Paying 2 school autumn fee for 2 schools? Sensible?

[blackwhiteandsilver]

Hi,

My DS is in year 6 in all through private school - her school is small doing good in GCSEs but almost all kids do creative subjects in GCSE only 1/4 does triple science, languages etc.. The post 16 is tiny only 5-7 kids in each classroom. The school is often seen as more of a local “backup” option. Our DS consistently achieved top results and, through the 11+, has received offers from some of the top private schools in the UK.

We are genuinely happy with her current school, and more importantly, DS is very happy there too. However, there is a general perception that the children who continue into Year 7 are mostly those who didn’t receive offers from other schools. Since DS has offers from highly regarded schools, it feels slightly unusual not to accept one.

Many local families try different schools and often move on, whereas we are considering staying simply because we are happy. This seems to surprise people.

At the same time, my child's happiness means a lot to us, so I feel quite torn. DS knows that will have more challenge, opportunities and better facilities in other school. But DS says that its riskier than our current school.

Our current thinking is to inform DSs school before the spring term that she will be leaving. However, if DS changes her mind over the summer, or if doesn’t settle in the first few weeks of Year 7 and wants to return, would it be sensible to keep DSs place by paying for two autumn term fees for each school?

Thank you xxx

Would any of the schools allow you to defer till 13?

How financially secure is the current school? Would you be able to get back in regardless? It sounds stifling for a teen.

@BreakingBroken I didn't ask that but our current school head said my DS can join back if they have a place

I never heard anyone who didn't get a offer from our current school - pass rate is I believe %70. School does good in GCSE 7-9 %74 but I think its because not many student takes further maths, triple science, languages or even humanities. Only 1/4.

For example, I know of a student who achieved very high marks in French, but chose a creative subject instead simply because most of her friends were not taking French GCSE.

Of course, as parents we can guide our children, but at that age peer influence inevitably plays a big role in their decisions.

Ive heard from some families that the classes in Years 12–13 are very small, and that many students leave at that stage. Those who stay often try to choose the same subjects as their friends.

I must add that DS has %30 combined scholarship academic+chess from current school - I think we lose that if DS joins later?

Your current school does not sound over subscribed at all and at the end of a day they are a business so I am sure would take your DS back if you decided you wanted the space after all, with no need to pay fees ‘just in case’. Schools want to make you think there might not be a place but that’s just usually sales nonsense (with the exceptions of a few).

Has your DS thought about the fact that the school will be very different in Year 7, given that some of her friends will have left and she will be doing different subjects with different teachers?

Yes. Most likely.

After yesr 6 the school will be be different. Friends leaving. New teachers.
I would have a look at the highly regarded schools and what they offer.

It doesn’t sound like the current school will remain financially viable for long. In your shoes I would move her.

Her current school will close so many doors for her-frankly it seems madness to leave her there!

Secondary school is a different game, and it all depends on what you want for your child. You will lose the scholarship though - it won’t come back if you do.

If they take pretty mu ch everyone, they’ll be more akin to a comprehensive shh ch pol tha the others, so have a wider spread of abilities. There’s actually nothing wrong with that, and your child, from the sounds of it, will still have the opportunity to achieve whatever the natural ability level is. If you want them pushed a bit more, you might want to try on the other schools. Or perhaps one of the other schools offers extracurricular activities or opportunities that this one doesn’t.

But if you are happy, and your child is happy, then would you just be leaving because you think that the grass might be greener on the other side?

Send him to the academic school.

Hes had a nice run thats lovely. One door closes and another opens.
Primary is social development, secondary is why the rubber hits the road.
And I think you'd be doing him a disservice not to take the academic place.

But DS says that its riskier than our current school

He is 11 and nervous about secondary like 95% of kids out there....he has no concept of risk and isnt positioned to make the decision.
Look around you at 20 somethings...look at the unemployment, the ruderlessness, the lack of critical thinking.
Inalsonthinonacadamic childrne who arent properly challenged can go off the rails in teenafe years.
if I could choose between a bedales type school and st Paul's I know what I would choose

If he truly hates it you canove him.back to the OG school.

I'm really confused. You say DS but then say it's your daughter. Are you talking about two different children?

There about 80 pupil in current school post 16, 5-10 people in each class - Usually in top 80-100 school in UK.
A level results
39% A/A grades*

81% A–B grades* 82% got first-choice university offers

The school we are considering is in top 10 in UK best schools league tables - sometimes in top 3-5.

81% A/A grades*

97% A–B grades*

Should we consider these figures or it doesn't matter? WWYD?

@AnnaQuayRules its auto error probably sorry

It’s not the grades I would focus on in particular. It’s the fact that, if I’m reading correctly, the current school has very few children doing maths, science, languages…..it’s seems crazy to limit her options so comprehensively…..

@CurlewKate only quarter of children, max 20 of them does triple science and further maths. is that bad amount? I am not from UK and I really dont know what to expect

Do they all do Maths, at least 2 Sciences and English?

Yes, I heard only few students does Foundation GCSE in Maths.

is it ok 3/4 to do combined sciences?

I think it's important to teach our kids to take some risks and not be afraid of change - and in this case, trying the more academic school sounds like a low risk chance to do this. I suspect your DC will love it. Understandably they are nervous about moving but I imagine they will regret not taking the opportunity if they don't, and will feel a bit 'left behind' if they stay. If it doesn't work out, come back - but give it a proper chance, not just a few weeks of the autumn term. It sounds pretty likely there will be a space to come back to even if you don't pay to keep it. It's a shame about losing the scholarship but it doesn't sound like a deciding factor for you.

@DecisionParalysis 🙏🏻
is being a scholar at school means a lot in UK? I mean is it important?

That varies, in a less selective school they are aimed at attracting a top tier to hopefully draw others of similar academic profile and raise the bar for others, and reliably produce results at GCSE. Aside from the fee reduction it may mean some extension activities or for your dc, an expectation to turn out for competitive chess.

Do you mean for things like university applications? I honestly don't know how a more academically selective school would be viewed relative to an academic scholarship at a less academically selective school. I hope it would have relatively little significance given that they are fairly equivalent. I can't imagine anyone else would be particularly interested. The main benefits are the scholarship programme - if the scholars have exclusive access to additional activities / clubs etc, which varies from school to school - and the fee reduction.

I’m still not really understanding, I’m afraid. It looks as if the current school offers a very limited range of public exams- and that’s going to be a big issue when it comes to, say, university entrance. Having a scholarship will make absolutely no difference at that point.