Switching from private to state - your experience

[arizonagirl]

Hi there,

We are thinking seriously about switching our year one son from private to state. We have three others (not yet started) and know that realistically we will not be able to afford to put four children all the way through to 18+.

We thought it would be better to switch earlier rather than later and are moving soon anyway. We had very little option but to put him in private after returning back from abroad.

We have looked at a couple of schools with outstanding Ofsted reports (1 person on the waiting list). One was a really nice school but I still left feeling sad. Obviously they don't have the same facilities through no fault of their own and the 30 children in a class just made my heart sink (12 in ds's current class). Having said that, the teachers were great, friendly and the children seemed to be on task.

I've come home feeling a bit down. It's not a choice we would choose and I feel like I am letting him down. Don't want to get into a state versus private sector argument here - I know state schools are often great but you can not compare the small class sizes and tight resources (again, this is not their fault and they do an amazing job considering).

I just wondered if anyone had done the same switch and how things had gone. Basically needing to be pepped up a little . Having said that, if you have had a bad experience - I want to hear about that too!

Is there no TA in that class of 30?

Didn't you mention on one of your other many threads about schools that you are a teacher? If so why don't you get a teaching job in a private school? Most give huge reductions on fees (ours is 90% reduction).

Some friends of ds transferred at the end of yr 1 for financial reasons. Took a while to adjust but they are enjoying their new school. Some state schools have small class sizes. Our local one has 20 in a class with a teacher and TA.

Thanks for your thoughts. Yes, I am a teacher (have worked in both state and private) but won't be able to go back until next September. And then it would be likely to only be part-time (I have four children five and under). I think the fee reduction doesn't kick in until you work full-time. Also, I am not sure whether they would welcome a teacher with four children wishing to come and join me. It would also have to be a through prep school as I teach to year 2/3. Hence, I was thinking about this as an option but just wasn't sure how likely I could make it work.

Yes, paisleyleaf, there is a TA in the classes which obviously helps a lot. But 30 is still such a difference to a class of twelve - also with a full-time ta.