To consider private education for GCSE years only?

[DragonMama3]

Has anyone done this? How did it go? I'm aware it may get 20 pc more expensive in the future.

This would be for 2 children.

I put some learning tables stuff on and games for her brother. She taught herself. She's keen as mustard.

Slightly off topic, but you can still drive without the use of your legs.
https://www.motaclarity.co.uk/adaptations

But we do teach x tables in primary school - from Reception!

There's a huge wait for cars. I agree though and am looking into it.

mine is yr 2 and i've started her on times tables.

If it’s a competitive situation, it certainly is round here, if you want to attend then entrance years matter. I’d establish the norms and play the game. ‘Just’ going for GCSE’s could leave you out in the cold.

I assume you have the money from fees, but do think carefully about whether it’s the best use of capital. Being able to buy extra support for a bright child (e.g a tutor at key points) and instead gift them £100k on graduation would be far more beneficial to many. I work with both sink school educated, and privately educated Grads, and they all have the same job.

I don’t understand this. Lungs DO expand, do they not?

The good ones round here are full by year 7.

Year 9 is fine. Lots of schools have a big entry then. We have 50% of students in year 7 and 50% in year 9 so no problem integrating etc…

Year 10 is more problematic- lots of courses start material in year 9 so she might have to catch up on missed work.

You might be eligible for a bursary given your injury, my school it has to be loss of a parent but others have different criteria.

Huge over simplification, your diaphragm pulls down and your rib cage up and out. This increases the volume of the lung cavity and hence drops the pressure. The atmospheric pressure of the air then forces it way in which makes the lungs expand. (You don’t suck air in, it pushes itself in).

Not the other way around.

Boarding, lung physiology and apps on a 6 year old's iPad now. Your posts are pleasingly eclectic OP.

FWIW you should factor in above-inflation fee increases compounding year on year for the next decade, irrespective of the tax conversation.

My Dd is in year 9 and they’ve already started the gcse syllabus.
I also would not underestimate the social aspects. If she is unhappy or isolated she’s not going to do well.
I’d move her as early as you can manage.

@Smartiepants79 Many schools narrow the curriculum in y9. It’s to ensure the dc get longer prep for GCSEs! Top private schools don’t tend to do this and kerp
the curriculum broad in y9. As boarding schools start in y9, you wouldn’t go straight into GCSEs without a prep year.

My DDs are at private school ( it’s a well regarded local one, not a ‘top’ school as such!) all the local
independents start their GCSE’s in year 9 round here.

If you do a move, from Year 9 is better. They need to be there for the year when options are chosen. However, our DC went to a state school that started the syllabus in year 9, so options were chosen in year 8.

Boarding schools of note don’t. They always strive for a broad education and most academic schools start in y10. Around me the non grammars start in y9 to boost results. As might less well known private schools.

Some of these posts are getting a bit weird but as a teacher and a mother of 2 I would say this -
if money is not really a consideration (it doesn’t really sound like it is??) I would say get them into your preferred option by yr7 at the latest
if money is, then year 9 start at the absolute latest
it does sound like later entry for the schools your thinking about ( I’m not familiar with them) may not even be an easy possibility

Sedbergh is well known.

true

@DragonMama3 I didn’t say it wasn’t. The senior school starts at 13. It has a prep. However, in line with standard co Ed boarding, it starts in y9.

@DragonMama3 I’d be weighing up what the benefits are vs the local schools in terms of results. 6 is too young to know what your DD might be interested in aged 11. I don’t know Sedbergh school but it either doesn’t make the top 200 schools in the Sunday Times league or it doesn’t submit its results - which makes it difficult to understand what you are getting for more than £9k per term.

Bear in mind if Labour follows through with its 20pc vat increase, circa £27k becomes £33.5k before the annual fee increases are applied. And this is 5 years away from the potential earliest start for your DD. For me, work out if there is something only Sedberg offers that you can’t get from the closest best state school when you get to yr5. C.£150k for 5 yrs worth of education could buy her an awful lot of other things which may be more life-enhancing and then there is the possibility she might not want to leave at 16 either….

@Stringerbellspayphones I do not think you totally appreciate what you do
get in better independent schools. It really is not just about exam results. You really do get a lot more than state schools offer but it depends what you value. We valued drama at a high level and taken seriously. Ditto art and music. We liked to see dc being able to try lots of sport and other dc being coached. The quality of the facilities and grounds were high. At our school, food was exceptional. The school was small enough for all dc to be known and a work ethic was strong. They had many opportunities to demonstrate leadership and participate in school events and competitions. However it comes at a cost and parents need to evaluate the value to them and dc.

If you only have money for fees and this would take every penny you have, I’d think twice. If you have plenty left over, it’s a no brainer!

@TizerorFizz I am actually a private school parent. This was mainly because of the standard of music so I agree with you there.. My point is that at the moment, the OP doesn’t know what her child is interested in, because she is 6. I know plenty of parents whose kids have not taken advantage of the opportunities available in schools and if money is no object, fair enough, but if it isn’t, my point is that it isn’t the be all and end all so the OP doesn’t need to worry if paying fees from 11 years onwards is not possible. £150k can buy you other opportunities, tuition etc alongside state school.

@Stringerbellspayphones yep. Plenty of students at private schools who don't take advantage of half of the opportunities they get.

Looking at Sedbergh's results, they don't seem particularly remarkable - only slightly above the national average for A Level, and only 36.5% 9-7. OP, I don't know if Sedbergh is local to you, but would you consider other independent schools if academics are your focus?

They do. It is very basic explanation.