Faith based private school

[Emz1212]

Our children go to a faith based private school that only goes up to year 9. For one of our children this will be their last year.

There is another option at senior level - but it’s quite a journey.

There is no doubt they have been in a bubble (which is precisely what we paid for) but they are far more innocent than most kids their age.

Has anybody any experience in this?

I have some experience, but mine’s younger so not thinking about secondary yet. Not sure what your qs is though - do you mean in terms of the transition to secondary? Where do most of the kids in the school tend to move on to, what does the head teacher suggest in terms of fit? Can your religious organization (whether priest/rabbi/imam) make any suggestions about where might be a good fit? Are you able to continue to pay for private education?

Quite a few are home schooled after year 9.

Yes we can pay for private education - but it would still be secular.

I think my question is how to deal with the culture shock?

Maybe try and speak to some parents with older kids at the school who’ve been through it and see what they advise? Also speak to the head - part of their job should be helping kids through that transition. Otherwise I think it’s mostly a case of talking to your kids, trying to prepare them with without scaring them and just keeping a close eye on them once they start.

I think a small secular private school would be less of a shock. It would be good to expose them to people that think differently. But behaviour is likely better in a private school

What are your other faith options? Personally not keen on non-faith schools. Year 10 up still so important to be raised with the values you hold dear.

We have choice of non faith co-ed grammar nearby, highly academic and nice feel. Or we can go to single sex faith grammar further away. Good academics, amazing facilities and values values values. There's no contest in my mind. You got to pass an exam for either but I'm going to jettison close by and Co Ed for faith school. Ds1 is already in so crossing my fingers for DS2.

If the child would start in another independent and of same faith I can’t see it will be a culture shock. Wouldn’t the child have already had to do entrance exams to secure a place? My eldest DC started at an independent school from his small prep in year 9 and has transitioned with no issues. It wasn’t a culture shock because the independent secondary is still a nice environment.

Yes we have spoken to head teacher and other parents.

The options are

1. home school
2. faith based private school (although 30 miles round trip - so 60 miles a day for us)
3. local private school

I think 60 miles a day is hardly manageable (although maybe some from your school do that?). I've been driving 16 miles round trip school run for a few years and it was utterly exhausting.