Private schools - what do I need to know?

[Random63638]

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?

The great Migration from Private towards towards state is simply wishful thinking I'm afraid. The two tier system is here to stay for a very long time and there is nothing we can do about it but argue on various forms of social media. The 6-7% of the public that prefer an independent school education aren't going away anytime soon.

Politicians know there is not much public support for getting rid of Independent schools hence why all they do is write think pieces and feign outrage. Heck look at the Schools Mps send their kids to and you'd seen an assortment of Elite Public Schools,Top tier Independent schools, mid ranking Independent schools, Grammar schools,selective religious schools and high achieving comps in affluent areas. That's despite many of them living in the nicer areas of their constituency.

@Elij00
You only have to read through these threads to discover that plenty of parents are going state as they are upset at top universities changing their criteria over state school admissions.
Currently there is a slowly, slowly approach by the government, but there are some fairly big changes coming in the next four years and VAT will be the first.
And believe me plenty of politicians send their children to state schools, but agreed they are usually decent ones as they live in good areas.
Watch this space.

I'll believe it when I see a dramatic downturn in demand for Independent school places. As of now though, demand still remains high. Also I don't know why people are surprised state school students are getting exactly what they deserve as far Top Universities places are concerned. They get 75% of the Top Alevel grades after all. A combination of the outreach programmes plus students applying in massive numbers has been the main difference compared to years gone by.

I'll wait the for the big changes to come first before I take whatever they say seriously. I also hope whatever changes they've got up their sleeves includes them(the ones that choose state) not cherry picking the Very Best the state system has to offer even if that means their kids attending Requires improvement schools.

@Random63638

Went to Dame Allen's in Fenham on an assisted place many years ago on an assisted place. There was a range of wealth of the students as expected with a few from wealthy business owner families and a significant portion with doctors and teachers as parents. I found that private meant traditional and certainly there is a traditional English school feel with head boys, prefects, prize says and sporting events with nearby private schools. Single sex was a major difference to state back then.

Some school trips were prohibitively expensive and uniform costs could be expensive. Personally I felt socially inferior at times it I think that's a personality thing.

I wonder how apart from the extremely selective schools whether there is my advantage in terms of university entrance. Most elite universities specifically Oxbridge are extremely keen to increase state intake.

@Aboutnow
Word about town is Gove's daughter is privately educated..... Politicians rarely live the ideals they spout!

@ItsAllKindaWeird I thought they were at Grey Coat Hospital? Which is as good as most private schools anyway ...!

[quote Legoninjago1]@ItsAllKindaWeird I thought they were at Grey Coat Hospital? Which is as good as most private schools anyway ...!
[/quote]
That’s a super kick in the teeth/ slap in the face - getting a seemingly amazing education for free whilst the rest of us either have to (a) pay through the nose to be in the catchment area of a great state school (b) pay through the nose for a great private school (c) find god for a religious school (d) take the luck of the draw!

Yep! Bit like the Blairs who sent theirs to London Oratory whilst living in SW1! Their catchment schools were rather less appealing I guess.

Oh you may be right and yeah it's a kick in the teeth! I might have thought that as i know some girls in a south London independent and they mix in the same circles, and not always in a good way...

Hello, we have a daughter in a state school that has turned out reasonably well in her case. We looked at private schools a few years ago and our experience wasn't honestly all that good.

We felt they offered terrible value for money. I want to affirm what other posters have said: Fees seem to increase greatly each year and so you will have to pay even more later on.

I also went to a state school myself and got mostly A grades.

And so it's best to look at what is on offer in the state sector before considering a private school. You get fantastic state schools as well as terrible private schools and visa versa.

But it could be worth try anyway. It depends on the local state and private schools in question.

One thing you do need to do is apply at least a year in advance as there may be a long admissions and selection process to go through, even for 4+ or 7+ entry.