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Original poster

Guilt of moving schools

65 replies

Whatsernom · 05/08/2024 17:56

We are currently at a ok to good private girls school but with the new Labor government meaning VAT on school fees we can't really afford to keep sending our 13 year old there anymore. Especially as we have an 11 year old who will be going into Year 8 in Sep 2025. This is too much of a financial burden despite the fact that both me and mu husband earn 100k each. We have one school near us (Gordon's in West End) which we did not get into. They are oversubscribed every year and despite living in the area for 10 years newbies have moved into the new developments nearby which ousted us out. I am so torn with moving her. The only choice we now have is Collingwood. I keep hearing mixed things about this school - mainly negative. I feel awful and wish we had thought all this through before. Perhaps moving closer to Gordons or just to a completely different area. Anyone in and around the West End/ Bisley area who can offer advice and some words of wisdom. A huge part of me feels like a failure for not having thought this through.

OP posts:
AdiLane · 06/08/2024 22:05

Children if our serving soldiers move schools frequently so that their parents can serve our country. Some have attended four schools by the time they are 11.

There is some useful advice here regarding transition to another school. Much of it applies to any child moving. https://forceschildrenseducation.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/20180515-MovingSchoolsGuidev4-O.pdf

https://forceschildrenseducation.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/20180515-Moving_Schools_Guide_v4-O.pdf

NeverHadHaveHas · 06/08/2024 21:53

TwigTheWonderKid · 06/08/2024 20:36

I am staggered that on a joint net income over £10,000 per month you can't afford a 20% increase in your school fees.

Can you really not fathom that their school fees could be half of the £10k a month, they potentially have a large mortgage because they are in the south east and food prices and utilities are insane generally. An extra £1000 is a lot of money to find.

Ionacat · 06/08/2024 21:43

If you’re looking for in-year admissions then don’t worry about catchment unless there is a waiting list. If there’s a waiting list you could ask where about’s you’d be on it with your current address.
Go and look round Collingwood, yes it’s big but certainly used to have lots going on - there are advantages to big.
Then look at where you’d be prepared to travel to and contact schools/admissions at the councils as round there you’re by Hants, Surrey and Bracknell Forest and find out what the waiting lists are like but be open minded, it takes a long time to change the reputation of a school and it’s often worth going to see for yourself.
You’ve got Sandhurst and Frogmore which are worth considering as well as Tomlinscote and some of the Woking schools. Long shots would be Charters and/or Ranelagh however I think you’d be lucky to get one place there and two would be like winning the lottery, but it is worth asking. I have a feeling Bohunt have also taken over one of the Farnborough schools - that may also be worth looking at.

Boater · 06/08/2024 20:40

Would they both be moving?

TwigTheWonderKid · 06/08/2024 20:36

I am staggered that on a joint net income over £10,000 per month you can't afford a 20% increase in your school fees.

Newgirls · 06/08/2024 20:30

Move to a cheaper house?

WomensRightsRenegade · 06/08/2024 20:16

twopercent · 05/08/2024 17:58

She will be fine in a state school. If she is bright she would do well anywhere. If she is struggling she will get more support in state

It’s still a tough age to move schools and leave all
your friends, even if there is no choice

PeachSalad · 06/08/2024 19:24

do you have some sort of unbelievably huge mortgage? otherwise I cannot imagine why you wouldn't afford two kids in private schools

Campcritters · 06/08/2024 17:49

Or is a cheaper house an option, I’m presuming a lot of your 200k income is eaten up by mortgage costs.

Campcritters · 06/08/2024 17:47

Is it worth moving? Or is that more expensive/too much hassle?

GU24Mum · 06/08/2024 17:47

Is your daughter at a day school at the moment or one with some boarding? There's a big fee difference between, say,

Lord Wandsworth's and Farnborough Hill. Could a sideways move work if you're at a more expensive school? Appreciate it won't if you're already at a more reasonably-priced independent school.

GU24Mum · 06/08/2024 17:44

Are there any places at Charters? Suspect it will be full but if you're applying mid-year and can get there, I'd take that over Collingwood.

Bluevelvetsofa · 05/08/2024 19:02

My children went to Collingwood and I taught there for a while. It’s a very large school, so would your girls be ok with that? I wouldn’t aim for Gordons, even if you could get a place. Have you considered Winston Churchill or Woking High. You’d probably need to be in Camberley/Frimley for Tomlinscote

3WildOnes · 05/08/2024 18:25

We are in a similar situation and also feeling awful. We will keep ours in their private schools until natural exit points and in the meantime we will try to move into the catchments of the best state schools locally.

twopercent · 05/08/2024 17:58

She will be fine in a state school. If she is bright she would do well anywhere. If she is struggling she will get more support in state

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