Moving from private to state school

[orecheukbcc]

Hi all

I'd like to send my son to a private school for studying year 1 & 2. And go back to state school when his little brother start for reception in same state school.

What I wanted to find out is if anyone has made a similar decision and if it is worked out or not?

Thanks a lot for your reply!

Why do you want to do this?

for y1 & y2 in infant school?
waste of money.

friends did that (being sentimental as the dad went to the same school) then regretted spending the money that otherwise could've been saved for hobbies or private tutoring later.
especially that their DC was slighlty below pretty much at the same academic level as everyone else when in y3.
DC benefited nothing, but at least hated getting up earlier than our kids to travel to school.

Why 🤷

Are you saying that one child would have two years of private education and his brother wouldn't?
Are you the parent of both children? If so,
this seems unfair as well as pointless.

I really wouldn’t, why would you purposely set out to change your child’s school? Did they not get in?

Also, even with the best state school. You’re going to find it hard to swap (so will you’re son)

@ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba

for y1 & y2 in infant school? waste of money.

friends did that (being sentimental as the dad went to the same school) then regretted spending the money that otherwise could've been saved for hobbies or private tutoring later.
especially that their DC was slighlty below pretty much at the same academic level as everyone else when in y3.
DC benefited nothing, but at least hated getting up earlier than our kids to travel to school.

Thanks for your reply!

May I know that the academic level of a private school is not same as to a state school?

@orecheukbcc

I guess it should be, I don't know firsthand as it wasn't my child.
but the state school mine went to is exceptionally good (says Ofsted and 16 years of my kids going there) while the private school was not.
they made a heart decision instead of a head one.

their DC caught up quickly enough though as kids do at that age so no harm done to academic progress.

if you think your private school will give so much advantage academically that it's worth your money (and can afford it) then by all means go with private.
but it would have to have an amazing curriculum, extra-curriculum and Ofsted report going back years for me to fork out several grands at that age.

does that help?

All private schools are different. And all state schools are different. All schools should provide work at the level of a child, so each child is stretched. State schools are more constrained by the national curriculum so have to stretch children sideways (they can't give a Year 1 child work that would normally be done in Year 2, for example). However private schools may not be great at this either - my SIL was impressed when her very maths able child was given Year 3 work in Year 2 at a private school - only to see him have to repeat it in Year 3.
Do you really want a more academic school for a Year 1/2 child? Those years are all about settling in and developing a love of learning, not being forced to hit high academic standards.

but yes, as others have said - if you want to do this, why only for one child? Why would you move a child after Year 2, disrupting friendships? This might be more acceptable if Year 2- 3 was a natural break point at both schools so friendships were naturally shuffled. Actually, if Year 2-3 isn't a natural break point at your intended state school it's quite likely that your child won't get a place there anyway!

Both of mine are in private and Yr 1-2 are strange years to pick. Especially because at that age he will more than likely have a good circle of friends and then have to leave them.

Academically, most private schools are more advanced in their teaching, but by no means all. You do usually get a better all-round education because of the smaller classes, more staff available and very often better facilities (swimming pool, AstroTurf, etc).

I would either leave him where he is until Yr 3 and then re-assess. Or leave him until Yr 6. Both of these are natural breaking points. There seems no sense in removing him for two years and then putting him back. It's very likely that he won't gain any advantages by doing this.

Are you sure you would be able to get a place for him in the state school in year 3? In many popular state schools the class fills to 30 in reception and no further children are added in year 3. I wouldn't take a risk on other children leaving to free up a space, particularly as there could be a waiting list and you can move up and down the waiting list.

I would go the other way, state for early years and then private.

No, totally pointless.

What benefit are you thinking that would give? I can’t work that out. It seems like disruption for no gain.

You may not be able to get a place in the state school that the other younger child gets into. If you are going private id recommend planning to stay private for at least all the rest of junior school. Year 1 I agree is a strange entry point. Year 3 is more common and usually when there is access to specialised teaching and team sports etc.

It seems to be a quite odd move. Any reason behind it?

Save your money for secondary.

And agree you won't automatically get a year 3 place and could end up with kids in different schools.

I think that would be very disruptive socially for your child, yes people do change their children’s primary school, but usually for compelling reasons like a house move , and not twice in three years.
Nursery. )
Reception) state

Y1)
Y2) private

Y3 state

Unless there were huge advantages like excellent wrap around care for those two private education years I would think about the possible emotional and social friendship effect on your child. Especially if the state school you were dipping in and out of was the same one.

Most around here seem move from state to private in Y3. Once you’re out of state there’s no guarantee you’ll get a place at the same school so moving back may prove tricky.

For DC1 we did private R, Y1, then state Y2, Y3 but have recently returned back to private in Y4 as found lack of support in weak areas whilst in maths they weren’t being stretched. I wouldn’t recommend moving from prep to state unless absolutely necessary. Having said that all schools are different.

A million thanks for all reply! It's really useful for me!

I think I have decided to keep him in state school at this moment.

It's long story for me to have this difficulties and sorry about that I can't explain it in very details.

Thanks again for every advice!

@SpaceRaiders

Most around here seem move from state to private in Y3. Once you’re out of state there’s no guarantee you’ll get a place at the same school so moving back may prove tricky.

For DC1 we did private R, Y1, then state Y2, Y3 but have recently returned back to private in Y4 as found lack of support in weak areas whilst in maths they weren’t being stretched. I wouldn’t recommend moving from prep to state unless absolutely necessary. Having said that all schools are different.

Oh, do they feel good/ bad when change back to private?

You would be better off sending child to state school and paying for a couple of hours private tutoring to listen to him read and do number work with him. In reception he will make friends then you want to move him. He won't thank you for it.

Depends on your circumstances and the schools available to you but we did State Primary and Private secondary which was the right choice for us

We had a dc in dd3’s class who did this and was actually really behind (his mum told me openly and she wished she’d not gone down the path of assuming private was always better). Some might be but not all. I would save for private secondary but even then we decided against and have sent Dd to a requires improvement state school - honestly it’s fab and she’s predicted 7-9s in GCSEs. They’ve been exceptional during lockdowns too. It was the right choice for our Dd but you need to look at schools and your dc and make that decision.

We made exactly the same mistake, started our son in a private prep school during the early years and didn't realise how bad his school work was until the second lockdown started in January 2021.

He isn't a child who will ask for help and is quiet. We realised the private school just didn't bother and he was forgotten left behind.
The prep school was also more interested in sport ,arts and drama areas that made nice photos on social media and for their marketing .

Now moved him to a state primary school and they've been far more supportive . The structure and systems they have in place has been far more beneficial for classwork.