Are less going private?

[clerkenthewall]

I just realised that none of the kids at my our primary are going private this year. There are 3 I know going to Tiffin Boys (and two of those weren't tutored so maybe their new style test is doing its job as the kids that scored highest on their old reasoning papers were tutored to death). All the rest are going to either Waldegrave, Orleans Park, Turing or RTS. A few years ago when my eldest was transferring there was more than 10% that went private to Hampton Boys or Kingston Grammar or Radnor House. Are other people noticing the same? It might just be a blip, but maybe there's a bit more choice of schools now which helps.

I think in this area there are lots of people who could just about afford private but it would mean lifestyle sacrifices .So if the local state schools are good enough they are the first choice. However people will make the sacrifices not to send their child to a mediocre or failing school.(or move). When the choice was orleans or TA people went out to view Hampton, Halliford ,Radnor and St James as back up and then sometimes we’re seduced into private even when allocated Orleans.

From my daughter's class, three out of 30 are going private. One to SPGS, one to Ibstock and one to Arts Ed. One child got into Tiffin Girls but turned it down in favour of SPGS.

A lot of people used to relocate to this area from further into London specifically to access good state schools. Having taken out huge mortgages it wasn't part of their plan to pay for private schooling as well. However maybe there are now more hugely wealthy people in the area than I realise! I just can't see how any couple can afford a house and private schooling unless they both work in the city or are partners in law firms or similar but perhaps I am out of touch. There are a few houses in my road that regularly change hands when a young couple buys them and then decides they are too small once they have had a 2nd baby after 2-3 years - I find it unbelievable that they have wasted tens of thousands of pounds on stamp duty and other moving costs for a very temporary house - they must be rolling in it!

Well, one of the children mentioned above is my daughter and she is going because she has received a very generous bursary.

We are not wealthy! But neither are we poor. I suppose we are the epitome of the squeezed middle!

I’m not sure, as the catchment for Orleans seemed to stretch further this year than usual so it looked like lots were turning down places at first and second offers. None of my sons class have gone private but I don’t think they ever do from our school, we're on the Isleworth/ st mags border and no rich families attend the school.

Don't forget there are lot of prep schools that have also expanded their numbers, 95% or more of their pupils continue to go private for secondary. Denmead is now Hampton Prep, it does guarantee a place at Hampton, but with a bigger site there will be bigger numbers and they go aged 11. I don't get the impression numbers sitting for private are down, a few years ago numbers were down for boarding schools, but those numbers transferred to the day schools. Also more may come from further afield too. The private school coaches start at Windsor one end and Chiswick/Fulham the other. However, now that sixth forms are in their third year it is interesting that four boys who were private turned up at Waldegrave for A levels and this is a trend that Waldegrave continue to see. Not sure about other sixth forms.

I meant 'does NOT guarantee' a place - my overall point being, there are clearly lots of wealthy people in the area, in my road it used to 70% state 30% private, now I would say 50% private from the start (the new people paying silly money for their houses), 50% state with some going private just for secondary.

When we went to the Waldegrave open evening a couple of years ago there were several boys from private schools that we spoke to. One of them (possibly the head boy?) gave a speech about how much nicer the atmosphere was than in his boys' school and how he'd been able to pursue his interest in counselling and start a group which could never have happened in his old school. My daughter was quite amused as she found the atmosphere at Waldegrave extremely pushy and rather stifling but she is very laid back and stress averse!