Sending older child to a school for a year to get younger child in as sibling?

[Brie]

Would you do this?

Firstly it is a private prep school that has a bit of a waiting list for the year of the younger child but sure once sibling in younger one would get in.

Older child has found their forever school and hoped to go this September but it is boarding and am loathed for them to board at 11 anyway. So we are considering sending them to the prep for just one year then on to the boarding school at 12. That way the younger one can get their place too.

I am concerned on this on two counts. One that it is unfair on the older one to have to join a new school just for a year and then go through it all again a year later. Also that when they get to the boarding school they will be trying to infiltrate settled friendship groups.

My DH thinks though that it will be a good idea to let them go to the same school for a bit, get used to the UK school system and

I am also concerned about the ethics of it although have discussed that with the school and they understand and don't have concerns.

I realise it is a nice problem to have. It would be really nice if you could give any helpful views and hopefully no vitriol re boarding or private schools. I married into this type of family it has been a long and tricky road to get to where I was willing to send them to private or boarding schools but that decision has already been made, we are only stuck on this current one.

We have other reasons for that not least being that we have spent a substantial part of the last few years overseas and maybe will spend more in the future so state day schools are not really a possibility anymore for us.

I would definitely send child to a feeder prep school first for a chosen boarding school.

We made this error and our child went straight to boarding for 2nd form and then was excluded during large prep school intake following year. Basically we have ended up with a child with mental health issues due to bullying who has not been able to sit A-levels. devastating for a bright pupil with university offers.
I would exercise extreme caution now with all boarding schools and wish we'd been a bit more thorough in method of choice. Don't let your child be swayed by the marketing machine present in all boarding schools. A popular tactic is that on an open day children are taken away to be shown round school whilst parents remain with senior staff for "the talk". Parents should definitely fully research and check pastoral care and even Care Commission & HM inspection reports.
If you are interested you can read what happened to us as our child has launched an appeal on CrowdJustice website under Education cases to fund suing his former school - Glenalmond College - known in some quarters as the "Eton of the North".

Believe me if we could turn the clock back we would!
It is so difficult as a prospective parent to find out all the nuts and bolts before signing on the dotted line. The results for our family have been devastating.
Best wishes and I hope you choose wisely.