Should I send my dd's to differents schools - private and state?

[greenbean100]

My eldest is about to start reception in September. I have been told she is gifted (she is on oxford reading tree level 9 - finds it easy and can do sums with double digits etc).

We can not afford to send both our girls to a private prep school - but, could scrape by sending just one. Our other daugher is just 2 and is all togther a very different person - average intellegence but full of fun and very social.

I am having a moral dilema as to whether it would be fair to send the eldest to a prep school which would suit her well and where I know she would really benefit developmentally from a small class size and send her sister to the local state primary (which has a good ofsted)but has large classes.

Has anyone done this? Did it work out? Was one jealous of the other - or is it possible build the right relationship between the two siblings that it really doesn't matter? Any advice welcome.

Greenie

They are mostly better though...

Every parent has the right to express a choice of where their children will go to school. If you have money, you simply have more choices. It doesn't mean that you will automatically select the fee-paying school.

There are different parts of the education to consider - the academic curriculum, the co-curriculum, and pastoral care. These are all important, but if you have a wide range of independent schools in your area, you may find one that has a better emphasis for your child compared to a 1600-pupil comp.

In my two+ years of supply teaching, I have worked in a wide range of state schools (including a grammar school) - both regular supply and contract work, and two private schools, the one thing that I have come away with is how worth it is to send my own kids to private schools. That's the reality in my area.

elastic women - Nagty is open to all children - Ds2 is at independent school and is member of Nagty.
op - would be really cautious of introducing a divide at this age, might be better to move if can't afford fees for both and local state school doesn't appear to be coming up with the goods.

Do you love both girls equally?

Every child in the land benefits from being in a small class with good facilites. In fact it could be argued that a less able child needs private education more!

Its tragic that you are writing off your youngest daughter at the age of 2.

I have two friends that went to a state school when their siblings went privately, and they both feel let down by their parents. I think it would be cruel to do this and I agree that perhaps your 2 year old would benefit more, but really I do not see how you can tell what your youngest is going to be like by reception age. I really couldn't do this to my children.