Deliberating over schools.

[Inamethatmooninone]

Trying to decide whether to send DC to private or state school. We’ve looked around a few of each in our local area and the privates seem to offer so much more, but we do have reservations based on the 20% VAT. Interested to hear from any senior members of staff in state schools who have sent your own children to private schools as I know of several families who have done this. Do you know something we don’t? Is it based on class sizes or just SEND needs? Any advice would be appreciated as we’re a bit flummoxed right now.

Important to remember that private schools can provide a lot more because they have more money. And I am puzzled why the VAT is affecting your decision-it’s not as if you’re paying fees
already and they are going up-the fees you’re looking at are post VAT.
Anyway, you’re in an enviable position-you can choose the school you like, and if you choose state, you’ll have the money to provide the extras your child wants that the state school can’t provide.

my grand daughter attends an academic london private. her fathers state school experience with bullying and constant classroom disruption (albeit 30yrs ago) was so traumatic to him he vowed to never send a child of his to a state school.
no special needs, they just wanted an enjoyable school experience. After all education is lifelong.

We do have concerns about bullying and disruption and as you say we want them to have an enjoyable experience of school. Trying to follow in the news about the influx of private school pupils to state schools, yet it seems like a lot of teachers are either leaving or trying to leave state schools. We’re worried about DC having subject specialist teachers when and if they go. The VAT is just an extra amount to try and find so we would have to factor that in. It wasn’t in place when we started looking around schools.

@CurlewKate is right. Private schools have the money to offer more facilities, unless they are very small, in which case they’re probably not viable.

Teachers are leaving teaching because of the workload more than anything else. Maybe some of them take up posts in private schools, maybe some find alternative employment.

Much depends on whether you are able to manage the expenses of private school, whilst offering enriching experiences to your child(ren).

Unlikely to find many state school staff who are paying private school fees.

So it partly depends on how much money you have and what your local schools are like. Experiences can vary a lot even within different year groups and to an extent it can become luck of the draw. I’ve got two in an outstanding state primary. I’m very happy with one child’s experience and very unhappy with the other and moving to private.

Well the VAT is a pointless thing to point out except to have a Labour dig. Can you afford private school easily, if you can’t then don’t send them to one. Simple!
A child isn’t destined to become a poor earning criminal from being state educated.

I know teachers in state schools who sent their children to private schools but also teachers in private schools (including Headteachets - one of a public school) who sent their children to state schools.
its what is best for the child (and often not sending your children to your school).

Fees were always going to go up between last year and at least next year if you haven’t applied for Sept 2025.
It’s really going to depend on what private options you have, how much money you have and what the state schools in your area are like. There’s no overall best fit.

Honestly it comes down to can you afford it, if yes, would it suit your child? I have two SEND children, it would not have suited DC1 at all, DC2 I’d send in a heartbeat if we could afford it. I currently have a Facebook page full of online schools, but they also cost in region of £1k pm. Makes me really sad that she can’t get a suitable education because I can’t fund it.

It all depends on what you local schools have on offer.

DD's primary had a musician and artist-in-residence; French taught from Reception by native French teacher etc.

Secondary she's had specialists for every subject. Extra curricular includes horse-riding and archery. Amazing art and music. Their facilities and options are massively better than anything my super-selective grammar had to offer.

Go and look at lots of schools - we looked at everything including big name boarding schools, and everyone's top choice was the comprehensive she ended up at.

DH who was privately educated was amazed at what some state schools were like.