Prep and onto grammar, or save for private secondary?

[Fourthmusketeer]

Hi all, looking for a bit of advice on the value of private prep...

DS is currently in Y1, and I just can't shake the feeling that he'd really thrive at our local prep school. His state school is a good school, but I feel the environment at the prep would really help him come out of his shell. He's bright and loves to learn but he lacks confidence, and I think in the right setting he'd flourish.

The prep school is a 5 minute walk from the house with loads of local kids, so I don't have that worry.

Problem is, I've looked at the finances and assumed a 10% uplift in fees each year. On this basis, we can comfortably afford it now up until year 6, with the aim of him then going on to the grammar for secondary (assuming of course he gets in and it's the right setting for him). Given we also have a second child who we would want to provide the same opportunities for, we can't easily afford prep for DS2 alongside private senior for DS1. Granted I've assumed a 10% uplift in fees and no movement in our own salaries, but I wanted to prepare for worst case.

If we didn't send him now, we could spend his primary years saving the money to cover the majority of his secondary fees, in case the grammar wasn't an option. Our state secondary schools here aren't very good.

Or...we sent him to the prep, and just figure out the secondary bit later on 🤣

I feel like objectively it makes sense to delay until secondary and save the money, but I can't help feel that setting the right foundations for him now would be invaluable.

Thanks for reading, and any advice would be appreciated!

Have you not included VAT on top of fees? Yes annual fee increase but then 20% VAT on top

I would recommend a chat with his teacher now about whether they think he’s potentially a grammar candidate . I know it sounds crazy but my eldest boys teacher at that age said she always could tell .

If you don’t get a definite yes save for secondary . If you do get a yes make sure you tutor for the 11+ as everyone else will be

A child that is comfortably Grammar material doesn’t need private prep . My DS did take longer to develop his confidence than the local prep kids but he did get there.

I have one currently in private secondary and one in state grammar ( and an adult ) . The one that maybe should have been moved is the one now in private - solely for smaller class sizes.

Look at whether he’s above expected levels and talk to his teacher - it won’t be the first time they will have been asked in a Grammar area

@twistyizzy yes I've included VAT within that

Prep and then, hopefully grammar. Circumstances can change and there may be a chance of a bursary.

Grammar school standards are so so high in my area. It isn't achievable without tutoring (and I would include those at "standard" prep schools in that). It's not just natural ability.

I would keep him local in state and then move to a non selective private school. that's what I did and my kids are thriving.

OK so potentially a 30% uplift each year?

@twistyizzy the school have updated all their fees to include VAT now, so I've just taken that and added 10% year on year

@Lookslikeeyes thank you for the advice, I'll speak to his teacher to get a better indication 🙂

Has your preferred school actually added 20% . Lots of schools haven’t yet added the full 20% - our school has added 15% this January - no news yet on September . I also get the feeling that a lot of schools are working hard to minimise costs at the moment to keep fees low - not sure how long that will last . Make sure you know what this school has done .

Also bear in mind that secondary fees are higher than primary fees

Is the prep linked to a secondary school where the majority stay together and go right through from 5 years to 16 or even 18 years?

Even if you think prep and then grammar is the right option it can be much more difficult to change schools for Y7 if all of DC's friends are going up together to the linked secondary. It's different / potentially easier if the children move to a number of different schools post-prep.

Bear in mind as well that if the prep school has an interest in keeping children in the private system there may not be much in the way of tutoring/support for the 11+ and you'll have to pay for that on top of school fees.

@NeedingEasyReading yes it's linked to a secondary, through to age 16. I'm not sure how many stay on though, that's definitely worth finding out.

What I liked was that they offer extra support and classes to children taking the 11+, and seem to have a fairly good success rate.

@Lookslikeeyes that's a good point, I'm not sure how much of the VAT they've passed on actually - I'll check that out!

Do you know how the prep is doing for numbers? Are lots leaving, making it financially vulnerable?
Personally I would save for now, and reasses in Yr3 or Yr4

I don't think there's a right or wrong but if you think the primary school is good I'd be tempted to save the money for secondary. What's the state school like if he doesn't get into the grammar? Will the grammar still be a grammar when he goes (Labour aren't keen I think? Although tbf no actual public plans to scrap)
If I was happy enough with the current school, I'd save my money for a time when I potentially may not be happy with the secondary.

Is the grammar school highly selective? If your kid is bright, there is no need to go prep in primary in order to get into a normal grammar school.

Most schools are trying to mitigate for this year but it won't be sustainable long term. I would honestly budget for 10% increase in fees + 20% VAT for long term

Where in the country are you? Somewhere super selective like Kent or somewhere where 30% get in like Bucks?

Kent grammar schools, for the most part, are not superselective; for most, it's a pass in the Kent Test and then admission according to oversubscription criteria.

Are you thinking of St Olaves and Newstead Wood in Orpington? Their LA is the London Borough of Bromley, not Kent CC.

@toomuchcheesetoomuchchocolate I'm in the southwest with my catchment grammar being Bishops Wordsworth school in Salisbury. It's an amazing grammar so very lucky to have it on our doorstep.

Whilst I'd be thrilled if DS got in, my feelings towards sending him to prep now are actually less about the 11+ and more about him having that well-rounded and holistic education, where he's provided with every opportunity to flourish and to have exposure to a wide variety of subjects and activities.

??????? 10% plus VAT is not 30%. If it were a 10% increase, it would be 12%.

We did state til year 3 then prep school til year 8 or 6.
One in private secondary and one in state grammar.
The state grammar is more academic and seems better organised academically. However sport is better at private secondary and teachers easier to contact.
The kids seem more mature and confident at the private secondary than the grammar. The grammar school kids are quite silly and immature. The grammar school feels more petty. Parents are informed of the smallest infringement whilst the private school the teacher just deals with it on the spot.

There is probably an established route that most people take to get into grammar in your area. What do they do?

In my area, it's state primary, tutoring in Y5, exam Y6. Depending on the outcome: grammar, state or private. Basically, people save their money in case they need it for private secondary.

You’ll have massive confirmation bias once you send him to prep and you’ll be thrilled with it, no matter how good it actually is. I’ve seen parents be mildly dissatisfied with state schools when there’s nothing much wrong with it, but for their own validation they move and feel much happier.

Just bear that in mind before you commit to £20+ k a year. In your case, give you also have another child, I’d save for both going to private secondary and skip the prep. You can also tutor for grammar.

@Fourthmusketeer is the grammar in your area super selective? What are their admissions criteria?