To move DD from state to private school?

[Sweettooth1]

I'm thinking of moving my 7 year old DD to Barnard Castle School (a private school) next year when she moves into year 4 from a local state school.

One of the main reasons is because our local state secondary school has a horrible reputation for bullying, fighting and the offsted results are not good, all the parents I speak too are very nervous about the move from primary to this feeder seconardary school.

Our DD is naturally quite quiet, sensitive and a really kind girl and feel the school could really have a detrimental affect on her.

She's currently quite average academically but below average in maths, so feel she could also benefit from extra support from an earlier age and also hope moving her in year 4 would mean she doesn't find the move as upsetting as she would at age 11.

Does anyone have any experience of private school/Barnard Castle school and could tell me how your child managed moving from state to private around this age? Was making friends easy? I think this is one of my biggest concerns regarding the move, my DD is very sociable and liked by her peers but she's not bossy or a natural leader which can sometimes mean she feels left out, I'd hate for her to be upset if she couldn't make any good friends.

I went to private and moved to state grammar (top 20 school in the country) when my parents spent my school fees getting divorced.

State school is shit. If you can go private, do it.

Barnard Castle is a v good school as far as I know - not a hothouse but academically strong and nice kids.

Moving schools at 7 will be fine.

Just check with them on the VAT rises..

I think a key issue will be the entrance exams. Do you think she would pass them?

My daughter just moved to private in year 5. I wish I’d moved her sooner. I tried to get her a place earlier but there was nothing. She’s doing ok but would be so much better had I moved her in year 3 or 4 as the issues at her state school really started in year 4.

We visited Barnard Castle and loved it. The children and teachers all seemed lovely. Sadly logistics mean it would only work for senior!.
DS moved to private at age 7 due to bullying in our local outstanding state primary (rural means very limited/no state options). He's a completely different child now. I only wish we moved him sooner.
Having said that, uncertainties surrounding VAT etc are stressful. Fees have also increased by 10% each year for the past 2 years, and that's on top of the standard increases incurred as you move up the school years. Cost of wraparound and other extras have greatly increased too, so perhaps just check what their previous fee increases have looked like and if they have an idea about how they will deal with the VAT issue (sorry, I realize this is not the question but it's worth thinking about).
If easily affordable I don't think you would regret the move. We had a few new joiners from state in y4 and they all seem well settled :)

I'd get her a tutor/give her some extra support to bring her up a bit as the private school will be working at a higher level and you don't want her going in miles behind everyone else and it knocking her confidence.

@NuffSaidSam , I don't think that's necessary for Barnard Castle. My friends dc moved there from state primary and it was all absolutely fine. They fitted in and made friends easily. There are dc moving in and out of the prep years all the time for so many reasons as at most prep schools.

As others say my concern would be the vat on fees.

We moved DS into private at 11 and our only regret was that we couldn’t afford to do it sooner.

Thank you everyone for your responses they've been very helpful :)

I will definitely be checking with them regarding VAT on fees, but that shouldn't affect us being able to send her.

@redrobin75 that's great to hear, I had hoped they wouldn't be too strict regarding entrance exams but we have a tutor starting in September to help bring her maths up to standard before starting.

@1543687657lM I'm glad to hear private has done wonders for your DS and he's now happy :)

We’re in the process of making this move for very similar reasons (albeit in a different area) and DD will be starting in September for year 5. Whilst she’s not started yet, one of the things that’s really helped her getting prepared is linking in early with some other parents and getting play dates etc over the summer. Combined with taster days, she already feels like she knows people which I’m hoping will really help when she starts.

Our friends at Barnard Castle are very happy, we didn't send our children there as we didn't like the idea of going to school on a Saturday. We moved both our children Year 4 to Cundall Manor just between Thirsk and Ripon and they couldn't have been happier and have done really well academically - it's a brilliant school and very nurturing. I am not sure where you live but it may be worth having a look at a couple of schools as they are all quite different to see what would suit your daughter best. We sent ours on taster days before committing. Lots of the schools have good bus runs.

Just popped on to say private schools seem to get a lot of turnover of children as families move for jobs, divorce, etc and in my experience are excellent at integrating new children so don’t worry at all about her joining at a non-standard entrance point. Good luck.