Fitting in at independent school..

[Amc90]

Hello mums!

I'm looking for some advice! Due to various frustrations with my DCs primary school, I decided to look into independent schools, in the hope of finding a school we could really fall in love with. She is in primary 4, but started school at 4 and a half, and is just about to turn 8.

I spoke with a few and have arranged visits to two of them who would be able to consider a bursary at her age and in our circumstances. Anyway, since then I discussed the whole thing with family and my dad has agreed to contribute the savings he has for her (intended to pay her through further education when she's 18) which would probably cover her fees for the next few years at least, should I find somewhere, which I don't doubt I will be able to as I have really great feelings about the ones I'm going to visit. Obviously the being able to pay fees without assistance changes things a great deal from my point of view, as it wouldn't be a case of hoping we would be lucky enough to be awarded a bursary. Which leads me to my question..

Will she fit in? I don't know if this is more in my head than anything else, but I'm a single mum, currently at uni for the next 4 years or so. I live in a small rented 4 in a block and drive a 15 year old car, and wonder if putting her into a place where she will be like a fish out of water could be a perilous mistake and it's really worrying me. I've read through everything here already and it seems like such a mixed bag of opinions. It worries me even more that she could miss out on a fantastic potentially life changing Education, but I wouldn't want her to have to sacrifice her happiness to get one either.. We do get by alright we go on holidays and live in quite a nice area etc.. but I worry the fact that her life is just so different from the other kids there that I should just scrap the whole thing.

The only other option would be to try to find another primary school we like then try to move into the catchment area, but she has a lot of good friends from where we live who go to different schools she plays with and has a good life where we are, other than school! There are 2 other primaries near us which are full at the moment, and neither are very good.

I'd love to hear your opinions!

X

Personally as you are renting I would look to move into a good high school catchment - surely that must be less than the £1000 per month you will be commiting to school fees for the next 8 years. Would that not be the more stable and secure option?

I'm not too far from South Queensferry!

Renting in an area for a good school will cost in excess of £1000 per month in Edinburgh. My friends are renting on East London Street at the moment in a tiny flat and are paying I believe £1150pcm. Also, I don't have that kind of disposable income by any means, my dad has savings for her education which were intended to pay her through uni, not sure he would be forthcoming about using it to pay my rent!!

If anyone does have school suggestions I'd be happy to hear them especially something with wraparound care as that's something I would need x

DS is at Tollcross so that's not much use to you from S Queensferry, although there are good transport links if you do think about moving.

I am thinking moving may be my best option.

She was never going to Queensferry high I had always intended to submit an out of catchment request but upon doing some research this morning I might not be able to do this? Have seen a flat near Blackford which is affordable and in Gillespie's high catchment. Not sure if I'd be compromising on quality of life though, as the freedom she has here she wouldn't be able to have in the city, not at her age anyway!

blackford is a great - on the edge of the city but close to the outdoors, nice hills, walks, and lots of great amenities in the area (clubs/ commie pool etc). You could do a lot worse than moving there.