Average independent school vs Outstanding state school

[momlondon]

Hello everyone,
I live in petts wood and my 3 yr old has been offered a place in bickley park for this year (in nursery).
The school is at 15 mins drive from my place. and I do not drive (will start taking lessons now!)..So will have some issues in drop and pick ups.
On the other hand Crofton school is just 7-8 minutes walk from my home and will be easy for drop and pick ups. (And much cheaper as well!)

I wanted to know if it is worth spending in an average private school (Bickley ) or better to send him to convenient state school(crofton) which is outstanding. I am aiming to get him into St. Olaves grammar school. Another option is to try for eltham college at 7 year old and then try for grammar.

I would love to hear from people who have kids going to bickley.. is it worth the money?I had attended the open day but crofton looks good as well.

An early reply will help a lot as I have to pay registration fees by this weekend.

Thanks in advance.

I have no knowledge of the schools in question, but my experience is that being a short walk from primary school is brilliant, in practical terms, friendships ( both for me and the children), even if I had an option to go for free to a private school a 15 min drive away I wouldn't do it. My kids love school and have such a positive attitude towards going, and learning and I truly think that feeling fully part of the community is a big part of this.

Playing in the nearby park most days after school on the way home means that friendships get made and strengthened beyond the 'playdate' friends.

It would depend how many children are possible grammar school children at the local state school. An Outstanding school does not mean a grammar place without lots of tutoring. Also, a prep may not be full of bright children either! Where are you going to fit in? Are you naturally prep school parents, or not?

I love the idea that you want to get him to the grammar! I assume you already know that he is very clever then? Lots of people put ambition above reality.

Crofton has a great reputation locally. Bickley Park shows good destination schools for leavers, including St Olaves. Bickley goes up to age 13 so you probably need to check at what age boys left Bickley for St Olaves. St O's may only take them at 11 years old, I don't think they have spaces at 13 years.

Eltham College may only prepare them for their own school at age 11. Ask their prep for a list of leavers' destinations.

The standard is so high for St O's that you will probably have to tutor whichever school he goes to.

Have you investigated if Bickley is able to provide the education to get the boys into either grammar or to the prep schools?

How much is actually done by the school or do parents have to tutor separately?

I personally find it always difficult to predict senior school when the child is 3. A happy child will learn easily at any school while some may not like the pressure of a hothouse or permanent tutoring for 7 years to come.

Why not use the state option and save your money for tutoring/extra curricular activities?

Personal choice, but I wouldn't spend money at priary level if there's an outstanding school on yoru doorstep. So much of what they need to learn at that age is basic development and socialising, which is much easier if you have local friends.

Save time and money. Get a tutr for the grammar/private secondary if that's a good option, in Yr 5 and 6.

I don't know these schools, but based on my experience, at primary age at least, it's good for kids to have school and friends on their doorstep. Going to a private school means their friends could be from a wide area and that makes play dates during term and during holidays more difficult. It's nice to be part of the local community around a state primary, imo.

Go for the one logistically more sensible. You can always review once you can drive and if the opportunity arises.

Many children thrive being 1 of 16 instead of 1 of 30. It really depends on your child (sorry, don't know those particular schools, but I know St. O by reputation).

All I can say is -don’t count your chickens. Where will he be happiest now?

We went the private route with a school in Chislehurst and live in Petts Wood but only because DD was sooooo ready for school we started her in pre-reception at a private school aged 3.5 and she was so far ahead and made friends we didn’t move her and she stayed. They also had a coach that picked her up from the front door and dropped her home which helped with childcare.

She had a great start in small classes of 13 that fed her thirst for knowledge but by end of Y2 she was so far ahead they didn’t know what to do with her so we were looking at other schools., also the gap became bigger as the best and brightest left for selective schools like Eltham or Dulwich or the girls to BH or JAPS etc, In hindsight we should have waited out for a place from Y3 at Crofton but I didn’t want to play chicken with places so we ended up at BH which wasn’t the best fit for our DD. I have lots of friends with children who’ve done really well at Crofton, it does really depend on the child. Crofton has some great opportunities due to its size and offers languages which some primaries that are smaller are unable to do, they get to go swimming at Darrick Wood and have a great relationship with the BYMT for music.

I know of a few boys who went through Bickley, lovely lads, DD knew their sisters. Most wouldn’t be looking at grammars but had sights set on Sevenoaks or Dulwich from 13. Check if they support grammar entry, I think Bickley focus on CE. Despite DD being at a private school for primary we did a lot of home familiarisation and some of her school friends had tutors as it isn’t taught as standard. Yes DD ended up at the grammar of choice which is closest to us but many of her school friends either wouldn’t consider ghastly (in one parent’s words) state education or just didn’t make the cut. Going private at primary isn’t a guarantee of a Grammar place. Crofton get loads into grammars as do Tubbenden and other local schools.