Private school or bigger house?

[joric]

Less AIBU more WWYD....

Will keep it short...

60/70k will put DD through private school and we would stay in our modest house
or
we could increase mortgage by same amount and buy a similar standard of house in better area with v good state school nearby.

WWYD?

I would still stay in the state sector even if your house was the same size. You are going to have the house as a financial investment and your children can attend their local school.

Wordfactory.. Yes, you have said it better than me..

1. stay put and pay for indepnedent school.
2. By a bigger house in your current catchment which has poor schools.
3. By a more expnesive house, though not necessarily bigger house in an area with better schools.

Since I wouldn't sent mine private unless there was actually a gun to my head, I probably shouldn't comment. But I'd still rather a bigger house, even if that were not the case.

joric we have absolutely no regrets. We love the new area we live in and are extremely pleased with the school. That said, the school is excellent imo in dealing with issues which crop up in all schools (bullying, drugs, etc.) They have zero tolerance and high expectations of their students. At the end of the day, if the child is bright and the parents are supportive, they will do well wherever they are educated.

Though joric I suspect you are not dyselxic liek me and can spell better

First, what are your chances of getting in the good school if you move? Is it a bugger of oversubscription.

Ditto the indepndent. Do you have a cat in hell's chance of getting in?

Wordfactory, I think that option is out too for me if I'm honest... Feel a bit sad I'll never have my 'dream house' but I think I'd regret sending DD to current local Sch.

But, fairenuff, you're making the assumption that people pay to get better exam results which isn't always true. We paid for the experience on offer at the independent school. Our local catchment primary had exceptionally high sats results but that wasn't what I was looking for.

We originally made the mistake of option 2 only to find the 'outstanding' school in the great area was dull and uninspiring and all about academic attainment. However, as with all these situations the answer really lies with what you have available in your area. If the move and the offer house will definitely offer your dc a fab education then go for that!

Is the private school good - or will the education just be an expensive alternative to the good state one offered??
I would personally send to a state and top-up - if your child wants to go on to further education there is that expense as well??
Hate to say it, but there is also a 'lifestyle' that goes with private and you don't want your child always feeling that she is falling short (I will be flamed for this, but I speak from my experience)

:o wordfacgyerb... UI ram just v tirrrreds :o :o

what malcontentinthemiddle said

joric sometimes we have to make decisions that will allow us to sleep at night no?

If you got a nice big house and stayed in the poor school area, your DD might be absolutely fine. But she might not. And if she wasn't you would blame yourself til the cows came home.

In the last year I have wanted so much to move abroad, but my DC are in fantastic schools and doing so well. I know that if things didn't work our swimmingly for them abroad, I'd blame myself. So just can't have the dream. Sigh.

Itsjusta.. TBH - private will def. be just an expensive version of good state school in the better area.

fleshwound you are braver than me cos I was thinking that too but didn't dare say it

I have friends and family with children in all 3 situations and can honestly say it really depends on i) the individual school, ii) the individual child's needs and iii) the individual family's wants.

Although there is a lot more to gain from education, exam results are the main reason for it, especially if you are going to pay for it.

Wordfactory, I think she'd get in, she's doing ok!

I'd go private and stay in your current house.

I don't agree that there is a 'lifestyle' that has to go with private, although this depends very much on the school so you should check it out. My DH had an assisted place at a private school and my PILs had one bashed up old rustbucket of a car amongst the expensive shiny cars. Nobody cared - it's a question of whether you/your DD would be OK being in the company of some people who are much more wealthy than you. Not everyone is wealthy at private schools anyway - a friend of mine's parents pay her DD's school fees - it's common. Also, there are plenty of private school teachers who send their kids to the private school they teach at so they are not super rich either.

Itsjusta... But who knows... It may offer opportunities in a non- academic way which I haven't thought of...

Rightio.
But you say the independent is not a particularly great one? Just a fee paying version of the good state school?

In that case, it seems natural to go for the state school, no?

I am firmly devoted to my DC's indie schools but am absolutley certain I wouldn't pay unless I saw great value for my money.

Grey- that's really helpful, thanks :)

Private school

70k wouldn't put a child through school here either, FleshWound.

Have you looked at how the fees increase from reception through to senior, OP?

Word - in terms of results, no, not much in it .. But maybe private offers benefits in other ways? Ex curr. for example?

If it's only for secondary it might.

joric ah well yes. Therein lies the rub.

What each of us consider of benefit or valuable is entirely subjective.

Jenai - senior sch only.. 12k x 5 - 60k ... + the rest 10k
6th form on top of that.

When do you have to apply for a place at the school. If the state school is oversubscribed you would have to be in your new house before you send in your application. Also, what age is your daughter?