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Original poster

2ndary schools - private vs grammar: Challoner/QE/Tiffin or MTS/Habs/Latymer Upper

29 replies

tumpa · 14/01/2012 23:33

Hello all
Couldn't find any thread on indie vs grammar school topic and besides I have a specific choice question as mentioned above. Would appreciate individual views from all in terms of what you may have done in . Appreciate individual priorities/preferences will be unique and may be different from mine.

Here's my situation. have 2 DS currently going to prep sch, soon to be in secondary. We can possibly push and go private for both (hoping that we are giving them the best) by sacrificing other things including many holidays! My older DS is bright, creative ,at top half of his class in prep but needs individual attention. The younger DS is more bright and more shy!
My dillemma is: are the Grammar schools (e.g.Dr Challoner, QE) as good as the good indies like Merchant Taylors?
If my options become Challoner and MTS - which one to go for?
If it is Challoner or QE and Habs- which one to go for?

I guess one way of asking could be are the good Indies like MTS, Habs, Latymer Upper worth spending the 20K per child per yr. Or are you equally well off in good grammar schools assuming you land up in good universities in your chosen subjects in the end?

I would be grateful if you can answer all the questions above.
Thanks in advance,
T

OP posts:
Needmoresleep · 15/01/2012 16:38

I'm not sure that these private schools will have a very different demographic than some of the Grammars mentioned. In practice they will take a number of pupils who would have gone to Grammar had they been offered a place. Also if add in bursaries and if you factor in the additional post tax income that you have if you are not paying fees Grammar parents wont necessarily poorer.

Its an economic decision. Do you have so much money that the fees don't mean much? Is your child mad keen on something: music; art; or sport, that the Grammar does not offer to the same extent.

If not, don't pay if you have the choice. All the schools you mention are really good and many many people would be delighted to get a place.

Mrsrobertduvall · 15/01/2012 07:37

I have no experience of private schools but know that Tiffin is super selective, about 1500 children applying.
My friend's sons are there, love it, but say friendships out if school difficult as many boys live a long way from Kingston.

RiversideMum · 15/01/2012 07:13

What do you mean by "good"? The grammar schools are very academic with very good results but will have pupils from a wide socio-economic group compared to a private school. Dr Challoners has large numbers of boys going to Oxbridge and Russell Group unis and has always provided excellent opportunities for sport and the arts. You need to get a steer from your prep school about the boys' grammar school chances - presumably they have a good feel for that if you live in Challoners' catchment.

PushyDad · 15/01/2012 00:23

£20k per child per year?? Habs is £14. I'm guessing others you've mentioned is in same ball park.

We don't have any grammar schools in our area. If we did then we would have gone that route and used money saved on weekend tutoring.