AIBU to consider private prep school? Experiences?

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I'm not flush with cash, but I can afford private prep for my only child. I am very conscious that it is a LOT of money and I can't afford to pay any further (past year 6).

AIBU to consider private prep? Or is it a waste of money? I have no experience with private schools, being state educated myself. Just looking for honest opinions. Thanks in advance!

If I could pay for primary or secondary I'd choose secondary. Start putting as much as you can away in a fees fund and move at Y7.

Absolutely. Save for secondary.

I’d only pay for primary if you can continue to pay for secondary. Your DC would find the move into state secondary quite a shock and would be quite far ahead as well. However, Bear in mind that fees go up every year.

Thank you! I registered some time ago but am now thinking of going with a public school. I initially registered because I thought good habits developed early and a solid foundation would really help. (Probably projecting, I didn't develop strong foundations in math in primary and never really got any better - hence my initial thoughts that a private prep would be a great base). Now however I'm moving into an excellent school catchment area so think perhaps public is really very similar.

Unless you specifically need it , for included wraparound care or elite sports coaching for example, you are probably better saving and using the money for activities outside school. Most will go on to independent secondaries or state grammars.

My DS has been in a prep school since reception and there is no way I would plan to send your DC to state school after 7 years at a prep. It would be a huge change, likely a doubling or tripling of class size amongst other things. Do it the other way round, go state school to year 6, and if you want an independent school, do it from year 7.

I am sending ours to private prep because I think a great start is invaluable.

The facilities and opportunities on offer are a world away from the state options.

Try to think of a plan for secondary now. Is Grammar an option? Would you be eligible to a bursary? Look around for scholarships too. Some are very small but a few are significant and are not means tested.

My son used to go to a private prep. Lovely small school, great wrap around care.
we moved house and he now goes to an outstanding state school.
Clubs are not as good. Academically no difference. Same class size (20).
Private offered French from reception instead of year 2.

things to consider… if your area has a lot of private schools, the state school may not be very diverse. Should you need any kind of referral (special needs, dyslexia etc) only the state school can refer.

school fees are very expensive and go up every year.

where do children go from the private prep? If they all go on to private secondary then your child would go with friends, to a potentially much bigger school with bigger class sizes.

visit the schools. Get a feel. With the money you save you can afford an awful lot of tutoring and afterschool activities.

plus… if your child doesn’t get on in the state school you could always move them. But if they do… you will have saved an awful lot of money.

we could afford to send our children to private school, but the extra £27,000 pa are quite nice too…

I chose private prep and then grammar secondary (would have probably paid if she hadn’t got in, but I live in a very grammar heavy area, so did have a decent shot). Loved the tiny classes in private prep amongst other things, and it did have some downsides but on balance never regretted the decision.

Mine went to private prep (as did I), we all passed 11+ and liked our schools. If you can afford it, go for it but do your research, not all private preps are the same and it's important that they cater for the individual. Don't tell your son it is fee paying when he first goes and when he does know, make light of it. My mother was always harping on about the 'sacrifices' they made to send me to a particular school and how 'ungrateful' I was. It was her choice (with my father's agreement of course and he paid)! So unfair. I never did that with mine.

Unless there’s a specific reason save it for senior school, private up to GCSEs and then back to state for 6th form can work quite well, and will likely be of more benefit

Thank you all! It's such a difficult decision. I am not hugely concerned about the 11+ as we might end up moving countries (leaving UK for Australia probably before 11+) so it's another consideration. Largely I just want a good academic base for my child.

My eldest went to private prep, state secondary and is now at an outstanding 6th form college, ironically back with friends from his prep school, so I’m really not sure that it made any difference!
The transition at the end of prep was fine.
I think it’s more about the actual school, rather than whether or not it’s private or state.

I work in quite a prestigious, expensive one.

A prep is nothing like a primary school that happens to be private. It's much more like a secondary in style. Ours has:
specialist teaching in all subjects from age 9, many subjects from age 7 and some subjects from age 4.
daily sport, competitive matches in many sports, tours and a competitive sports day of athletics events.
major drama productions with professional sets and tech equipment
music tuition available in a wide range of instruments and several big and small concerts and tours.
specialist learning support department, 1:1 LS lessons, learning hub, well being centre, counsellor and nurse.
boarding provision from age 7 - flexi, weekly and full.
class sizes of no more than 20.
many academic, leadership and outdoor learning initiatives and trips.

BUT, even with all that, I would only ever say it's worth paying if you won't miss the money. Because we teachers are just teachers - no better at educating children than state school teachers. Most of the benefits to private schools are on the extra curricular side, not the academic curriculum, imo. And that's not worth making massive sacrifices for.

Hi ,i have a 2 year old boy ,I'm looking out for suggestion to send him to prep school( public or private) to be fair i don't have any experience about it and we live in bexleyheath,can you all suggest some best schools for my baby .
Thanks in advance

Hi ,can I ask for suggestions ,advice actually i live in bexleyheath and from next year my son will go to Dulwich prep school ( london) but I'm wondering whether I should shift to different area near school as it will going to take lot of time in commute ,can you guys suggest or someone who has already experienced this situation so what they did .? Thanks

Eltham College and Colfe's are both very good and nearer to you.