If you could pay for GCSE or A level but not both what would you do

BTW, it is true that many outstanding quality schools (private and state) have good results because they have a better selection of students, BUT to put it in very basic terms... When I was in private school, my friends and I used to have strong views about politics, wrote stories and plays and were happy to blow my mother's kitchen up trying to replicate chemical experiments we had heard of.

I was able to do similar things in state school, But very very seldomly. I often felt that I needed to hide how academic I was, in order to fit in or to avoid being perceived as "weird". I can see the same happening with my son, but again, this may be due to the schools that we attended rather than whether they were state or private schools.

I really don't know... i went to a private primary, did the equivalent of GSCE/A levels at state schools and went to a goid university.

DS wrnt to private school until the rnd of KS1, has attended state schools since, and I am not quite sure he will manage to go to a top university.

I think, to be honest, that it us matter of luck in terms of finding the school (private or state) that fits better the needs and learning style if your child.

It will also depend on the educational support or exposure to academic stuff at home, and your own child personality.

If I had to ask myself the question, with the very particular needs if my son in mind, i would pobably choose to send DS to state school for primary. and pay for extra tutorials and move him to private from Y7 onwards.

Having said that... The higher the level, the more expensive that tuition fees get. So from a financial point of view, that may not be the best option.

The obvious way to achieve good GCSEs from a school's point of view is to select able pupils and charge for it. The school can then largely rely on the first rate pupils rather than first rate teaching.

'Requires improvement' is just that - the school could do better and Ofsted have noticed. Looking at the stats though Bramhall isn't a disaster; 46% are high attainers on entry, only 9% low attainers and 7.6% fsm - improvement should be within easy grasp.

Rather than concentrate on A-C grades I would be more interested in A-A grades; I can't link to the page but Bramhall's website have a 'Congratulations to the Class of 2014' - 20% of the cohort achieved A/A in at least 5 subjects and 10 named students achieved at least 6As and 2As.

The Gov stats also indicate that 68% of high attainers achieved the EBacc, which is pretty good - we have chosen to go the Independent route but to avoid a school much worse than this one.

It's a pity dc2 is so close in age - you obviously have to choose dc2's state preferences in Oct shortly after dc1 has started senior school and before you can really make any judgment about it. If you send dc1 to Bramhall but list Cheadle Hulme first for dc2 then you are telling dc1 that Bramhall isn't good enough. Where are dc2's friends likely to go? I think it would be ok to send dc1 to the independent school if dc2 was allocated an outstanding state school with a big group of friends.

I'm feeling awful for showing him all options as its like showing him the Ritz then asking him to choose the Premier Inn. That was a mistake.

Maybe. Maybe not. It's up to him and his temperament.
He has now seen how the lucky ones live. He will be going to a 'normal comp' - just like 93% of the population - but if he fancies the Ritz life then it is up to him to make it happen. He is lucky in that he was born with braincells so he can get to the good sixthform, the good University, etc.

Life's what you make it.

Did you hear today's news that Ofsted are sacking 1200 staff (40%) because they are not good enough.
I think that Bramhall is probably the victim of a 'political' judgement. They seem to be a case of the DfE's current bête noire - the coasting leafy comp.

Don't go private, I can't see that the marginal benefit will be worth the fees. You said that you went to a 'normal comp' yourself and it has seen you right.

Not a lot in it if your child is in the high attainer group. Even less if you think the school will improve from where it is.

It looks like Bramhall High school does very poorly with low attainers (0% got 5 GCSEa A-C) and better with high attainers 90% got 5 GCSEs (A-C), with an average grade per exam for them of B.

Cheadle Hulme did better for low attainers (13% 5 GCSEs) & High attainers 98%, average B+

Thing it it really doesn't matter how many kids get 5 A* -Cs - what matters is how many YOUR kid gets.

The March inspection sounds very positive - send him there and review after a year.

and all singing all dancing facilities does not in itself make anywhere a better school. otherwise my dc's school would be amazing

The school got a 'requires improvement' in Oct 2014. They had a monitoring inspection in Mar 2015 which said the school "have acted with a sense of commitment and urgency to improve the school towards becoming ‘good’." so it seems that they are starting to turn it around.
They get above-average results: 62% got 5GCSEs compared to the national average of 53.4%. High attainers got 90%. All this before the kick up the backside.

It may not be as good as the other one but it's certainly not the worst school in the country. Not sure that private fees would be worth it. Put your money towards tutoring instead.

DS is very bright but also quiet and does not make friends easily.

KS3 can be horrible for children like this but you will find that, by KS4, they will have formed a friendship group. Actually, I think KS3 is horrible for most children.
Put your money into moving house so you don't have this problem for subsequent DC and it might also increase his chances when a space does come up.

Just wanted to add what I did personally - I was at an ok ish state til GCSEs and then at private for a levels. I think I got better a levels than if I'd stayed at the other school, they were more supportive of the uni admin process, learnt a few things that probably have helped my career ( as people assume I'm posher than I am) and ended up with 2 sets of friends.

As long as you're sure you've checked the bursary option closely.
Huge decision, but long term, could you move house to make a place in school you like more secure?

ps: bursaries are means tested, but can be adjusted depending how much they want the kid.

Does your budgeting take into account bursary offers?

if money is that tight, you need to ask private all-singing school about a bursary (fee reduction). The posher schools offer them.

You have to be completely open about your income & assets to apply.
Bursary can be quite generous and the school may offer more if they think your child is especially clever or capable in some way.