Accept offer at 4+ or save and wait?

[Waffletoast94]

If you were lucky enough to get an offer of a place at 4+ would you take it and stretch financially or wait until 7+ or even 11+ when places more limited?

If you did accept a 4+ place and stretched would you stand any chance of getting a bursary later?

We're considering Ducks, DPL, Alleyns.

No places are limited anymore due to VAT hikes. You can take your pick nowadays

If you are 'stretching' now, how will things be after 7yrs in Prep School? Fees typically go up each year from anything from 5%-9%. Have you taken this into account. Plus there is no guarantee your child will get a bursary at Y7.

There are no real bursaries in prep.
I don't think there is a one size fits all approach but the seven plus is the worst exam ever, it is a nightmare to get a six-year-old to prep, unnecessary pressure and the kids themselves don't know what they want.

I'd take the place. It's expensive but you have that peace of mind that you have a place, and don't have to deal with 7+ or 11+. Places at schools like Alleyns are never going to be easy to get regardless of the VAT situation, there are still plenty of South London families with enough resources that it won't put them off.

Thanks all. Yes we have factored in fee hikes on the long term. When I say “stretch” now, we can make the fees but it does require some lifestyle adjustments. Obviously they’d be long term ones we’d be committed to. At 7+ entry we’d have more contingency. At 11+ it’s a very comfortable proposition. So really I suppose the question is how “worth it” are those early prep years holistically from an education pov as well and the peace of mind of having a place knowing that that’s ultimately the education we want for our LO.

Very personal and feels there’s no right answer but I agree that at these schools I’m not sure the VAT hike has had an impact, I think they’ll always fill places.

Appreciate the input on the 7+ exam too.

Having had all mine in private prep from reception, I don’t think I would bother again until 7+. I honestly don’t think there was a huge difference between the kids who came in at 7 and those that had been there from 4. It’s years 5 and 6 that matter in terms of 11+ prep.

Personally - and I went to private school 11+ unless your area is well known to have terrible state primaries or your child needs additional support in terms of small class sizes then save your money and wait

If you can afford it and you know you want them to go to one of those schools later on, definitely take the place.

For the schools you’re looking at, 7+ and 11+ , it’s just not true that VAT means there are places. I don’t know so much about DPL, but DC and Alleynes are still massively competitive.

To my mind the small class sizes and individual attention is even more important when your kids are tiny than later on. That way you can be sure that the foundations are right in all subjects. So, go for it.

I mean, this is like, categorically incorrect. All the competitive schools remain competitive with upwards of 8 applicants per place

@getsetdadwhich schools?

Agree they are still v competitive, but 8 apps per place is not true of all. Maybe WUS, City, but not Habs Boys etc

WUS, Highgate, NLCS, SHHS, UCS, The Hall etc

I think it would depend. If you had a bright autumn- born child with the offer of a high-attaining school, I would be tempted to wait until 7 or 11 plus. If you have a summer born child and / or a poor / average attaining school, I would start them at 4. Have you been offered places from the schools you mention?

@Waffletoast94 Check the number of places available at 7+, I think there are very very few places at Alleyn’s as their main entry points are now 4+ and 11+.
The 7+ and 11+ are tough. I would take the 4+ place if you can afford it - a bird in the hand and all that.

Those that get in at 7+ are often heavily tutored/prepped, which is why there was no big difference. You either save stress by joining at 4+ or save money by joining at 7+ (unless coming from a prep school).

If there’s a decent state school nearby, and finances are an issue - I’d say go to the decent state primary and send them to private secondary. 11+ is easily prepared for from Summer Term Y5, you could have a once a week tutor if need be.

Wait for sure. Do the 11+ Make sure to supplement the state school education with outside activities (sport and or music). Save the money and spend it on secondary if you want to go private later. If your dc are academic they will get into a good private for secondary from state (two of mine did, third is in primary still).

Really depends what your other options are. One of mine did state til about 9 and one went straight in. They each got different things out of where they were. The older one did state when it was much better funded. My younger one got a lot out of Reception to Y2 in a private school but neither of them know what the other option would have been like in practice.

I would take the 4+ place but only if you are sure the school will suit your daughter.

We have just attended a 7+ admissions day where there were 4 children applying for each available place. VAT may have impacted admissions in some schools, but there are may prep school which are still full.

7+ and 11+ entry points are more stressful for the child than entering the school at 4+.

GL

The 11+ for these schools is really tough - don’t underestimate how long people prep their children for.

I guess it depends on the child’s capabilities..

4+ ? I didn't even know that existed.
What Degree course and University are you aiming for ? At 4 they should be singing " the wheels on the bus" and you enjoying them doing so instead of worrying about whether they will get a masters in stem or do an ology at an ex Poly.
Seriously, save your money for Uni if they get there it will be more needed then and nobody will care what prep school they went to.

This is so misguided. Some kids like/thrive/ask for challenges. Just because it's outside what you know and understand does not make it less valid.

Not really - it’s preparation, so waiting until summer of y5 is quite late to find out if your child is at the right level.
Having said that, we never did the 11+.

Ok. You’d know if your child is capable without too much prep or not. We hardly prepared as we lived abroad. But it wasn’t a big deal.