Offer to pay for school...

[CrystalStair]

...if a relative offered to fund your 4 kids through private school would you go for it?

CrystalStair could you save up a contingency fund so if there was a problem in the future you would have a term's fees set aside to allow you to sort things out? If there isn't a problem then its a good start towards the cost of university.

I know that some schools will accept the full fees for the whole school career in advance in return for the fees being fixed at that year's rate. Not sure how this would pan out with inheritance tax, but might eliminate the risk of the relative pulling out from the agreement after a few years.

Only thing I would add is that since the in-laws offered to put ds3 through a small independent where ds1 goes (ds1 has 2 scholarships and a bursary) I do feel rather beholding to them. (ds2 is at a special school so no issue with having to fund more than one)

At the end of the day, it is down to you. I bite my tongue over many things re the in-laws and the influence they exert on the dc but ds3 is getting an experience we could never afford to give him so i think its worth it.

If your dc are doing well where they are then I wouldn't move them but maybe consider a move to private school for secondary if you are unhappy with the local provision.