King Edward Bath Vs Beechen Cliff School.

[Qurrat]

Hi! My son just got an offer from King Edward school bath in year 7. It's an independent school and is actually very expensive. I had applied for bursury but didn't get any. I'm not living in bath at the moment so my son will be travelling from Trowbridge to King Edward. I just wanted to ask that is it really worth the money? I'll be paying £1000+ a month which means that I'll have to cut down on almost everything. The other option is Beechen Cliff which is a state school but I've heard a lot of good things about it. My son is really very talented and I want the best for him. I really want guidance. Need to know before making the decision. I don't want to regret in the end and really don't want to get the same output that I can get at Beechen Cliff. Please advice. X

I went to KES (admittedly 20 years ago, and only for A levels) and wouldn't personally put myself through financial hardship to send my DSs there. But it's not possible for me to say whether or not it would be worth it for you. The facilities are v good.

I have several friends with DSs at Beechen Cliff, and have heard a lot of v positive things about it from them. But if you are in Trowbridge, which is West Wiltshire, I don't see how your DS would get a place at an over-subscribed state school in BANES?

Yeah that's the problem. But few boys from our area have already secured a place in Beechen Cliff because they give 20% admissions to the boys from other counties. In Trowbridge, the state schools are not good. There's one at Bradford on Avon but it is over subscribed as well so I have no choice but to send my DS to King Edward. But can you tell me the major difference between a 5 star state school and an independent school. £1000 is a huge amount and I just don't know what to do! Do the private schools really groom and mould your child and make them better as compared to the rest! Is it really worth the money? What's your personal experience say?

Ah, I see. I can only go on my own experience and those of my friends at the school.

One good thing about private school is that, generally, the bar is set pretty high - there was an assumption that we would all go on to university and get good professional careers. People's aspirations were therefore along those lines, and most were willing to work hard and achieve good grades in order to make it happen, so there was no stigma to being bright or working hard and being ambitious. Also, the ability was generally pretty high.

Some of the teaching was excellent - I had 3 superb English teachers, for example. But some of it was just ordinary - you can't assume that the teaching is going to be better, although the staff:student ratios will be better. And as I said before, the facilities are very good.

Having said that, I am in contact with several friends from my year at school, and none of us are what I would call super high-flyers. We mostly have good, professional jobs, but we're not exactly running the country! I wouldn't say therefore that the school will 'mould your child and make them better as compared to the rest' - and in any event, I am not at all convinced that a school should be doing that or that it would be desirable.

As I mentioned previously, I would not put myself through financial hardship to put my DSs through KES if they had places at Beechen Cliff. But you may feel that it is worth it. Just bear in mind that many children at the school will be from wealthy families - but there will be many also whose parents are making sacrifices to send them there. Also, that presumably you could apply for bursaries or scholarships again at a later stage if your DS goes to KES?

Thank you for the reply. I'm totally convinced with every word you're saying. But again being a parent I just want the best for my child. If he gets a place in Beechen Cliff, I would think about it, but if he doesn't, I'll have no choice but to send him to KE. I can afford to break my neck in terms of money but I can't afford him to get spoiled and useless in a good-for-nothing state school.
I had applied for bursary with my initial application at KE but unfortunately it was declined. They said we have application that are more worthy of getting a bursary. DS did not qualify for the scholarship or else they would have let us know. Can we apply for bursary and scholarship at a later stage as well?
What might be the other expenses that come with the private schooling? Do u have to pay for extra curricular activities as well or is it all included in the fee? How about trips to other cities and countries? Is it mandatory to go to such trips or u can opt out from it if u want?
What do u think a normal household income should be to afford private education. KE is £12000 a year. I am asking you as you've had private education yourself and you're in a better position to answer. I want to know whether I'm making a sane decision or not!

Of course - I think that most parents want the best for their children

I would, hand on heart, quite happily send my DSs to Beechen Cliff rather than put myself through financial hardship (or even stretch the finances uncomfortably). It is a great school, sons of friends are doing v well there, and it is very geared up for teaching (and feeding!) boys - the school has done a lot of research into how boys typically learn best, and has tried to tailor its approach. (This is what I have heard from friends who have sons there.)

I also think that the school is only one factor - it's not an automatic assumption that your DS will get 'spoiled and useless in a good-for-nothing state school', surely? If he is bright and well-motivated and well-supported, there is plenty of scope for him to achieve highly - he won't be the only one wanting to make the best of it, although not all of the students will be like that.

I would be very surprised if being turned down for a bursary or scholarship at this stage meant that you couldn't apply again later - at 13, for example. And it would be worth doing, as the fees are fierce. You would find yourself paying out quite a lot on top of the £12k basic fee - many (but not all) extra-curricular activities will be extra, and trips also. The trips are also quite likely to be inherently costly - trips abroad rather than in the UK, for example. I doubt that they'd be mandatory, though - I went on all of mine, but can't imagine that it was obligatory. There may well also be a fund that could provide assistance with that sort of thing. The uniform can also be more expensive than you might expect, although good second-hand uniform should be widely available.

It's quite hard to say what level of household income would be needed for private schooling - it would depend on how much your housing costs etc. are. I would just say that we have a household income of around £100k (and a fairly normal level of mortgage, I think - nowhere near the amount that the bank would have let us borrow) and don't think that's enough - but then, we have 3 DSs, so it would be a huge financial commitment (and one which, as I've said before, I am not at all convinced is worth it). We could increase our household income if I were to work full-time instead of part-time - but that isn't something that I'm prepared to do. I'd rather spend more time with them, and spend the money saved on school fees by going on great holidays and lovely trips/experiences. But that is a very personal view, and others would prioritise formal education.

Big decision - best wishes with it.

I'm seriously clueless!! I so agree with what you're saying but just dread the environment at my local state school. Guess I should wait until May when I'll finally hear from the council about the decision they have made about DS school.
Do u have any idea about late entry in Grammar schools? There are two that I know of. One is in Salisbury and the other in Gloucestershire. Would that help if I move into the em catchment area of the school? Will they still consider late entry?

I have a boy at BC and they get many of the extra curriculum opportunities provided at KES - the cadets is actually shared. It is a fantastic school - it got excellent across the board yesterday in the latest OFSTED. It is massively over subscribed for all its catchment criteria though (sporting excellence, south of City catchment, north of City catchment and outside of City). They have excellent teaching standards too.

What you don't get is the smaller classes that you would at KES. KES is a good school and the facilities are better IMO but can be ruthless with kids that don't meet the academic standards in Y9-10.

If you don't get in for Y7 you could always apply in later years - I have a couple of friends whose boys have joined Y8 and Y9.

Remember there is corsham school too (have another DC there and that's great too but in a completely different way).

I am convinced though that a child that is going to do well at school will do well regardless of the school itself. Is it worth the drive into Bath each day? Commuting across the city takes 45 mins and you've got the journey in too. And him being away from friends for all the fun that happens on the walk home? Learning to travel on public transport and buy food, get to places on time? Secondary school is about so much more than results.

I hope you get the right solution for you and your boy.

And the answer to extra curriculum spend is, it depends on the activity. Some are free and some you pay for at both schools. Both schools have expensive uniform and sports kits. I spend a lot more on this sort of thing for the DS at BC than the DS at Corsham. Allow a couple of grand each if you want to get him involved in lots of things - and more if you're thinking trips to China and South Africa. Both have fantastic opportunities to travel at ££££. Other state schools aren't the same.

Go to open days. They really do show what the school, and the pupils, are like.

That's the only thing that is making me scared. £12000 is a huge amount and if you need to pay for extra curricular activities and trip etc on top of that, it's going to be a complete rip off. Travelling on the daily basis is another challenge. Train fares plus the school transportation to and from the station costs extra money. £1500 a month is what I have calculated so far. To be honest, I'm not from a RICH background so I'll definitely be killing every need of myself, my husband and my kids to get DS this sort of education. And then I think that is it really worth all of these hardships? DD is in year 1 at a state school in Trowbridge and fortunately has five years until she starts high school, so yeah, it's a bit of a relief.
Anyway, I'll keep trying for Beechen Cliff. If there's a possibility of getting in year 8 9, it's definitely a good news. Would consider moving to the area if that helps getting in.
Can someone tell me about Grammar School late entry? How are Bishop Wordsworth and Pates. Grammar School? Do they consider late entered if you're new in Salisbury or Gloucestershire? I'll ring them on Monday morning to find out about late admissions.

No idea about grammar schools.

I imagine there is competition and they would be full. Same as all the other good schools which aren't grammars but attract able students.

If you move into Bath you will have access to a large number of excellent schools - many academies. BC, Ralph Allen, St Greg's, Hayesfield and Oldfield Park are all great schools with different focuses. All would provide a brilliant opportunity for a child who wants to learn.

But you could move into BoA and Corsham and get brilliant schools at a cheaper house price

Year 7 is such probably less about the academic and more about finding confidence and friendship groups IMO.

IMO not worth making sacrifices for the whole family for private opportunities.

My DH was at private school and failed all A-levels at one point! I went to a crap, old rough comp and got 5 a-levels. We both earn the same! And both earn over national average.

To me peer group, and whether their pals will lead them off the rails was more important than anything else when looking at schools. Then what other opportunities were provided.