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Original poster

Last minute panic re state school - switch to private?

52 replies

SpoonsAndForks · 09/07/2018 09:27

Because my son's state primary school went into special measures, we put him in private school for years 5 & 6.

He's now due to go into year 7 at state school this September but I'm having wobbles about it being the right school for him.

I have three options now:

  1. Go ahead with current choice of state secondary
  2. Go ahead with current choice but apply for 13 + (year 9) entry into private school
  3. Keep him at current prep school (yrs 7 & 8) and apply for 13 + entry into next school

I'm quite keen on the number 2 option but can see some issues - he might not want to move if he's well settled with nice friends and also he might have slipped backwards and not be able to keep up with the kids who have been to private school all the way through.

Does anyone have any experience of switching from state to private at year 9?

Or do any of you have experience about worrying about this and it all working out just fine at the state school?

The state school is Ofsted good, and has a good reputation but I've been hearing some stories recently from other parents whose kids at the brighter end of the class are bored and disengaging. Only maths and english are streamed (not sure if this is the case for all state secondary schools?)

OP posts:
AJPTaylor · 09/07/2018 11:22

where does he sit academically?
can you comfortably manage private?

TeenTimesTwo · 09/07/2018 11:13

Only maths and english are streamed (not sure if this is the case for all state secondary schools?)

DD2 is in y8 at our local good comp. She is currently set for Maths, English, French, 3 Humanities.

The best performing comp in the area however only sets for maths - don't know how they do it, but they obviously know what they're up to!

I think it is unusual to only set for Maths at least by y9.

I also think you can buy an awful lot of focussed 1-1 tutoring with money saved from not sending to private school.

But it needs to be about your child and your choice of schools.