or stay put).

It would open up more options for DD when she comes to secondary transfer.

But if course we might be moving to swanky pants new house, so perhaps we'd choose one near a lovely private school (just to avoid the nightmare of in-year admissions).

[motown3000]

You have just said "FEE PAYING" Duchese , how Does Someone on "Benefits" pay School fees even with a 70% Bursary. ( In West London "In Expensive Means 14K PA ) The Average Salary in Barnsley....

[nilbyname]

Home school in a room made of gold, taught by PhD educated Nobel peace price winners, helicoptered out daily for excursions to
Galapagos isles-geography and biology
Grand Canyon- geology
CERN-ict skills
The globe theater/British library-English lit
Other places, possible a home stay in the article circle for a while.

We would have in residence a rotation of mandarin, French, Spanish and Japanese experts too, and routinely be skyped in with world leaders to practice their conversation skills.

Sport would be coached by beckham, daly, ennis, Jenny jones

Cookery-Michel Roux jr

Of course, my baby Diamond Von S'tarlight Moneybags (name change by deed poll) would be totally well rounded.

[motown3000]

Do your Mean ,East Yorkshire Hull or North Lincolnshire, Scunthorpe ?...

[duchesse]

motown, please stop putting capitals on every word- it's hurting my eyes to try to read what you're typing!

Yes, they're fee-paying, but most of the parents drive beaten up muddy old cars.

The children from families on benefits or in a low-paid job tend to be single children with a single mum. They get quite a high means-tested bursary.

The differences tend to come to light when for example x's parents flies a bunch of children by helicopter down to their house in the south of France for a birthday pool party (child of a high=profile sleb). In all other respects utterly normal, charming children.

[maillotjaune]

I was going to say I'd leave them where they were bit having read nilbyname 's post it would be tantamount to abuse not to go down the gold played room route

Actually I'd stay with the primary and throw some cash at it so it didn't get looked down on for having the least attractive buildings of the local primaries (but the best staff and atmosphere).

Then it would have to be The Best School In The World after. Wonder if I can find any advice on Mumsnet...

[KatnipEvergreen]

Keep them at the local primary school.