To change kids' school when they are happy where they are?

[flukeshot]

I live in Australia in a nice working class suburb. I have a good, pretty well paid job and DH has a so-so paying job that he is happy in. Both happy, not too ambitious and a bit past climbing the corporate ladder so our earnings are likely not to really grow.
DS (9) and DD (7) go to a really good independent school which they love. They've been going their all their school life - when they started school i worked there (non teaching role) so it made sense to me. They are very happy there. However, we aren't as well off as a lot of the families who send their kids there and more and more i want to move them to the local state school at the start of the next school year. DH is more wary.
I feel guilty because it's me who made the decision to send them to this school but it doesnt seem viable to me. Fees are going up next year and i worry as they get older tge kids would notice more that they have different lives to their peers - no holidays, smaller house etc. To save the money we currently spens on fees each year would be life changing. We could go away as a family, more extracurricular activities for the kids, home improvements that are quite badly needed but we have been putting off.
Also there have been some value clashes with me and the school this year which have pushed me into this way of thinking... but it is mainly financial.
I have gently floated the idea with the kids and (as i predicted) DD is up for anything and sees it as an adventure and DS is more cautious as he loves school but i think can be persuaded. DH generally goes with whatever i decide but is worried in case they will be unhappy at another school. They are nice happy friendly normal (as far as anyone is normal IYSWIM) kids so i think they will be fine.
BUT.... I know its a big decision and moving schools can turn little lives upside down... so what do you think? To move them or not to move them?

I think you already know the answer. Whilst there may be a period of upheaval in the short term, long term it sounds like moving schools would be beneficial for your DC and your family as a whole. You used the phrase life-changing - if this is true, why wouldn't you move them? Children are resilient and yours are still so young that they will be able to handle a move more easily than if they were older.

I would move them if the local school is good. Move them sooner rather than later to give time to make friends etc before they hit teenage years when it will be harder to move them. It sounds like it will make a massive difference to your life in a good way.

I would move them as long as the local state school is a good school. Lots of children move around at primary age - it will unsettle them mire if you leave it longer.

Thank you for replying!
You are right in that I feel quite convinced but know it is a big decision i am sort of imposing on everyone.
It would really be lifechanging - not new-house new-cars life changing but would take so much of that draining financial pressure off.

(Bumping in case any other thoughts/experiences)

I agree and would move them. They are young enough to hopefully settle well and it sounds like your quality of life will be improved by saving on fees. Is there a way of finding any after school activities for your DS where there might be children from the new school so he could maybe get to know a couple of them.

I’d move them as well

Yes I’d move them.

Funnily enough, I have cousins in oz. Both of then paid for private for their older kids but moved younger ones or started them at state.they concluded that actually the cost, whilst modest compared to UK private fees, would be best put back into the family pot. Their eldest ones did well at private school but probably no better than state.

I wouldn’t, we don’t have middle school here though, so at 9 I would worry about them settling in and making good friendships b4 comprehensive