State or private if you were us

[WilliamsHill]

Approx £10k per month combined post tax income
No mortgage (but not huge savings due to paying off mortgage)
One child in year 3
Central London

Choice between

1. Outstanding local state secondary school which is single sex. Within walking distance. Primary friends likely to go there.
2. Excellent single sex independent school. Within walking distance. One friend possibly going there. School is through to 18. Approx £30k PA plus the threat of VAT.

We could move child to the independent Sept 2025 (assuming passes assessment) or stick with the state primary and secondary option.

Independant option obviously comes with all the usual benefits - extracurriculars, smaller classes etc etc. Both options get incredible GCSE and A Level results - well above state average.

What would you do?

If your state schools are good and you are involved parents then send your dc to state school and save towards uni fees and housing.
Far more useful imo.

I personally would go for the outstanding state school and save the money if that was possible - or save some of it (even half of £30k x 10 years would be a great house deposit, or yes a uni fund) and expect to spend some on enrichment such as music lessons, sports activities, educational trips and holidays, possibly tutors if needed.

Yes, I’m inclined to agree. We already spend a lot on extracurriculars including music and sport.

I just hope the labour government start investing more in state schools and teachers. I think my main worry is that by the time she gets to secondary school, there won’t be any teachers left and she’ll have a PE teacher teaching physics!

If that happens you'll have saved a fortune already and can transfer her.

I think the good review of the state school, the walking distance and the fact they'll have friends there already would make the decision easy for me. I would opt for this and then reassess when in later stages of primary to possibly do private for secondary.

I'd look at which one seems likely to be the best fit for your dd. In the end, that often matters more than anything else.

It won’t be that easy though. She’ll have to sit the 11+ without the benefit of having already been at the prep school. I believe it’s extremely competitive.

State school.

Why wouldn’t you?

I'd definitely do state. Lack of teachers affects private too.

You would be surprised how many non specialist teachers are teaching maths/physics even in private schools at the minute.

Remember private schools can also hire cheaper unqualified teachers to plug gaps.

Agree with this and it’s the principle we’ve followed, rather than focussing only on state v private.

Do you think your dd will thrive at one school more than the other? If she has any SEN where will they be accommodated best.

I think she would thrive at both, but the private school offers much more in terms of sport and music. Academically, I think she would do just as well at either.

Because there is a teacher recruitment and funding crisis in the state school sector. Because the classes are bigger. Because state school doesn’t offer anything like as much in terms of extracurriculars.

Which school has the better GCSE results?

It seems like you can easily afford the private school so I don’t know why you wouldn’t send her there. The facilities and extracurriculars will likely be better.

If you think academically and socially she’d do well at the state, then I’d chose the state tbh.

State school:

Grades 9-4 - 94.2%
Grades 9-7 - 54%

Private school:

Grade 9-4 - 100%
Grade 9-7 - 89%

But this isn’t really comparing like for like. The private school is academically selective and the state school isn’t. In fact, the state school has a banding test so they deliberately take a range of abilities.

State for sure.

This is true, but it’s a hell of a lot of money that could be spent on other things, like a house deposit. Also, she would likely be one of the poorest kids at the private school and I think that would really affect how well she fits in socially.

I agree with PP that says pick the best school for her regardless of sector. Where do you think she will be happiest and most supported to be her best and healthiest self? Which school will best allow her to explore her interests and grow in confidence?

Based on those results I’d choose the private school.

Agree.

However if funding an issue, then I would start tutoring in STEM subjects from year 8 onwards with extra-curricular activities from the start.

Similar financial situation and school options here and we went private. We're very happy with our decision.

I'd register for the independent school and sit the test - if she doesn't get in (and if it's a London superselective that's not guaranteed, even with extensive tutoring amd interview coaching). Let your DD visit both schools and get a feel for them. If she doesn't get in, then there's no decision to be made. If she does and she likes the school, you can afford it comfortably and she'll be happy.

Private (I work in the state school sector). A lot also depends on your child and how motivated they are to do well.

Even though the state option gets double the England average for grade 9-7 without being academically selective? I would say the state school demonstrates far greater value add in terms of academics.