Loft conversion or future kids' school fees - which would you pick?

[themummyway]

Increase the resell value of your house or save your kids' future... really interested to hear your thoughts!

Ah yes @bluntness100, you're correct, I did mean that I don't agree with private education. As a turn of phrase I probably use 'I believe/don't believe' in a non literal self.

Oh if you don’t have kids do the loft..that’s very different.

I think you do have ideas 6/7 years before children, I was privately educated and was wary of state schools Long before I had kids.
Having now had friends that have children that have attended all different schools I realise it’s more about the fit for the child.

Why would being privately educated make you "wary" of state schools? You'd no experience to make you wary 😒

I believe 69% of places at Oxford last yr went to pupils from state schools

For me no question - I don't send my kids to private school.

Even if I wasn't ideologically opposed to it, I'd question whether it's worth the money (I personally don't think it is from my own, my friends, and my children's experience of state education). That said, I don't think I'd spend it on a loft either - I'd spend it travelling, with my family and enhance their life experiences that way.

I sent my kids to both state and private, many of the private parents were privately educated themselves and didn’t even consider state schools, not sure if it was fear of the unknown or just wanting to give their kids a similar education to the one they had.
I wasn’t privately educated and can’t say that it made a massive difference to my kids outcome, but when they were in state school they went to excellent state schools, and their private schools weren’t top ranked private schools, but were a good fit for my kids.
I never wanted or expected them to go to Oxford just because they went to private school, just wanted school to be a positive experience and it was.

Wine tasting at private school? FML!

I also got to do things they don’t typically offer in state schools e.g wine tasting, work experience at the Bank of England
Wine tasting you say. Definitely private school then OP, you can't deprive a poor child of such a worthy activity. Why, if they go to state school they'll probably be only be able to taste special brew or Frosty Jack's. Think of the children, won't someone please think of the children.

@Tabithha

Private school all the way. The first comment about it not having any benefit is ridiculous. I went and so did my siblings and it did us a world of good. There’s no way I would have flourished the way I did in a state school. Private education opens a number of doors for you. I also got to do things they don’t typically offer in state schools e.g wine tasting, work experience at the Bank of England

Arf at people taking you seriously, Tabitha, when your post is clearly satire. Isn't it? 🤣

I think the thread is going off on a complete tangent. As the children are only hypothetical, the question you're actually asking is should I have a loft conversion or not? If you want/need one for a home work space, spare room, craft room, gym, yoga studio or whatever then I would go for it, it will improve the quality of your life and hopefully you can recoup the money when you move. If your house is plenty big enough for you and it's only about adding value to a house you're going to leave soon I would check out with estate agents if it will actually add the value you think it will. Having work done is a lot of hassle and you may not get back any more than the cost of having it done. What is the ceiling price on your road? Will it make the house top heavy if your downstairs is small? You may be better off just getting planning permission and plans drawn up so buyers can see the potential as they may all want different things (e.g. 2 rooms or one, ensuite or not) and could be put off by the "wrong" conversion.

Erm what’s wrong with wine tasting? it was a fun activity and we were in sixth form at the time. The fact you ignored all the other great things I pointed out about a private education shows your hellbent on being ignorant about it

Maybe you should have ditched the wine quaffing and concentrated on spelling.

Ahh going down the good old pedantic route, not at all predictable. Pathetic

Loft

School fees. I have been doing a lot of mentoring lately at work and even ten years after school, uni, professional exams and a decent track record the ones who went to decent private schools stand out. There may not be academic differences but there is a big gap in polish.

The first comment about it not having any benefit is ridiculous.

It's not ridiculous. Private school are selective and expensive; their pupils are bright and have parents who value education. Of course they do well. But if you compare the achievement at university of private and state school pupils of equal social and economic status and academic achievement state pupils outperform private school pupils.

I never wanted or expected them to go to Oxford just because they went to private school, just wanted school to be a positive experience and it was.

Undoubtedly there are some private schools that provide excellent environments for children & what uni they go to is irrelevant but lots of parents chose private specifically to get them into top unis.

Erm what’s wrong with wine tasting? it was a fun activity and we were in sixth form at the time. The fact you ignored all the other great things I pointed out about a private education shows your hellbent on being ignorant about it

Absolutely nothing is wrong with wine tasting but find it hilarious that you'd choose that as your example as though it's an exclusive activity.
All you mentioned was the (possible) opening of doors, (possible) work experience at a bank and wine tasting as your list of great things. Your not selling private school as well as you think you are.

They are barely comparable in price, to be honest. Your loft conversion may be one year of school fees in many places, and I'm not convinced you are getting value for money (in a private school). Generally the facilities are better - the teaching not necessarily so.

How about the rest of the years - and what if you have more than one child?

There's no chance I would be planning that far ahead!! You are not even planning to have kids for years, so it will be at least 10 years before they go to school anyway. Anything could happen in that time.

Be smart with your conversion and it will be an investment that you can then reinvest into your future child's education, or not, see how you feel at the time.

If you want a loft conversion, do it. It's not a case of either or. My kid is at private school and next one due to start in September. We've also put a lot of money into our homes but it's always worked out positively.

Save for both.

Loft, less danger of accidentally turning your kids into Tories.

It depends on the state schools available. Many are great and can be padded out with various enriching clubs.

Loft is a good investment for yourselves. Might be better to invest in your house and downsize later on to pay for uni or kids house deposit.

@notso I never said it was exclusive 🙄 anyone can do a wine tasting but if we’re being honest how many state schools are offering that? It’s not about selling private school. I simply mentioned a fun activity I got to do that would have been unlikely at a state school. No need for people to have a weird chip on their shoulder