WWYD- moving from private to state

[Onceanexpat1]

So, unsurprisingly we’ve had to reconsider our finances when it comes to private school for our children; one who is going into Year 7 in September and one going into Year 9. They’re at a small independent school (not a big public school) that will pass all 20% on to the parents while also raising fees next year so we’re looking at a 25% increase. We chose the school as it was a nurturing, small school (and also more affordable than other private options) for my eldest who after COVID had quite a lot of anxiety and we just didn’t think that she would cope in a year of 240 children. Our local state options are both Ark (one used to be in special measures until it was taken over) so they are very strict as well which we felt also wouldn’t help her. We’ve always wanted to live in a nicer, leafier part of London, but couldn’t afford it. I’m now wondering if we should rent a house next door to a very good state school (rent £4500) and try and get my youngest in for Year 7. I’m hoping she would get a place by half term or atleast Christmas if we get the house I’m thinking of renting as it’s on the same street. The difference between renting for the year and our mortgage is more than the 25% increase, but if we factor in fees for the next 7 years we obviously more than recoup the costs. I’m worried about the fact that we’d probably keep our eldest at her current school. I just think moving her at this stage would be very difficult for her, she is settled with friends and will start preparing for GCSEs next year. This means I would give one child something and not the other. I don’t want this to cause resentment in the future. My youngest, although not completely adverse to the idea of moving to the new school - she knows some people there already and has a more outgoing personality- is not 100% sold on the idea. Should we just stay put and cut back for the next three years until my eldest can move to a state sixth form? Or would you move now and then we can live in a nicer area and save ourselves £125k in school fees? Im also slightly worried about the impact VAT would have on the school. I could see it closing as it’s not oversubscribed- they haven’t done any big capital works so won’t be able to claim back anything, and parents there are not the super rich you see in other parts of London. Most are just scrimping fees together. So I guess this move is also me trying to mitigate the risk of having to scrabble for a place in the future should I need to.

Not what you asked (sorry) but how far is this house from your owned house - have you checked council rules? In many places, and especially if you are in London, owning a house within commuting distance of the school will be counted as your permanent home, not the rented one, so this wouldn't work (and I would be particularly concerned that a rental house on the same street as a desirable school is used for applications frequently, meaning it may be flagged and the address will get picked up on the admissions system as one to investigate).

Yes, you can't usually own and also rent nearby using rented place for school admissions.

Did you apply for a state place for your DD in prep for labour getting in?
If not then apply today while you examine your options.

You said fees next 7 years, but there is a natural break point after gcses, so 3 years for eldest and 5 for youngest.

i don’t think renting to get into your preferred school works really. I’d look at the local school and see how you can supplement their experience with extra activities to get the outcomes you are looking for OR stay where you are and find the extra cash in another way OR move to an area with schools you like.

I would definitely look into good state options and moving to facilitate this. It seems it would be the best long term plan. It sounds like the private school is unlikely to survive. I'd even consider moving the eldest too before GCSE prep starts.

How oversubscribed is the state school you're looking at?

You've left this all quite late!

I doubt renting would work according to the rules for using an address and if you have the money to afford 4.5k pm you could equally cover the fees.

Thanks for your replies. I looked into the admissions policy and we can let out our house (or we may put it on the market and sell it) and rent the home near the school. As long as that is a main residence (which it would be) then we can apply from that address. The other option is we look to sell and buy, rather than rent, and move to the area that way. But if we did the move I would rather my youngest goes sooner rather than later so she can settle.

Has there already been movement at the end of year 8? Year 9 is the traditional end of prep school year.

I think year 7 is a good year to move as everyone is on a new start. There are advantages to larger schools. Often a much wider choice of GCSEs for example

Where are you in London?

@Summertimer a few pupils left at the end of year 8 but relocating rather than for other reasons. Yes, I actually think I that my youngest would enjoy the size of the new school and all the opportunities like an extended art curriculum.
I still think my eldest would struggle with the size and also the fact everyone already has established friendship groups. She would be a little lost.

This all seems very late to be thinking about such big decisions. It’s been on the cards for a good while. Places will already have been allocated for pupils stating year 7 this year (in a few weeks time). Is the state school that you’re considering undersubscribed? They don’t have to find your dd a place just because you’ve chosen to move in down the road if they have filled all of their places already.

You’ll have already committed to both dc being at the private school for the autumn term, moving mid year is definitely more unsettling than at the start of a year ime.

If the current private school is unlikely to survive the VAT increase, sorting a sustainable situation for your eldest should be a priority before they start any GCSE work that may not easily transfer to another school (different exam boards, different texts chosen etc).

I would be surprised if anywhere in London still lets you get away with owning one house and applying from another rented address

Have you looked at the private schools accounts that have been filed?

I wouldn't worry about one going to a good state and one going private. Not all schools suit the same people and seems like the state school would suit your younger DD and she would get as much out of it as your other DD will from the private school. My parents sent my younger sister to private school but could not afford to send me or my older sister - it never bothered us.

If the renting is OK and there are places then I'd do that and maybe supplement your youngest DD's education with lots of extracurricular if she wants. It's a tough one thoughbecause we've had similar thoughts ourselves and, as a parent, it makes total sense. However, as a child this would have caused even more resentment with my sister.

Not really because presumable she'll rent her home out to cover some of this and then she'll save on school fees. Plus it's time limited for a year as opposed to the 5 years of secondary schooling.

I think you should decide if you can or can't afford the private school for both girls. If you can't then I would enrol them both in the state school where you live. You see how it works out. Many kids move schools and cope just fine. If they don't or one doesn't settle you can then look at moving house or putting them back into the private sector. The private school is not oversubscribed so it shouldn't be an issue. Whatever you decide to do you are going to need to give notice and therefore won't be able to move them in September surely?

Why can't you apply now for the spare place? It won't matter where you live, as long as the school accept her? Is it in a different authority?

I’d probably rent the house for your youngest and try to keep your eldest at private if possible unless you really think they won’t be able to survive. I personally am less worried about our own prep because we’re also in London but I’d be more worried if we were in another part of the country. If the school is a registered charity, you can look at their financials on the government website for the charity commission to help decide. If you think there’s a good chance they’ll close before she’s able to get through Y11 I’d try to move her now too.

Ignore unhelpful replies about how you’ve left this “late.” Of course YANBU for keeping your children in a school where they are happy and settled for as long as possible and not unrooting their entire world on a policy proposed by a party that wasn’t even in power at the time. The government are being unreasonable in not giving you until September 2025 to plan as they’ve literally only just proposed the details of this policy. 🙄

@PretendToBeToastWithMe Why are replies about how late op has left this unhelpful? Pointing out that you can’t just expect a state school place to be available as places were allocated months ago is useful, particularly as there was no acknowledgment of this in the op.

I'd move out of London personally, house prices are less and you can choose a good location. Would your jobs permit?

@Muchtoomuchtodo Unless OP has a time machine they won’t be able to go back and do anything differently so I’m not sure how this is helpful?

This happens. I know people that have done this. Many people do in fact, which is why we did not get a spot at first. We own our house and entered the correct way; but instead of getting a spot like we should have from the start we had to transfer after a couple years…

People are more likely to rent a house close to the school and then move out further away where it is cheaper once they got the spot. But not unheard of for a family to rent out their own house while finding a place close to the school to rent to gain a spot.

@PretendToBeToastWithMe because they haven’t said that they’re aware of this so their choices may be far more limited than they realise.

As a parent who will also be hit by the VAT and having to pull kids out from a school they adore and thrive at, please don’t berate the OP for leaving this late.

It’s been so unclear when exactly this would be implemented… and also the majority of schools have been unclear by how much they will raise the fees in light of this too.

What I would do OP is to keep your eldest in until post gcse but get your younger one to start at the best state school you possibly can - maybe your eldest can join there for sixth form too?

I don't think OP is expecting a place to be available now, they're hoping to get a place off the waiting list quickly (ie by half term/Christmas as stated) by moving to a rented house very close to the school. Of course there's no guarantee of getting a place by then. But I’m a bit confused - OP, are you planning on renting for just a year in the hopes of getting your youngest into the state school, then potentially moving back to your old house after she gets in (and the lease is over)? Most boroughs/schools wouldn't allow that, I don't think, even if you rented out your old house. I'd check carefully what they define as 'main residence'.

@Muchtoomuchtodo
”You’ve left this late” is not advice or information, it’s making a judgement that someone should have acted earlier.

In my opinion that’s not helpful when you can’t change what you didn’t know at the time.