Got a place in catchment school after accepting offer from prep

[amy1008]

I never thought we could get a place in our catchment school. It's hugely oversubscribed. And according to the record for the last 5 years, we got no chance to get in at all. It's a very good school, with good Ofsted report, well above average results and all the parents I know are happy with it.
But the thing is, we accepted an offer from a prep school in January, paid the deposit, went to several stay and play sessions with DD already. Again, this is a very good school with good reputation and results. It has a linked senior school, so no need to 11+ in the future. DD loves it. She calls it 'my big school'. A few of her pre school friends are going too. It seems a bit unfair to change now.
So any suggestions? They are both good schools, both local to us. The prep offers more accitivities and clubs which is good because we can't take DD to after school activities due to long working hour. Financially we could afford it but not comfortablely.
Thanks

You are considering a school that bins "weeds" children at 8.

I agree. What if your DD gets kicked out in Year 4? Would there be a place in the primary school you have a place at now? Or would you have to go for another prep school? And would that one kick out at a different point/have higher fees, etc. There's a lot of unknowns to weigh up here!

Catchment.

You’re better off with a private school that commits to all its students from the start anyway without potentially making it very difficult at age 8.

And yes make sure you give that term’s notice which is now.

I would go for the catchment school.

Don’t worry too much about your DD, at age 4/5 they are more adaptable & flexible than we think and I’m sure she’ll be just fine after her first day or two at the new school.

Have a review of your finances, but IMO you should hold onto the money since the state school is good. Use it for nice family holidays during half term!

Also, ignore the previous rude poster. You are entitled to a choice.

Oh they won't kick students out. They can stay till the end of year 6, but need to find another senior school. It's kind common act for academic selective school around us.
Tbh, emotionally I like the prep school. But catchment school seems to be a much sensible option.

I am familiar with the private prep sector & next week parents who have paid the deposit will ring up schools with all sorts of excuses of why they are giving up their private reception place - often its along the lines of my husband's job is moving - but we all know is because they got the state place that they wanted. Just make sure you ring on Tuesday as you need to give a term's notice or you could be liable for 1 term's fees.
Re your dd, children are much more adaptable than you think, she will be fine & you can put the money away that you save for the future.

Just bump to ask a rather silly question. Dh and me got different options on 'affordable'.
So in short, we have 2.5k spare cash each month after mortgage and essentials. Our current saving could cover 1 year's fee. Termly fee is 3200 in receiption and 5000 in year 5 and 6. One child and no plan for having more.
I don't feel secure because if one of us loss job, it

Opps posted accidentally.
I don't feel secure but dh is much more optimistic than me. What do you think then?

That completely depends on what you mean by "mortgage and essentials". If you could easily put £2.5k in a savings account every month then that sounds very affordable, but the fact you only have £10k saved in total implies you don't do anything like that. If you save £2.5k between now and Sept you'll save a years fees in 4 months - not bad going.

I think it would be highly unusual to be able to support a whole family and pay private school fees out of one income. If we went for private schooling, that would inevitably mean committing to staying a 2 income family.

Unless I was minted I would never send a child to private school if a good state school was available to them. The fees Will go up, there will be uniform and trips and other activities that cost money too. Eleven plus tutoring isn’t anywhere near the cost of a private education, and being ruthless if a child isn’t going to pass the eleven plus they’d probably be one of the ones “weeded” out so you’d be looking to move for y7 anyway.

For wrap around care if the school aren’t offering the hours you need look for a local child minder or off premises after school club. In my area there are a couple of clubs which pick children up from the local schools.

I don't have much saving now because we upgraded our house last year. Currently we pay 1000 nursery fee per month and save 1k-1.5k roughly. We both intend to work full time in the future no matter private school or not.

Local club is a very good point. I'll have a look.

School feea go up by 5% per year and so will basically double between reception and upper sixth in most places.