State vs Independent

[Mumblesabout]

My husband and I are currently debating this. We have an offer from a lovely north london independent school that we really like for our DD and we have accepted and paid the deposit for reception. It was a great feeling getting the offer and of course with all the buzz around you did feel as though you’ve won a prize. Now however the excitement has calmed down a bit we’re feeling unsure of our decision and are wondering if we made the right choice. Some of it is an insurance policy should we not get the state school we prefer, but we don’t know what we’ll do if we do get the state school we prefer as it is very good.

Is anyone else in the same situation? Are we going to be the only ones doing this? Are we insane? Our logic is that we will be losing £3k now but saving a great deal of money in the longer run to spend on things that will enrich our lives (travel, extra curricular, life experiences, less stressed parents). We would apply potentially for grammar school or independent schools at 11+ with tutoring.

@ISW2022 i too am now debating the 7+. Do you think that channing would help prepare for it, it seems very soft compared to what you hear about the requirements for the 7+? Maybe I’m overthinking it

@ISW2022 if she got WL at SHHS that must mean she was their level just not enough places. 7+ is still a lot of work though. It’s not like 4+, they’re little and it’s a lot to cover, allY2 and most Y3 curriculum. 11+ prep in a prep is easier as everyone’s doing it and kids are more mature but prob more competition

@Mumblesabout they won’t. I remember them being quite clear that their philosophy is about being an all-through school (which is one of the reasons why we applied tbh).

@Frogusha agreed. Who knows, we might fall in love with Channing and if she is happy, decide it’s all just silly parental ambitions anyway 😬☺️

We decided to wait until Secondary for private and for us it was absolutely the right decision. Our first dc did the 11+ and will be going to Godolphin and Latymer in September. If you get into a good state option near you, take it. But keep in mind they are not good with sports, where as private schools the are big on the sports. Not a problem though, as you can always support sports outside of school. Also, you need to make sure you prepare well for the 11+ and cover the topics needed. Many parents we know applying from different state schools did not have luck for the 11+. The head will not be able to give you any feedback or direction from state school. It is all doable though, as long as you speak to others, research etc when it comes to 11+ time.

My kids are older and I’ve been through 11+ for two (and 7+ for one). Don’t underestimate how competitive it becomes for the top schools (but it’s easier to get in from a state school than mid tier private). Having said that, I’d go for Channing. I know plenty of girls who’ve been there and they are all incredibly well rounded, bright and sociable. Most of them got all 9s in their GCSEs so in terms of ‘doing better’ I think it’s important to remember that our league table obsessed world as parents isn’t always an indication of how an individual will do at a given school. Plenty of the kids I know who go to ‘better schools’ achieved a much more mixed bag of grades.

Some rather cynical friends are strongly of the opinion that many preps go slow in Reception and Year 1, with more play-based activities allowing the children "to be children", in part to make it more difficult for them to leave at 7+. Then they get to work in the second term of Year 2. Your call whether you believe this....

@Chickensoup4567 great to hear about your experience and you’re affirming our original intentions for applying to Channing in the first place.

We did state all the way with DS getting into a SS grammar at 11 and now at Oxbridge. It meant we had money for plenty of holidays and enrichment, I was able to stay part time until they were both at senior school.