Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Home ed

Find advice from other parents on our Homeschool forum. You may also find our round up of the best online learning resources useful.

Original poster

Cost of "private" school versus reducing hours to home school?

46 replies

RoRoMommy · 23/05/2008 13:02

Hello all,

I've been lurking for a while, but have not been able to find an answer to this question: What is the cost of "private" school in this country (isn't private actually called public? I am from the states, and private is what you pay for, which isn't public, which is what's free). I am trying to do a cost-benefit analysis of whether sending my son to a really quality school would cost less/more than reducing my hours, and my husband reducing his hours, so that we could both be with him one day a week, then my mum could do two days and our nanny one day.

One more question that brings up--does home ed work if the child is taught by multiple "teachers"?

I appreciate any input on where to find this information, and from your experiences. Thanks in advance.

OP posts:
DarthVader · 23/05/2008 13:06

Day schools (secondary) around £12k per annum here (I am not in London)

Multiple teachers is common with home ed, especially secondary

Original poster
RoRoMommy · 23/05/2008 13:20

Thanks Darth. Do you know where I could find a list of these schools so I can see what's so good about them? And is multiple teachers in secondary because of teaching speciality or difficult topics like calculus?

OP posts:
squiffy · 23/05/2008 13:26

Try the good schools guide and the ISC

FWIW my DC's are at a school which costs appx £16k (day fees, not boarding) per annum from 7-13 and then £22k per annum from 13 to 18 (per child), so that means I need to earn £27k annually (£36k from age 13 onwards) PRE-tax to cover each child in school fees alone. Their school is at the top end of costs I think, there are very large variations between individual schools.

struwellpeter · 23/05/2008 13:35

Roro you need to do lots of research. Private schools can cost up to 18K to 20K for secondary so are a very big commitment. Your lo is still very small so you have lots of time to decide what is best for him and you. Go and see some schools in your area. You can contact the Independent Schools Information Service, no doubt they are online.
Talk to other parents in your area to see what the schools are like. How lovely for your lo to have the possiblility of being looked after by family.

Original poster
RoRoMommy · 23/05/2008 13:38

Thanks squiffy. Are you very happy with the education they are receiving?

OP posts:
Original poster
RoRoMommy · 23/05/2008 13:47

Thanks struwellpeter, my inclination is certainly to teach him at home. But I know that my mum and husband will need some convincing so I want to show them the best that London has to offer, what the cost of that is, and discuss home ed and how it works. I just love the thought of my DS being given the opportunity to learn what he wants at his own pace, rather than sitting in a classroom learning what he's told to, and when, in a uniform, with thirty other boys, etc., then being "graded" on how "well" he's learned.

OP posts:
legalalien · 23/05/2008 13:50

Hi there RoRo - one thing you'll need to factor in are any costs associated with school holiday care - there are an enormous number of school holidays, so you'd need to be sure that your mum was OK to look after him full time for two or three days a week during the holidays (the "or three" because I wasn't sure whether your DH and you were going to take a whole day off, or rather cut hours to make morning/afternoon pick ups a starter.

I know your DS is young - so worth mentioning that the fees are cheaper at age 3/4 - 7 (I will be forking out £2700 per term from sept, so under £9k in my case).

I am about to reduce my hours so that I can do the morning school run and have the school holidays off, so will definitely be WORSE OFF come Sept, notwithstanding substitution of some sort of au pair arrangement for the current FT nanny. But there's a peace of mind factor!

struwellpeter · 23/05/2008 13:58

All schools are different. Look at ones which have lots on offer besides things in the classroom and try to work out how good they are pastorally ie. wellbeing of child in a rounded way not just academics.
I'm sure it's a whole can of worms, but if you home educate have you thought about how your lo will have opportunities to socialise with other children?

Original poster
RoRoMommy · 23/05/2008 14:00

Hey Legalalien! Wow, LOs grow up so fast, don't they?

Did you ever consider home ed? How many terms are there in a year, two? Do you mind if I ask where you chose for your DS, and how you conducted your search? If my husband and I reduce our hours, it's an either/or; either we reduce hours and home ed, or we don't and pay for private.

OP posts:
Original poster
RoRoMommy · 23/05/2008 14:02

I have thought about that, and actually posed the question on this list months ago. My feeling is that there are groups of home ed'ers who get together frequently, and this would be ideal. Issues are finding them and liking them (to be honest). At this stage, DS is socialised quite regularly; he goes to a play group almost every day for two hours or more. He loves it, so socialising will be at the top of my list of priorities.

I also wonder what he might prefer; I am partial to home ed, but what if he really wants to go to school? if that's the case, I want to be prepared to do what he wants.

OP posts:
struwellpeter · 23/05/2008 14:10

He will just accept what you choose for him and won't know any different. We pretty well all have to accept our parents' educational choices for us...it's just the way things are. You can hardly ask a small child to make a decision. But knowing your child as you do you'll get a feeling about what sort of education would work for him.

EachPeachPearMum · 23/05/2008 14:13

Independent schools tend to have terms that are 10 weeks, rather than 12 or so- usually they break for holidays a week earlier than state schools, and return a week later- something to consider.
Of course- if you want somewhere where he can learn what he wants at his own pace, you need to be careful- some independents are very academically driven, and entrance even at very young ages is linked to ability/potential to achieve academically.
You will not sit well with the school if you expect him to approach their curriculum as your child sees fit!
Sounds like you want an 'alternative' type school really, rather than straight independent. Expecially in London, where competition for places is incredibly tough, and accordingly expectations of achievement are high.

Original poster
RoRoMommy · 23/05/2008 14:14

That's exactly what I mean. I'd like to try to tailor his educational experience to the kind of child, and the kind of learner, that he is.

OP posts:
legalalien · 23/05/2008 14:21

RoRo - will drop you an email - assume you're still at the same workplace? Is it OK if I use your work email (which I can find on the web)?

EachPeachPearMum · 23/05/2008 14:22

Maybe try posting on the education board for peoples' experiences of alternative schools/establishments?

Sorry- I have no experience in that field.

Original poster
RoRoMommy · 23/05/2008 14:24

Yes, legalalien, that's fine. Thanks!

That's a great idea, EachPeach. Will do. Thanks!

OP posts:
fannybanjo · 23/05/2008 14:27

We pay £350 a month for DD1 to go to private school. Makes it easier than paying a huge chunk out 3 times a year. She is in reception and the fees go up each year.

fannybanjo · 23/05/2008 14:29

Oops see you are looking more on the home-ed front! Go for it, I would love to do it but feel like my daughter needs to mix with children as she gets very bored.

Original poster
RoRoMommy · 23/05/2008 14:32

How many terms are in a year?

OP posts:
squiffy · 23/05/2008 15:05

3 terms a year.

I have to admit I am a very big fan of private ed, despite the cost.

Original poster
RoRoMommy · 23/05/2008 15:10

Squiffy, do you mind telling me what you like about them? Sorry if this seems obvious, I just want to get perspectives from all angles.

OP posts:
squiffy · 23/05/2008 16:33

Ok.

  1. Structure - he gets it in spades, it keeps him occupied, the day is used constructively
  2. They have 80 acres, including woodland. They have a lesson every day in the woods, come rain or shine.
  3. From 7-18 they will do 2 hours of sport every single day
  4. He gets stretched in ways I worry I would not have the imagination for (eg this week they are doing the tudors - DS is 3, BTW - this involves him learning all the childrens' games of the era, fancy dress, visiting tudor houses in the area, brass rubbing, attending a 'banquet', and putting on a tudor play)
  5. He has been there 9 months and I see a difference every single week in him - he talks happily to complete strangers, he is enthusiastic about everything, he eats anything, his conversation is littered with things like "please may I?" and random "Mummy, thank you for letting me watch Diego yesterday" and bizarre stuff like that which I certainly haven't reinforced in him....
  6. His teacher was a thalidomide baby and has only one arm, so he has learnt incredible lessons about disability and tolerance.
  7. There are 9 children in his class, with the teacher and a full-time assistant; both have been with the school for more than a dozen years. Apart form normal stuff, they have taught my son how to climb trees and how to roll themselves downhill effectively.
  8. All the children throughout the school are extraordinarily cheerful and seem genuinely happy.
  9. Most weekends are a flurry of playdates and parties and he has 28 friends (we counted) all of different ages across four school years.

I could go on and on and on. The school itself is very academic with brill results but that stuff is of less interest to me than the above.

squiffy · 23/05/2008 16:38

Have just re-read and guess most of what I say is quite specific to this particular school, but I think that's the point: with private you can decide what is important to you and seek out a school that exactly fits. I am sure you can probably also do this from a home ed point of view, but I think you would need to be fairly committed to do it as effectively (and I have huge respect for those home ed'ers who do).

Original poster
RoRoMommy · 23/05/2008 16:51

Wow.

I mean, wow. That sounds really great. I guess the key is to do lots of research and decide whether we could find for our DS the kind of experience we think he needs. [deep breath]

Thank goodness he's only 14 months old!

OP posts:
squiffy · 23/05/2008 17:08

Just seen a typo - my DS is 4, not 3 (but there are 3YO in his class).

I think in London you will get a fabulous choice of schools. We were very lucky to live in the sticks, but to have this place on our doorstep.

Not sure I'll be feeling so lucky in 10 years time, when I'll have two of them in the system and will be waving goodbye to the first £75k of my salary....

i'm not a Home Ed expert, but I am sure that if you are committed to this route, you can give your kids an even better experience than the very best school can offer. I'm just not sure that the average mum has that level of knowledge/commitment/patience (I certainly haven't) if so then I would think this is a great route to go down - and think of the money you don't have to spend and the career wheel you don't have to chase around... only you know what route will be best for you.