Just been offered private school place - yikes! What to do?

[daytoday]

advice/experience needed -

My son is currently is state education. He's in year 3 - doing ok in well regarded local primary.

We have just been offered a place a local private primary school (took us by surprise as we put his name down years ago).

I would love to hear from anyone who has made the leap from state to private primary. Was it worth it? What were the benefits? Anything take you by surprise? My thinking is that four years in private before secondary will ensure he has a great educational grounding. If he can pass into a grammar, great - but if not there is quite a good local primary he can go to.

But it will be no fun financially for us! We could do it - just!

My son is happy and settled at school - in the middle of his class academically but sometimes does get overlooked - which is understandable - class of 30 kids etc etc.

We do have other younger siblings to factor in.

Any experience / advice appreciated.

daytoday - do ask the private school every question you can think of. Do a tour in schooltime so you can get the feel of the place (presumably you did when you first applied but you said that was years ago). Remember that with private schools you are the prospective paying customer! One question to ask is whether, if your son is behind on various things whether there is any one-to-one help available. Another obvious thing to check is what secondary schools their leavers tend to go to. And of course, what their sibling discount is.

I'd say year 3 was quite a good point to move if you're going to ever do it. Old enough to deal with moving but still right at the start of juniors.

Can you afford to educate all your DC privately?

My brother and I went to state school, my much younger sister went to private school. I believe all siblings should have the same education (and same chances in life).

jeee - private schools are not all about being academic. It is generally accepted that there are more extra-curricular opportunities at a private school (especially at secondary level). Yes, academic achievements are valued but it is not the be all and end all.

Thanks for all your advice. After some soul searching and many financial spreadsheets - we have decided to decline the place. We feel that our son is happy - he is bugging along nicely and our original fears about the state school have subsided.

We have weighed up all the prows and cons and it has come down to whether we can afford to pay for all of the children to go down the same route (have 3). Whilst we can do 2 (at a squeeze) three at the same time impossible. So it was great to get all your feedback to stop me being romantic and really focus on the financial impact on our family.

If my son were unhappy then we would without doubt move him - but he's happy. We will save our money for secondary school. We will only have two years of over lap for each of the kids (big age gaps between each kid).

This offer has been a great thing because it has forced us to think about secondary school in greater detail and the reality of private school and its financial impact.