State vs. Independent

[BoojaB]

OK, I'm sure this has been debated many times, but I'm considering sending my daughter (currently two years old) to a private school.

We have an excellent state primary within walking distance, but the success rate of application is only 50%, with priority for siblings (we don't have another child at the school). It's also very C of E, which is off-putting for us.

The next nearest state school is awful. It's failing and it's very, very rough.

So, do I keep fingers crossed for the first state primary, or do I go private to be on the safe side?

We could just about manage the fees, but I'm worried about all the additional costs.

Hmmmm.

Thanks for reading!

B.

The thing is that fees at independent school are not very expensive at nursery or reception age. They get progressively more expensive. So, if you plan to go private all the way through, do you have a plan as to how to afford it?

Because providing the finances work, it's a no-brainer

Do what you think is right for your child. Remember that school fees rise yearly, sometimes by 3.2%, sometimes more. There's added extras (uniform, lunch, music lessons, trips, fundraising) so remember to account for these, the uniform is about £400 new but schools often have second hand uniform on sale. If you decide to have another child then you need to work out how you are going to fund another set of school fees aswell.

If the state school can provide all you are looking for then go for this option first, it's cheaper.

Go and look at the private school, is it less religious than the C of E one? Don't be taken in by a lick of paint, or a smart dress code.

Actually I would suggest: look around the private school, then look around the state school again.
You could then come to three conclusions:

1. private school is overwhelmingly better and you much prefer it;
2. They are kind of even (or private slightly preferred);
3. You prefer the State school.

In situation 1 assuming you can afford it, the decision should be obvious.
Similarly for decision 3.
For decision 2, you might want to apply as a back up (but can be costly if you withdraw), or you might be like me and decide for the State as you'd rather keep the money for Uni, tutors, whatever.

Good luck, hope this helps.

One of our local schools upped fees by 10% this year even though they have a falling roll. I would factor a 4% increase as average. Our school had no increase last year and a 3% increase this.

Uniform needn't be expensive - private schools usually have very good second hand sales. Even buying new ds's uniform was cheaper than his state school counterpart (friends held hostage by parts of school uniform only being available to purchase from the school at exorbitant prices). Having said that boys uniform is significantly cheaper than girls. For example ds's shorts can be purchased from M&S or elsewhere for less than £8 a pair. The girls' kilts cost £60 and are only available from school outfitters. Same for summer dresses at £40 a pop.

I did a spreadsheet to calculate fees for the whole of primary school to see if I could afford it (allowing for fee increases too).

BoojaB, is it definitely the case that if your DD doesn't get a place at the C of E school, the only state school at which she would be offered a place is the rough one? Have you looked into whether there are any other state schools, perhaps slightly further away, that she might be able to get into? Also, sorry if I am raising something that isn't relevant to you, but are you sure that you are not going to have any more children (or have you factored private school for a second child into your calculations)? At the risk of stating the obvious, paying for a first child to go to private school and then having another child for which you couldn't provide the same would give rise to all sorts of issues.

Wow! £250 a month! Where do you live? We are moving. Ours is double that.

BoojaB- You could always put her name on the waiting list of the good state school, then use the private one until a place became available.

£250 a month??? Christ, mummmyloveslucy - move over I'm coming through, ours is 2.7 a term for pre prep and 4.5 for prep (going up a bit in sept I think)
OP I would say if you can afford it go for it - there are so many advantages that are not even apparant at such a young age.
Otherwise there is nothing to stop you putting your name in for both and seeing if you get your first choice.
You may lose your deposit but if you put her start date at the private as Jan you shouldn't lose a terms fee.
Good luck

Do you know how far you live from the state school relative to how close to it people usually have to live to get in? - the success rate may be 50% overall, but if you live very near to the school you might have a much better chance than that.

Also worth looking at both schools closer to the time. Just because a school is private doesnt mean that it will be better.

Go and look at the private and see what you think of it, then decide. You can apply and then apply for a state place too and see if you get a place there - our deposit was £500, so not so much in comparison to fees if you decided not to go ahead.

Uniform costs vary widely - have just bought all of DS's school uniform for yr R except shoes, and it was £180 for everything inc coat, bags, sports kit, towels. But it does have to be considered. The school DS is going to includes wrap around care, and the trips are OK priced - have a look at their website for that sort of thing, and if there is a designated uniform shop, they will tell you how much a uniform tends to come to

Agree with quattrocento:
calculate the cost from 4/5 to 18 yrs (about £130,000?) and factor in sending other children private too, if you are having more.
It's relatively easy to judge private schools - just see where the leavers go.
So then, it's all a matter of money.

What's the problem with it being C of E? If you're worried about "religious indoctrination", then relax. Most C of E schools have little more religion than any school had back in the 60s/70s. My own DC attend a church primary and they seem to learn more about other faiths than about the C of E!

How 'rough' is the rough school. My dds are at a school considered 'rough' but the behaviour inside the school is impecable.

Also, reading everything written on mumsnet, I am now beginning to think that it's a wonderful school!

Our dds have been stretched, they have not been made to read every reading book ORT ever produced, they have been in small classes (because the chattering classes avoid it) and - despite having Oxbridge educated parents - they're not the brightest there.

Some of the parents are very committed; we are the only school in the area to have a full governing body.