to move DD from her nice independent school where she has a scholarship because her brother didn't get offered one?

[middleschoolmuddle]

We are not rich but nor are we poor. The school have offered us a 16% bursary for DS - it's not enough.

Would it be mean to move DD to a state school at this stage (Y9)? Has anyone done this?

I can't think straight, my mind is whirring so I'd love some perspective from those of you that have managed to use the local 'good' state schools and pass up the rather nice (best in County) independent one.

minifingers - not at all schools. The cut off for bursaries was far lower than this at DD's prep school.

If you work in education can't you tutor other children, you could easily cover fees

What do you create that makes other people money?

minifingers - £60k is nothing. A friend of mine in NY recently told me that bursaries are available to poor families with incomes under $250k in some Manhattan private schools.

I'd get a job at the school teaching. Most usually give discounts on the school fees to staff

Could you describe exactly the "poor people" you mean mini?

I get the feeling you would like to move. your dd will have worked v hard for that scholarship and to move her at this stage of her education could be tricky for her -would the new school offer gcse choices she wants etc, plus is she good at making new friends and settling in? That is crucial if you are going to move her into a group of students who have been in a group for 2 years plus so know each other well.
my dh and his brother went to different school types - not a problem at all!!!

Go back to being HOD, that would cover a set of fees or two.

I write professional learning programmes/resources/animation scripts - stuff like that.

Eton will give a full scholarship to state school pupil (I think they offer 3 of them) as long as the combined income isn't much over 100K.

Oh and DH works for a company that designs scientific software, he's a lowly scientist hence the non stellar salary.

What about getting in touch with some of the publishers (Oxford etc) and writing school resources/educational material/non fiction? There's quite a demand for this.

60K isn't a 'non stellar salary'. It's just not enough to cover your rather large outgoings.

Better start prepping your DS for the New Foundation Scholarship then OP ...

but...at the end of the day, you have to do what you feel is best for your whole family. can you get a job at the school? (reduced fees). do they do academic/sports/music schols - could ds get in via an exhibition maybe? I know most scholarship weeks have been but there is no harm in asking.

I could teach but I want to see my kids. The only way I'd do it was if I got a job at a private school and they came along. I am trying for these positions but they are not easy to get, especially when you've been out for some time. I have recently updated my teaching experience though.

Ding ding ding. Do what lady Sybil says.

Zero, he's interested in it, what prep should he do?

You'll get to see your children all day if you don't find something as you'll be home educating them! Right now you need anything to help to cover your costs.

LadySybiL, I've been thinking along those lines but again, that's making stuff for other people to sell rather than making money iykwim.

If you're going to move her, do it NOW!! The later you leave it, the harder it will be for her and absolutely you MUST NOT move her once she has begun year 10.

I would say poor planning / get your head out of your arse etc etc but you've had enough of a flaming and, to be fair, you are holding your own, so there'd be no point.

But please, for the sake of her education and her social standing/self-belief, do not put this decision off for a year and then pull her. That would be a disaster.

Publishing doesn't quite work that way. You send them a plan of the book with a sample chapter, they give you a fee (if they like the idea). You write it, they publish it, once they have sold enough to cover the initial fee you get a percentage of the book sales for as long as they are in print. With fiction you write the book first (which can take years). If you know enough about the topics and can churn them out you're quids in. I have a pal who write's non fiction, she grossed 90k last year (and she said this was a quiet year).

I could teach but I want to see my kids.

Aaaargh!

He's in year 7? (Or 6?)

I don't know OP as relevant child at prep. Not wanting to be cruel but the NF seems a very long shot. Four a year I think? Coming top in every piece of homework and every exam at his current school over the next year might be helpful.

youll got any room on that brick wall for one more?

Op - many pages back you commented about there being some people who are placed to take best advantage of state education....

Many years ago I went to an Oxbridge college with a very high level of state school kids. After noticing a bit of a coincidence amongst my immediate group of friends I did a bit of a survey through my year - nearly 1 in 2 of us had at least one parent who was a teacher.

We did debate why quite a bit - theories ranged from teachers understanding and so being good at playing the system to teachers really valuing education to teaching being an underpaid profession for the level of intelligence required and the high intelligence being inherited.

We never did come up with an answer.