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Original poster

Private schools - what do I need to know?

110 replies

Random63638 · 13/04/2021 15:45

I went to a terrible comprehensive and had a crap education, currently doing a science based PhD at 40 as I've gradually found my feet and I'm not as daft as it seemed back then. To try and avoid the same disadvantage I'm really thinking of private ed for my only DD (currently age 3). We should have a family income of around £85k once I get a grad job, and maybe £100k after a few years (I have a reasonably in demand profession to fall back on if necessary). Local private school is circa £15k in fees per year, with no bursary with our family income. I think it's affordable, but I don't know what else I might need to budget for, and the ultimate question - is it worth it? Socially is there a snobbishness against kids without very wealthy families? We're not talking Eton here, so hoping we could 'fit in' but am I kidding myself?

As I have no knowledge of the private system at all, can someone school me please? Grin

OP posts:
CraftyGin · 13/04/2021 15:49

My five children have been privately educated.

We have never noticed any snobbishness. We found that those who have the means, are the ones who host the parties etc. No one expected us to reciprocate.

As our children got older, their friends really appreciated our town centre location for the independence they had, compared to mansions in the back of beyond.

LIZS · 13/04/2021 15:49

5% annual fee increases, plus the incremental increases as you progress through the school. 10% for extras - some schools include lunches, books, trips etc others don't. Swimming, dance, drama, music ...

Blimeyoreilly2020 · 13/04/2021 15:49

Ok, they’re £15k per year now but you need to Allie for inflation as they very definitely increase each year. It’s a good idea to create an excel spreadsheet to show what they’ll roughly be for the next 14 years so you can gauge what is truly affordable. Also factor in further children if that’s what you’re planning. Additionally you need to budget for uniform, lunches, music lessons, trips etc....

Blimeyoreilly2020 · 13/04/2021 15:50

Allow not Allie

skeggycaggy · 13/04/2021 15:50

Also budget for extra classroom support in case necessary - my SIL has just been stung with this for her DD in prep school...

CraftyGin · 13/04/2021 15:50

But then you get swimming, music, dance ....

You don't have to spend your evenings driving them to outside classes.

CraftyGin · 13/04/2021 15:51

@skeggycaggy

Also budget for extra classroom support in case necessary - my SIL has just been stung with this for her DD in prep school...
If they need extra support, you should apply for an EHCP.
LIZS · 13/04/2021 15:52

If they need extra support, you should apply for an EHCP.

LA Funding does not apply to private school learning support.

NailsNeedDoing · 13/04/2021 15:55

Extra curricular stuff like trips, uniforms, sports list are all extra expenses on top of the fees that will add up quite a bit, and it gets significantly more expensive at secondary. You might want to consider a good state primary, pay for extra tuition if you feel it’s needed, and then save for private secondary where it will have much more benefit.

Toomuchleopard · 13/04/2021 15:55

I have one child in yr 7 at private school and two younger at state primary school. From what I've seen so far and comparing to her friends who have gone to local state schools I would say it is well worth it. Its a lovely calm friendly learning environment and she has absolutely blossomed since going there despite some of it being home learning last term. We have an excellent local primary school (state school) so we only considered private from yr 7.

CraftyGin · 13/04/2021 15:58

@LIZS

If they need extra support, you should apply for an EHCP.

LA Funding does not apply to private school learning support.

Not true. I teach in an independent school (not special school) with >70% of students on EHCPs.

It is very cost effective for local authorities to use independent schools for SEN students.

Vargas · 13/04/2021 16:00

I have never regretted my 3 dc's private school education, and the two eldest have said how much they appreciated the opportunities, particularly in music and sport, that they have enjoyed.

Re: costs, just keep in mind that the fee inflation is likely to be way over the real rate of inflation (and your potential pay increases), I would say ours has been 3-5% per year. I wouldn't say we have spent much beyond the fees, the odd school trip but they are always optional and lots of kids don't go for a variety of reasons (not just budgetary). The most expensive extra for one of my dc's has been individual music lessons.

skeggycaggy · 13/04/2021 16:00

Can you use an EHCP to fund a classroom assistant in prep school CraftyGin? My niece doesn’t have any diagnosis, possibly dyslexic but testing was inconclusive.

CraftyGin · 13/04/2021 16:01

Yes, of course.

The first step is applying, which parents can do.

Vargas · 13/04/2021 16:01

And I would agree that if you have a decent state primary then it is far better to send her to the state primary and save for an independent secondary, if you are at all worried about costs.

VanCleefArpels · 13/04/2021 16:01

I have educated both my children privately from nursery through sixth form. Honestly, it’s a water if money for nursery/infant/junior years. Save like mad and use the money plus income to pay for private senior school where the advantages eg smaller class sizes, longer school day, emphasis on discipline, extra curricular activities etc are more marked. Plus your child will have the benefit of a local network of friends which is more difficult when private schools have a much wider “catchment”

LIZS · 13/04/2021 16:02

Also be aware that there is no guarantee of continuing through the school. Children with SEN , behaviour issues or not meeting academic expectations may be managed out. Do not assume that bullying, disruption etc is less.

Not ime @CraftyGin but willing to stand corrected.

VanCleefArpels · 13/04/2021 16:02

*waste of money not water if money

CraftyGin · 13/04/2021 16:04

My experience is that a child who has an EHCP in Y7, will have it through to GCSE. This may not be any policy but it is practice.

MayIDestroyYou · 13/04/2021 16:05

Local private school ...

Words that should strike terror into the heart of any discerning buyer. What if it's crap? It won't necessarily be better in any important way than your in catchment infant schools. You really shouldn't choose an independent school just because it happens to be there. Unless you deliberately chose that area to live because of this school?

Even if not crap, it still might not be the very best school for your child. The point of spending the money (partly) is to enable choice between schools - so if you're just saying "that one" because it's up the road - you're kinda squandering your opportunity.

Think about where you live, and what options you might have for moving once you fall into your anticipated riches. Could you move next door to the best state junior school for 100 miles? If so, that might well be a much better option.

In all honesty no child needs any particular school for the first few years. A fee paying school might have nicer surroundings (though £15k won't buy much in the way of green acres and golden stone) - but all she's going to be doing is playing, and learning tolerance and how to sit still and quiet.

Your money would be better spent once you and she have got to know her a bit better - by the time she's seven you'll have a better idea of how she learns and what makes her happy. Then you choose somewhere that suits her qualities.

(If you're in London and the only safe entry point is 3 years old - ignore all I've said; or move.)

Original poster
Random63638 · 13/04/2021 16:05

The school near us has an age 7 and age 11 intake, but only an extra 12 pupils at 11, as far as I can see, so we might have to get in early. Still, leaves 4 years of saving now nursery funding has kicked in!

Are activities provided by the school but charged extra? The facilities are amazing.

OP posts:
CraftyGin · 13/04/2021 16:06

I would agree with TPA who said save the money for secondary.

However, if you are able to fund prep school, the experience the child has is outstanding.

skeggycaggy · 13/04/2021 16:06

@CraftyGin

Yes, of course.

The first step is applying, which parents can do.

But you can’t get an EHCP based on ‘not meeting expected levels for Y2’, can you? There’s more to an EHCP than that? I know my niece would not be getting a 1 to 1 in state school although she would be one of the small groups of children who get targeted interventions. But the prep school have said they want her to have a 1 to 1 next term. Sorry to de rail OP!
CraftyGin · 13/04/2021 16:09

@Random63638

The school near us has an age 7 and age 11 intake, but only an extra 12 pupils at 11, as far as I can see, so we might have to get in early. Still, leaves 4 years of saving now nursery funding has kicked in!

Are activities provided by the school but charged extra? The facilities are amazing.

Schools are all different. Some places will provide charge for extra curriculars; others will provide them as standard.

Anything 'valuable' such as individual peri music lessons will be charged at approx £20 for half an hour.

LIZS · 13/04/2021 16:09

Is it through to secondary or a prep school where they move at 13+? Seems very odd to only intake 12 at 11. Small schools often struggle to survive.