Private schools: is it time now to move DC back to local primary and cristalise losses or keep investing in their place at private school?

[alison123345]

We have a DC in a private school and we struggle with fees even in good years. Now our income is under threat (definitely no bonuses, benefits are cut, possible redundancies if things continue like this for longer). Our savings are about a year worth of school fees, we can deep into them and continue paying potentially. But not sure it’s really worth it.

The school gave 10% discount to all parents for the current term. Their remote learning has been really poor, no new learning just testing/revision of what was learned earlier. If the same or similar approach continues next academic year (i.e. partly remote learning, no or very restricted music, art, sports, science lessons) it will be a waste of money for us. With all the restrictions children can’t really use the facilities of private schools and these schools then not any better than public ones. And what if having spent all our savings on school fees now we will find ourselves around next Easter with no money even for food if the uk economy really struggles and will have no options but to withdraw DC just later once we really run out of money.

Having spoken to the school bursary we were told to give notice (the school can wave one term fee that we contractually have to pay if giving notice now).

The school is very popular with up to 10 kids per place sitting entrance exams. If withdrawing our DC now we are risking the place. But at the same time the school has been really unhelpful and we could end up giving them our last money and will then have to withdraw DC any way.

What are your thoughts on how we can logically approach this? It probably depends on how long the crisis goes on for. If we talk about schools back to normal in November (which is very doubtful), then it’s not really worth the hassle. But what if schools are not back to normal (in terms of social distancing, remote learning, use of facilities) for another year or so, then it would probably make sense to cut losses now and not waste any more money and in a year time see what happens.

Tricky. Were you happy with the school before lockdown and are your children happy?

How old are your dc?

Is there space available for your DC at your preferred state school for September?

Also what year group are they in?

Difficult to say. DC is not at all sporty, not interested in music or drama so hasn’t really used all the excellent facilities the school has on offer. DC still has more friends at local primary than in new private after a year there and a kind of child who would be happy at any school.

DC is 8. There are places at local primary (24 kids in one class so I guess 6 places).

You need to find out if there is space at the state primary. If you cant get the DC in then you might not have an option.

I'd say if they were secondary age, maybe hang on if possible. But if the local primary is decent and your DC has more friends there, then I'd probably plum for the primary. You can always send them to prep school later down the road. This will all be over by then and hopefully jobs much more stable!

I would move them to state.

If things improve down the line, then you can look to move them back to private for high school.

My dd1 goes to a private school but I'm in Australia and it's pretty heavily subsidised. If I were in your situation with so much uncertainty, and the fact you've said in the good times you struggle with the fees, I'd absolutely move and think about high school in the future.

From what you are saying I'd cut your loses and move DC. It sounds as if there is space at the local state primary, your DC still has friends there and you get little 'added value' from the private school.

What were your reasons for moving in the first place? Grab some paper and list all of the things that you had hoped for, are still paying for and that you feel you are benefitting from - exam results, class sizes, wrap around care, music, sport, extra activities... Then you can decide whether you feel that it's still worth the fees.

Sorry, losses not loses.

Find a good school and save the money.

I would choose the local primary REGARDLESS of what the future holds. I don't think private = better. DC has friends in the state primary. That will be enough. And remember education is a marathon not a sprint. Good luck with your decision making. And perhaps enjoy a holiday with your savings ( when we can) rather than school fees

I agree with PP, from what you have said you won't be getting any value for money by staying at the private school. Unless there is something terrible about the local state primary you haven't mentioned I would switch as soon as you can.

I went from state to private at 11, was surprised at how behind the girls from the junior section of the private school were!

If you definitely can't afford it, then yes, I would leave of course.

But, at the moment, if you need full time schooling in Sept, I would try and stay in private because I'm concerned that many state schools will still only be offering part time attendance next term. Whereas private schools have (on average) got more space, fewer children and a huge amount more incentive to get back to normal.

The foundations of a good education starts at primary school. The confidence gained from a private education at a young age makes all the difference. I’ve taught in private and state primary schools & it’s clear to see the difference. If you can afford to keep your dc at an independent school, then do, but not at the detriment of your family finances.

Our rationale for going with a private school in the first place is:

1. it would give DC a head start for local grammar which is the plan for the secondary (and there are actually a few good grammar schools around).
2. DC is the sort of person who is very very bright but would happily go away with doing just enough. Just enough at the very academic private and local primary is a massive difference. At private kids are expected to write a page long structured story by end of reception and in local primary almost all kids in Y2 struggled to write a sentence (except for a couple of kids whose parents are teachers/tutors and can support at home).
3. We are a dual career family so don’t have time and knowledge to fill any gaps left by local primary.

At the same time we live in a very expensive area with very few disadvantaged kids so the atmosphere at local primary is decent and academics might be enough for getting into grammar (with some tutoring which we will need to do any way as private would not do this).

Whichever option you will end up needing to tutor in my experience. Private secondary I went to was a total waste of my parents money and the grammar wasn’t good either. An outstanding state school would be far better if possible. The private school I went to taught you to look down on other members of society that weren’t rich. It was an awful school. The teaching at both was really terrible too.

However the teaching at your dc private school might be really good especially as it is oversubscribed.

I did state until 13 then private.

I think most prep schools are a total waste of cash!

Our rationale for going with a private school in the first place is: 1. it would give DC a head start for local grammar which is the plan for the secondary (and there are actually a few good grammar schools around)

If your private school has a good record of getting kids into grammar that might be a reason to stay.

But a good tutor and local state will probably better for grammar entry.