when do I tell school ds is going private?

[mamadou]

Hi Mnetters, I just wanted to ask when those of you, who have moved your DCs from state school to private, informed the school of your intentions?

My DS is in reception, so no immediate rush, but we are thinking of 7/8+ for him. When is the right time to mention it? Should I be upfront from now?

Thanks

No do not tell them now.

Wait until the end of his final academic year with them and then drop a letter in to the school office. However, the other school may want his records before then so just liase with them as to when to do it.

Agree with jaq don't do it beforehand. A weeks notice would mostly be enough.

Agree with both posts above.

Only reason you might tell them sooner is if you need to get references, reports or exam results from the state school. We had to do this recently when moving abroad and so, for a few weeks, the school knew we were trying to move DCs but it wasn't certain until the last minute.

On a previous occasion we moved one of older DCs from state to private at very short notice. It's not uncommon.

I think it might put some backs up in the state primary if you make a lot of the fact that you plan to move DS when he's 7 or 8. Better to tell them later rather than sooner.

Or you could move now and free up a place at what is presumably an excellent oversubscribed primary school for someone who really needs it?

I suggest you tell them that it's a possibility once the selection process becomes active, so that the head doesn't hear the first about it when a request for a reference comes in.

Do not act now, there are 3-4 years to go: anything could happen in that time.

Seeker, the OP has paid her taxes presumably and is entitled to a place. Just because she can afford to go private at some stage doesn't mean she should have to be made to feel guilty for 'taking up someone else's place'.

Obviously when the time comes it's nice to give decent warning so another family can prepare their child for a move though.

Why would they need to know now?

Why would you want to go private at 7 but not at 4?

indigobell to save £40,000+ in fees ....

Quite a few preps only start at 7 which may be a reason. Some pre-preps are co-Ed up to that age and then single sex so quite a lot of movement anyway. Also depending where you live you may have an infant school so you have to move at 7 anyway.

Ooooh - I wish I were in this situation. Am aiming for something like this within the next year

Ok thanks for your replies. I will keep quiet for now and only mention it when necessary.

Coccyx, I relise there is no need to tell them anything, I just didn't know if it was really rude not to mention it, when I know that's what I'm planning.

The school isn't oversubscribed, 28/30 places are taken.

I wouldn't tell them until you've a place you know you're going to accept. We had every intention of moving DS at 7 and have now kept him in his state school as it's completely fab, and I'm so glad I never said anything. That's a good enough reason for me to not have sent him private at 4. I'd never have known that I couldn't have sent him to a great school for free.

Absolutely she has a right to. But with rights come responsibilities. It's important that people make decisions fully aware of the impact that decision might have on others.

In the area we live, schools tend to have a closing date for applications in early November the year before (so for example Nov 2011 for Sept 2012 entry). Most then interview in January. they require a report from the current school before the interview date, so realistically i think you will need to notify the school by the closing date for applications. It might also be worth-while notifying a bit earlier as you might want to take your child along to the odd open morning which tend to happen earlier in the Autumn term.

If it is competitive entry, i think it is worth getting a feel from the current school of likelihood of success at a parents evening before you apply, so depending on timing of parents evenings that might dictate your timing.

Re the rights and responsibilities point, I think it can depend a lot on where you live. We are in central London where there is a lot of turn-over for all sorts of reasons, moving to private being only one of them. My own DCs have been in private sector from 4, but I understand that in reality the best state schools in the area (which are the ones that tend to be very over-subscribed) tend not to lose many to the private sector at 7/8+.

Delightful debating style there!

I gave a term's written notice for DD who moved for yr3, but the school knew it was on the cards before that because of having to give them as a reference, and she also did a taster day as part of the application process.

I would let them know at the very least half a term in advance because that is roughly when they are allowed to allocate the place to someone else if there is a waiting list.

Another reason someone might go private at 7 but not at 4 is distance. If the private school is quite far away that might be a bit much to deal with for a reception age child but not so bad at 7 when lift sharing and longer days are less of a problem.

thanks

mamadou Be very careful. You do not want your DS to be "different" in any way. Do not mention private school to the state school staff or even the other mums on the school run. This topic sometimes brings out the worst in some people. Keep your mouth shut and your options open. The right time to mention this is AFTER you've left if that's at all possible.