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Original poster

Move to independent school at year 3 - am I doing the right thing?

105 replies

munchymoo · 18/10/2022 21:50

DS is at an outstanding state primary, year 2, he's settled and doing well. DH and I were both entirely state educated and have done well with our respective careers. We live in north London so are considering Highgate, UCS, Habs, City amongst others.

We had always planned to switch to private for secondary as the local state secondaries are not great, but now we've decided to move DS next year into Year 3 (so he'll be sitting the 7+ exam soon).

The reasons for this are twofold. Firstly we live in a very competitive area for private schools and it seems that statistically he is more likely to get a place at 7+ compared to 11+ (our first choice is Highgate and the stats are something like 300 applicants for 100 places at 7+ and 900 applicants for 100 places at 11+), my fear is if we keep him at state and then he doesn't pass the 11+, we don't really have an option other than to send him to the local state comp (moving house isn't really an option for us).

The other reason for switching now is that he is a bright boy, he picks things up quickly and his maths is at least 1 year ahead of the current work they're doing in class, especially since doing the 7+ prep work. He comes home every day with sheets of colouring and when I asked his teacher why that is he said it's because he finishes his work quickly and it's to keep him occupied whilst he helps some of the children who are struggling. He said he would try and get some extension work set up but we've not seen this yet. Whilst I completely appreciate that there are a range of abilities and it is really tough for the teacher to manage 30 children, I also want to do the best for my son and allow him to achieve his potential.

DH is 100% pro moving him and says why wouldn't we if we can afford it? I oscillate between thinking the same, and then thinking he's at an outstanding school, he's happy, we have local friends and a great sense of community and I don't want him to grow up in a bubble, I value the fact that he is currently mixing with a wide range of children of different backgrounds and I am concerned that sending him to private school will quash that.

There is no right answer, and I realise opinions will be divided. Please could I ask for any opinions or anyone else in the same boat? For those who went private, do you feel it was the right choice? Am I mad paying for private education when my son is at an OFSTED outstanding state primary? I realise this is a fortunate position to be in. I'm really struggling, please be kind!

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Doubtmyself · 31/10/2022 23:16

Doubtmyself · 31/10/2022 21:15

Its interesting what you say @LondonGirl83 about these elite state secondary schools dominated by middle class parents avoiding fees.

If you look at a London borough like Southwark 2019 A -Level table, JAGS is top with Average point score per entry at 48.66 ( where an A is worth 48 points) Alleyns 47.94 and Dulwich College 47.16 , so far so expected.

State school like somwhere like Harris Girls Academy East Dulwich gets 26.06 and that's an Ofsted rated Outstanding school.

the best performing state school in the borough is Charter School North Dulwich, another outstanding state school, their Average point score per entry is 42.04, a huge difference between the Harris school and within spitting distance to the likes of Dulwich College, minus the £22K+ a year fees

Guess which one middle class parents flock to?

This happens across London, private schools on top, middle classed dominated schools second , then everywhere else.

What the table also shows how small ( in real terms) the gap is between an elite school like St Pauls Girls ( 52.23) and Jags (48.66) and an suburban, out of the way place, like Sydenham High School GDST(46.45) or Croydon's Old Palace Whitgift (42.96) The difference in fees and prestige is huge between the elite two and 'non-elite' two, but top and bottom are seperated by a mere 5.78 points .

Compare that to the lowest performing schools in their respective boroughs -Hammersmith: (15.58) Southwark (11.39) Lewisham (16.32) Croydon (16.50)

For stats on other schools (only in London, )see below, although for 2019 , I can't imagine they've changed that much.

www.standard.co.uk/news/education/school-league-tables-gcse-a-level-results-london-a4356301.html

The 5.27 diff ,is looking at St Pauls v Sydenham High. One gets 5.7 when comparing Jags V Old Palace.

guineapugs · 01/11/2022 00:27

Please send your child to a private school so his place opens up to a child who is waiting.

guineapugs · 01/11/2022 00:30

munchymoo · 21/10/2022 07:47

That’s a really good point about being able to spend more of the time doing extra-curricular activities like music, drama etc because the academic stuff is done more quickly owing to the selective nature of the school and the higher academics of the students.

Maybe I’m uncovering some socialist parts of myself that are struggling with the elite nature of it all - having been to state school myself - yet we work very hard, our money has not landed in our laps by any means.

I work very hard too. I just don't get paid very much. Just saying.

whattodo2019 · 01/11/2022 19:09

Definitely

Chocho87 · 29/08/2024 16:36

munchymoo · 18/10/2022 21:50

DS is at an outstanding state primary, year 2, he's settled and doing well. DH and I were both entirely state educated and have done well with our respective careers. We live in north London so are considering Highgate, UCS, Habs, City amongst others.

We had always planned to switch to private for secondary as the local state secondaries are not great, but now we've decided to move DS next year into Year 3 (so he'll be sitting the 7+ exam soon).

The reasons for this are twofold. Firstly we live in a very competitive area for private schools and it seems that statistically he is more likely to get a place at 7+ compared to 11+ (our first choice is Highgate and the stats are something like 300 applicants for 100 places at 7+ and 900 applicants for 100 places at 11+), my fear is if we keep him at state and then he doesn't pass the 11+, we don't really have an option other than to send him to the local state comp (moving house isn't really an option for us).

The other reason for switching now is that he is a bright boy, he picks things up quickly and his maths is at least 1 year ahead of the current work they're doing in class, especially since doing the 7+ prep work. He comes home every day with sheets of colouring and when I asked his teacher why that is he said it's because he finishes his work quickly and it's to keep him occupied whilst he helps some of the children who are struggling. He said he would try and get some extension work set up but we've not seen this yet. Whilst I completely appreciate that there are a range of abilities and it is really tough for the teacher to manage 30 children, I also want to do the best for my son and allow him to achieve his potential.

DH is 100% pro moving him and says why wouldn't we if we can afford it? I oscillate between thinking the same, and then thinking he's at an outstanding school, he's happy, we have local friends and a great sense of community and I don't want him to grow up in a bubble, I value the fact that he is currently mixing with a wide range of children of different backgrounds and I am concerned that sending him to private school will quash that.

There is no right answer, and I realise opinions will be divided. Please could I ask for any opinions or anyone else in the same boat? For those who went private, do you feel it was the right choice? Am I mad paying for private education when my son is at an OFSTED outstanding state primary? I realise this is a fortunate position to be in. I'm really struggling, please be kind!

Thank you for asking the question. I read through the discussion with much interest as i am agonising over the same dilemmas at the moment. May I ask how it all turned out? What decision you made and how you feel about it.🙏

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