private school opportunity

[waitingforsomething]

First of all I know this is an extremely first world problem but would like to hear your opinions.
I am a teacher and I have been offered a job in a private school starting next year. With this job offer comes very heavily subsidised school places for my daughter (who will start reception Sep 17) and my son when he reaches reception age (currently a toddler).
Our original plan was to send her and then him to the local state primary, which is good and we would always be happy for her to go.

My WWYD is, would you take up the offer of the places at the private school? My main reservation is should I leave this job, we would not be able to keep up the cost of the school fees and they would have to transfer into state school - this may be very disruptive to their education and friendship group.
My husband thinks we should take the opportunity for them to learn in smaller class sizes/have more resources and I of course would like them to have that opportunity too. He thinks it is worth it even if it is not forever. I do not feel so sure as I worry about having to take them out at some point.

Why do you think you won't stay at the school and this is a significant risk?

I'd use the discount myself and go for it. Partly because it makes life a lot easier in terms of morning runs, collection, after school etc, My daughter was privately educated and there was kids always in her class whose parent was a teacher at the school.

Early years education is so important, I would definitely take advantage if I thought the school would be a good fit for for the children.

The difference particularly stands out in going from prep to senior school if they haven't been to the prep sometimes it is harder to get in, but it depends on the school.

Atticus is right about the renumeration as often salaryman can be below state ed jobs

angeldiver that is a sad story for your friend's DD, sorry to hear that and certainly a point worth considering.

Bluntness I don't know really, only if I was to stay at the school till DS did her GCSEs for example, that's 14 years from the start of the job. It seems a long time to be sure that you will stay in the job. It is just a 'teacher of...' job rather than Head of Department, and I wonder when my children are a little older if I want to be a HoD or move up I might need to look outside of this school. The opportunity for promotion, may, however come up in this school - it is unknown!

Agree with everyone who says it would make the school runs easier - it definitely would do this.

I think it depends on the school. If it is the sort of place you would aspire to send your DC and they can stay until 18 and you would be happy to work there long term for their benefit then go for it. AT my DC's public school about 10% of the pupils are children of staff - on 90% discount. It never seems to be a problem - the school are very used to it. It does mean that a lot of the teachers stay a long time and consequently the school turns over more younger staff with no children, but the staff children are just as much part of the school as everyone else.

The whole unknown aspect is what bothered me from the moment we started our children at the private school.

To have your child's schooling so intrinsically linked to your job is really stressful - one depends on the other and you have no idea how you will feel in a few years time, what the school will be like as an employer and as a private school - whether it'll still be open!

I agree with class sizes. Small can be good but it can also be really bad. My son in particular has thrived by going into a bigger class. He was made to feel quite exposed and under confidant at private school.

One reservation I would have would be down to whether you can afford to keep your children in a similar style to the full-fee paying private school kids.

I know of people who can't comfortably afford to have their kids at private school but they do. Their house is by far the smallest most modest house out of the whole class and has been commented upon by the classmates. Their friends go on several holidays to expensive far flung places but they cannot afford to do the same. Birthday present budgets for classmates' presents seem to be £30+. These people consider themselves to be 'skint' but they're not in real terms, its just that they are trying to keep up with people who have double (if not more) the amount of disposable income. Their kids' school friends (and therefore also the parents' friendship circle) is made up of people who have tons more money than they do.

This isn't a reason not to do it though! Just another element to add into the mix and consider.