To be considering private school because its cheaper than moving?

[Minicooper]

Dd1 is in Y1 at infant school. The Dd2 will almost certainly start there this Sept. There is no attached junior school and although our closest junior school is only 0.4miles away, we wouldn't have got in for the last 3 years. The next closest junior schools are a good couple of miles and I wouldn't be able to do both drop offs. There is a private school 2 mins walk away from the infant school, and we are considering sending dd1 there for Y3-6 as it would be cheaper than moving into the catchment area of a good primary. Secondary schools are great where we are, so we'd be paying for 4 years max. If she gets our closest school, this is all academic (literally!) but if not, AIBU to consider private for the interim?

Given your circumstances it sounds like a very reasonable proposition!

Not at all, it sounds like a great solution.

we are considering sending dd1 there for Y3-6

will it have vacancies? no prep school round these parts would have, and on the rare occasion one would pop up, there would be a waiting list. YOu cant just wander along at the end of Y2 and assume there would be a place.

I tell you something else, having used both prep and state, you arent legislating for friendship groups. Why would you give your child all that upheaval? And you'll never manage to break into the prep yummy mummies.

Friendship groups are established by the end of Y2 - your child will also have difficulty being accepted.

Thanks for the encouragement! And Gert, yes, we've paid small deposit that saves her a place. Upheaval wise, she'll be starting a new school either way, whether its state or private. As there's no junior linked to dd's school, they all go their separate ways - so she would only know a handful wherever she went. Not worried about the yummy mummies - I have friends and don't need to worry about playground politics.

YABU

Not to consider private rather than moving, thats something we will consider for upper school.

YABU because moving into and out of private isn't that easy, if she has 4 crucial years at private there is a large possibility settling back into state may be difficult, it is a large culture change and she could be stigmatised as "snobby".

Everyone I know who has tried this has ended up back in private.

I have wondered about this, softly. I was educated in both (state primary, private Y7-9, state Y10-13) and was fine, so it will depend on the child and the school(s), I suppose. I've also taught both state and private, but its different when it's your own dc....

Also, it is a small, non-selective private school which prides itself on its pastoral care, so I suspect it'll be less competitive than a selective school...

From the circumstances you describe though, wouldn't other children from your DDs current school do the same? 'Dipping' in and out of private education with others (even if just 2 or 3), could make all the difference.

It doesn't sound as though there is an option where DD could stay with her whole friendship group anyway. Even if you get into your choice of state school, other friends probably won't.

I think it sounds like a very reasonable solution.

No actual advice, but on considering moving from a private school to a non private high, all I can think of is the inbetweeners

Yes, Santas - I'm guessing one of her closest friends will do this as her older sister has. Of course, I could find myself a job at the school, get reduced fees and keep them on all the way through

And thanks for that reassuring thought, trambampoline

I dependant schools vary so much, there's no real reason to think that it's automatically going to be snobby just because it's private. A lot of average families use private schools when the state provision is poor. They are not always loaded, plenty will have just added the cost onto their mortgage or will be getting help from grandparents and sacrificing holidays.

It's also entirely dependant on the individual school whether you get a place or not.

I would definitely consider it in your position. Children change schools and make new friends all the time. Only you will know how your own dc are likely to cope with that and how they will settle.

How about moving to a place that has a infant and junior attached.

What will you do with DC2

YANBU. We are thinking we'll have to do the same and the private guarantees before and after school care if we need it.

I think it is perfectly reasonable.

However, as Santa says I would check which secondaries the private prep school feeds.

I wouldn't be worried about moving to a new school in Y3 - I think there is a lot of movement at this stage.

I think you've summed it up, woowoo. Icanseethesun, we'd quite like to move in a way, but we'd be adding hugely to our mortgage in order to move and we wouldn't really gain house-wise. To move close to a good school, we'd be adding about £150,000 and not even gaining a bedroom. Even if both girls go private for junior, the amount we'd be adding to the mortgage would be less than half that.

Finicky - glad to know we're not alone....

sounds perfectly sensible to me op.

had to laugh arc some of the comments. unless you are choosing Eton or Cheltenham ladies college I don't think your child will have difficulty settling back into state school.

my 4 know kids from all schools and backgrounds and they all mix together.

the majority of run of the mill private schools are full of kids whose parents are both working ft to keep them there.

not the landed gentry

The Body
I did teach at a very affluent private school once and when I asked one child what she got for her birthday, she answered "Daddy got me an island."

Still makes me laugh!

Sounds sensible.

Lots of people move schools here, at 7 and again when older. Ds did and made new friends quickly.

my DD is at nursery attached to private school as they have wrap around care from 8-6. sessions are 8.30-12 normally you only pay for wrap around care you use so actually cheaper in the long run than paying for 2 days every week when you really only need 1 hour 1 day and the other day every second week,

have been really pleased with it not snobby at all obviously some very rich parents but i would say most parents are comfortable or making sacrifices to send DC there

going to state primary in our village ( the play school attached had no wrap around and only afternoon sessions)

will look at possibly sending her back to private at 10-12 but maybe not

Thank you. Lots of reassurance here. Sounds like we wouldn't be unusual to dip in and out.

My ds had been in a prep school from nursery upto year 5. During that time he was moved at year 2 because of closure of the school into another prep school under the same trust that ran his first school to their next school 5 miles away. That school then closed at year 5 by the same trust and he went into state school halfway through year 5. He has settled really well into state school and is happy and has made friends. Although we have had a few problems at school. Children can be very resilient in being moved and can deal with changing friendships. I would go for it Minicooper.

Couple of thoughts
Do you teach now? Private or state? How will you cover extra hols?

And will it really be cheaper? If you bought the more expensive house, could you put the extra on interest only? You might find it cheaper than forking out fees and in a rising market you could make a profit.

I don't know why a child would be stigmatised as 'snobby' unless they act snobby!

Ds and his friends in state comp have no clue, and no interest in what schools people came from, or even what any schools a bit further away might be called. Sometimes, if I ask what primary a friend attended, he looks at me as if I have asked the most pointlessly irrelevant question and shrugs. It isn't what they talk about or are interested in.