Need some help deciding whether to change dd;s school!

[gracebf]

My dd is currently in Reception at private school. We did not get a decent state school so has been at private school while on waiting list of outstanding state school. A place has recently come up and can't decide whether to move her. The financial side of things is not important as fees are covered by relatives who are happy to keep her in private.

Option 1 -keep her where she is. She is in a class of 12 (2 classes of 12)and very happy. However it is single sex. Goes up to 11 and would hopefully pass 11+. Good sports, music etc. Also great after school care for when I work.

Option 2-move her to outstanding state school. Class size of 30 (2 classes of 30 per year),advantage of mixed sex, poor after school care for working, good 11 + results.

I know the sensible thing to do would be to try out state as can always go back to private, but thats a lot of change.

My dd is quite emotionally sensitive and loves adult attention. She may cope fine at state but may also find it overwhelming.

The main issue for us is whether smaller class size outweighs benefits of boys and girls and more normal/relaxed atmosphere of state school.

Any advice/ideas welcome!

I think the sensible thing would be to keep her where she is happy and with a small class size and easy after school care. get her to do some sort of mixed sex out of school activity. Unless she is finding the "abnormal and less relaxed" atmosphere of the private school a problem then it strikes me as an easy decision.

I would keep her where she is. The only advantages of the state school seem to be the mixed sex bit (which is not really an issue if she has brothers /close family who are boys or she is a tomboy in which case she'd have more potential friends to choose from). You could always enrol her in a mixed sex activity after school activity?
Not all state schools are relaxed and not all private schools are pushy. Tbh if the state school has good 11 plus results I'd be asking how much exam preparation they do and how much homework they set because if your dd doesn't turn out to be academic then it could be a hinderance rather than help to her learning.

If money is not an option then 100% keep her where she is

if money is not a problem I mean

Dont move her!!!!

If money no option, I wouldn't move her either. My only concern would be her secondary education - is that likely to be private too? I could see that moving from a small class to a huge local secondary school might be one hell of a shock to the system.

Yes, I think you have already made a decision and need some confirmation - do what feels right for DD and you.

Thanks so much for your replies...it really helps to get some other viewpoints.

The plan for secondary is grammar school if she passes the 11+. If she doesn't, we are stuffed as there are no decent alternatives and cant fund secondary private. Things may chnage by then..fingers crossed.

I do really like her school but it is not a reflection of real life. Mind you neither is the state option due to the catchment area being very affluent. We are just outside the catchment area and have a modest income comapared to families at both schools.

I worry that later on during school life, that she will find it hard being the 'poor one' at private school.

She is a tomboy and loves playing with boys which is a real pull for state school. But she already mixes with boys out of school and will do so in future.

It is such a hard decision as is happy now but feel like she could really benefit from mixed sex education. But at what cost?

Just a thought, but before you finally decide, why not go on another visit to the other school? You could take your daughter with you to have a look if you thought that appropriate. Be interesting apart from anything else..

Visit the school again i agree.