Is this a terrible time to be looking at moving to private school?

[Saltycinnamon]

As above really. Currently in Y4, state school, class of 33. Summer born DS. No complaints about the school really but DS struggles, particularly with concentration. I think he’ll sink as time goes on. Thinking about local, small private school as an option. We could just afford it. Is now a ridiculous time with kids in and out?

My daughter is very academic and could arguably do just as well at a state school. But she is happy and nurtured and the smaller class sizes suit her. Her expectations are high, partly because the school has high expectations of her (it's a non selective school but exams results are very good). And now of course the real value in going to a fee paying school has been made apparent: she is getting a full day of online learning, her clubs are still (virtually) meeting, one teacher dropped in her exam results personally, they checked in with all students over the Easter break, the school has communicated several times with parents about teaching provision going forward and the school is bending over backward to give them as best an education as possible during this time. Part of this is to ensure the parents feel they are getting value for money and for student retention to be sure. But I would be much more worried about her GCSEs next year if she was at the local state and would be booking up tutors left and right.
And most of the children attending have parents who have to budget carefully, so in that respect you fit right in!

If you can afford it, sounds like it'll suit your child perfectly.

At my school there were a variety of children from different backgrounds, so no, your child will not stand out.

A girl in my year who's parents worked every single hour/had the oldest car/smallest house/no holidays etc to afford it was one of the most wonderful people

We went the other way at yr5 - ds had been at a leafy prep (lovely grounds, lots of sport etc), but it just didn't suit him. He had problems concentrating, and there was no help to stop him fidgeting just lots of complaints about it. No chance to play in the 1st team, even if you really tried as it was all about the results. So we moved him to state and he absolutely flew, and his confidence increased massively in the environment there.

Not sure I'd bother, certainly not until secondary and only if the state options weren't great and the private school was very good.

I went to private school, academic but not top tier (top 50 in league tables in my year) and am not really sure what difference it made.

I think I'd prefer state plus tutors plus good extra curricular activities over an average private school.

I wouldn't do it now. You may end up paying for fees from September and find you are mostly home schooling! We don't know if schools will be back properly from September yet so I would hold fire.

My parents were a teacher and a head teacher in the state sector, I went to public school (boarding), my sister went to state and my DS is private now, which they wholeheartedly support. It’s not about state or private being superior, it is the right decision for each child.

Oh, and almost everyone I know who educates privately makes sacrifices to do so. It’s a serious financial consideration and only on MN to people seem to think you can only go down the private route if the fees are a drop in the ocean for your household budget.

Thanks again all. Mentioned it to DS & he was not impressed at all! I know I’m the adult but I don’t want cause him some huge childhood trauma I didn’t think he’ll feel that strongly about it!

I would if my dc wasn’t thriving and all the state options had been investigated as sounds like you have - in fact we did do that and it wasn’t because of any belief in the superiority of private schools in general. Even if we end up financially struggling in several years we’ll take that risk - limping on with provision you know is failing doesn’t seem like a good plan even in this climate if you have other options.

I am a teacher too and both kids private. Do exam marking every summer and also some jan and nov exams which all in all covers half the fees I would say, or it pays for holidays so that’s something to consider if you want to sacrifice a month or so worth of evenings in the summer. At our kids school pirice increase is more like 3 percent every year and everyone goes to the second hand uniform sale. We live in the north

I certainly would in your position. Even if it was with sacrifices. 33 is a very large class. That alone would do it for me.

I have plenty of issues with the way private schools undermine meritocracy.

However, that is looking at a societal level. On an individual level I would look at all the possible options and decide what would be best for that particular child. That will vary according to the child, the schools, and what you can afford.

A friend's child has mental and physical disabilities - it would be ridiculous to say she should go to the local comp as it would not meet her needs at all.

I went to an excellent local comp and got a first rate education. But if the local state schools are not meeting your child's needs, and you can afford it, why not consider private schools.

We moved our kids in year 2 and 3. DS is veyr bright but lazy and in his class of 25 he just wasn't moving himself to 1st gear and no one noticed. Now he is in a class of 10 and its harder for him to hide! Also the private school is doing teaching on Teams whereas the old state primary just sends an email once a week with a load of links and parents have to mark the work themselves! So I would say the gap between the new school and the older school is currently greater than normal.

If you can manage it at all financially, then I would say absolutely go for it. We as a family, have had to make huge compromises over the years, and are about to do it all over again!