Are prep school (Godstowe) parents snobby?

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My husband and I live in a modest 3-bedroom semi in a built-up area of our city. We do not want to, or rather cannot afford to, move.

We plan on sending our girls to private school as I really value education (being a teacher myself prior to having children).

Godstowe has fees of £13.5k-£22k annually. This is a choice we are making vs squirelling away for a bigger, detached house for example. We have savings (from inheritance) for boarding or even grammar and then sixth form boarding.

Will parents look 'down' on our humble abode/our girls? No doubt they have country piles with acres...we don't.

Does it really matter? The aim is to give your DC a good education. There are all different types of parents at all private schools. Godstowe does attract some very wealthy families, look at the fees and cost of houses in the nearby areas! Most DD go on to Boarding or local private schools so there are very many monied folk at this type of school. That doesn’t mean they won’t be friendly with you. I have quite a few friends who are Godstowe parents, most are wealthy, but I’m almost certain they won’t look down on anybody who lives in an average house.

Many moons ago I was the Godstowe girl from a modest semi whose parents remortgaged to send her there. Some of the parents were snobby and judgemental (so were some of the teachers!), but most didn't care. I was invited round for play dates after school, and they came to mine.

The difficulty came when I went to the grammar and they all went to Downe House, Wycombe Abbey, Cheltenham Ladies, etc. Mind you, this was before mobiles, internet and social media, so it's no wonder those friendships died given letter writing was the only way to stay in touch.

My DD is now at private and a surprising number of her friends live in similarly modest homes, with parents who make sacrifices for private education. I don't think you'll be the only ones at all!