State school to public school

[statetopublic]

Has anyone / their DC been to a state primary and the onto a public school. Probably Rugby or Marlborough. Or do you really need to have been to a private prep?

Worried it might be too much of a different environment / they'd be behind.

Ours managed just fine. Two weeks to adapt and assimilate new language and routine but then loved it. They came from state comprehensive. They joined established groups.

Mine all went to state primary schools. Sweet little village schools. Then on to a good single sex (boys) public school. No problem at all. I think the only thing was that the kids from the Preps went straight into the A teams for rugby and hockey etc whilst the state primary kids had to prove themselves sport wise a lot more. Kind of irrelevant to their education but if it's a very keen sport playing school the state kids can get a little left behind.

Both me and my brother moved from state to private education.

He absolutely thrived, I was a fish out of water and hated it.

They're both 13+, so you'd need something between the state primary and going there.

Thanks all - reassuring.

@lanthanum I know - mostly why we are considering a prep school as it's a lot of change otherwise

I went to a posh prep aged 10. I was fine academically (but was too of my class at the primary) but culturally it was a very big shift that I still feel the impacts of today. In a nutshell, it was elitist - or the children who went there were. People who were v wealthy or well connected had social currency whereas I did not. Politically it was openly Conservative, and generally felt hugely competitive and status driven. I was in a vulnerable position as the new girl and it left me feeling inadequate and ashamed.

After prep I moved to a public school but it was fairly small and nurturing, very different to my prep, and I thrived there.

So pick your school carefully. Overall I'm glad I had the experiences.

I went from a tiny state primary to a very academic girls' public school for secondary and I loved every minute. Moved two of my boys from small state primary to private prep school at 11 and 9, they both went on to public school at 13. Both settled really well into their prep and were well established in friendship groups by the time they moved on at 13, so I think that was the right route for them.