Can't afford uk boarding schools any more. Alternatives please

[Letsgetouttahere2023]

Simply cannot afford/ justify the cost of uk boarding schools. No parental help self funded, it is / will kill us. Would love to try and replicate, happy to move abroad to do so (we can wfh /internatinal jobs)

. 3 girls all brilliant all rounders, but particularly sport talented (hockey). 12y 11y 9y old.

Looking at re locating abroad . English only fluent language
School the priority for relocation, we can easily sort job post covid

Any recommendations For Schools? Not sure where to even start!

Thanks

@Letsgetouttahere2023

what about your friends op? Your family, hobbies, etc? Do you really want to leave them all? You matter too you know, it’s not just all about the kids!

Thank you, yes we know we have thought about this however family have all done similar last 5 years (1 in Portugal, 1 in Ireland, 1 NZ) and we can't help but see how much more they get from life outside the UK. Obviously there are settling periods and its not 100% rosy but genuinely their lives are so much better for having left- Everything feels so hard here in england so we are happy and excited to move. We will make new friends, with time! X

Ps appreciate we are fortunate to be able to do this. No plans to sell uk property- will rent it out and rent abroad, see how things pan out

I know you said you want to move out of the UK, but if you wanted to stay have a look around Royal Alexandra and Albert state boarding school. It has the look, the facilities and the feel of a classic boarding school with a fraction of the fees. I was very impressed at the open day. It even has ponies and a riding school.

I’ve not read all the messages so apologies if this has been covered but have you spoken to the current schools about bursary support or scholarships (if your dc have a particular strength)? The fact you are being priced out means you fall exactly into the category of those needing financial support. The schools will try to provide consistency to your dc if they can. What you earn plays a part in bursary assessments but they primarily look at your outgoings and financial commitments. But if you all want a change then that’s a different matter and there are many countries offering UK style boarding at a fraction of the price (Aus, SA, NZ etc). Also US boarding schools offer hefty bursaries if USA is an option.

They should open one for over 50s women. It's sounds like heaven!

So true! 😂 I wanted to move in after the open day. It has the most gorgeous grounds.

OP, just wanted to give you an idea of fees of full boarding in SA.

Just taken two all girl schools as examples:

DSG (which is in the Eastern Cape)
Price rises per grade, so last year of junior school (age 12/13) converted is around 12 250 pounds per year. High school final year R15 000 pounds.

Roedean for girls (Johannesburg)
Around 16 900 pound per year

Obviously there are cheaper schools, but this is an idea of two.

Wow! It's currently about 40k per child per year in UK plus extras , and only going up x 3children x 9 years. We can't do it any more

These the the basic fees, as you know there are always extras on top of that.

I was in a bit of a rush this morning when I posted, but checked the school I went to now, (as I was in boarding ) and I've converted (using 20/1 conversion) and my school full boarding is now 12 000 pounds pa. For the highest grade.

There are quite a lot of international students who board here. Many with military families and those who move around a lot. Also, distances are quite vast here, so local kids will board as their parents may be farmers, not have a school for their needs nearby etc. Or their parents travel a lot for work. All sorts of reasons, which as a boarding parent you will already be aware of.

Good luck with your decisions going forward.

Sounds like you’re now getting done decent advice @Letsgetouttahere2023 . I’m pleased!

DH is an independent school teacher, so my knowledge of non UK boarding schools is from his experience teaching in them and/or very closely connected with them. As well as the lovely St Andrews Turi (I appreciate Kenya not for everyone!), he’s directly experienced Kings College New Zealand which is super. It’s got a big boarding community and is, I think, approx half the price of UK full boarding per year.

www.schooldays.ie/secondary-schools-in-ireland/boarding-schools

Here's a list of boarding schools in Ireland. The numbers of students shown in the entries reflect day plus boarding students where applicable.

Some people are so horrible on here, why are they looking at this post if they are anti boarding- it’s so rude and unhelpful to make such judgemental comments, I rarely come on mumsnet anymore for this exact reason!

I was just going to suggest living super close to a boarding school in the uk to save yourself the expense and stress of moving, but being a day child so the fees are much less. At Repton for example, they can go in for breakfast and come home last thing at night, and rather than being in a “day” house, they are in houses with the boarders so barely miss out on anything by not boarding! And you’re paying the day fees instead? Maybe still too expensive but just a thought

Also might be worth seeing what discounts I are on offer? My friend had three children and negotiated by two one, one go free!

Send them to a day school, and parent them yourself the rest of the time? If you have flexible jobs that must be an option?

Some of the West Country boarding schools are cheaper
https://www.shebbearcollege.co.uk/admissions/fees-allowances

also Truro school, Stover, West Buckland
also girls schools often cheaper than coed

@Letsgetouttahere2023 there are some Suffolk boarding schools that offer 20% non means tested scholarships for music etc and the required standard is fairly low if your DC plays a non standard / less popular instrument, e.g. organ or double bass.

Afternoon all. We appreciate that folk have strong feelings on this. However, we'd like to remind you all (for the second time on this thread) that this is the Boarding School topic where posters should be free to discuss this system of schooling without other posters questioning their choices.

If anyone wants a general discussion on the education system including boarding schools, please do feel free to start a separate thread in a more appropriate topic.

Peace and love.

Mine were desperate to board aswell so I know the pressure you are under.
Have you looked at uk schools that have facilities abroad.
For egs The Kings School Canterbury has set up schools abroad, I know there’s one in China and maybe another I think.

Mine boarded at Kings but there were kids from their sister schools abroad who came over here aswel and the curriculum was the same. International exams of course, just like here in the uk.

Just had a revelation.
Some of the Scottish islands don’t have senior schools and the children are sent to the mainland to boarding schools.
If you move there you automatically have the right to boarding for free.
Seems a bit naughty but I’m sure others have done it.