State to private: another question about the practicalities

[Mijkl]

Considering moving primary-age child out of state and into private. It would be a big financial commitment for us, and we are trying to think through all the eventualities. If we were (for whatever reason, but I'm thinking financial) forced to remove child from private, would we be able to return to the state school/s we are in catchment for? Anyone happen to know? Thanks in advance :)

The simple answer is yes, if the schools have a place in the year group you need. If you move from state to private you don't give up the right to a state place if you need one later on

But you aren't entitled to the same space. You might well find that the only school with spaces would not be one that you consider acceptable... because the more desirable schools tend to fill.

And honestly, if you are really thinking that this is a potential scenario, I'd be very reluctant to go down the fee-paying route in the first place.

I don't think it's a likely scenario. There are lots of ways we could tighten our belts before this became necessary. But I think it's always worth looking at every eventuality! Thanks for the advice :)

As PP have said you would have the same entitlement to a state school space as someone who for example had just moved into the area. Obviously the better schools tend to fill up and so the school with a space might not be ideal.

Unless a family has all the school fees put away for the entire education it's rare for that eventuality not be a possibility I wouldn't go for private though if you were likely to be scraping the fees together every term. There are also extras like trips away that everyone goes on.

If you can afford it and it's the perfect school for your kid I do think it's money well spent though :)