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Welcome to Scotsnet - discuss all aspects of life in Scotland, including relocating, schools and local areas.

Original poster

Is anyone now considering private school?

20 replies

Rae36 · 20/02/2021 20:40

We've an S2 and an s3 and are considering making the move. I'm guessing it's too late for our s3, maybe he'll get in for s5 and 6, but wondering about our S2 moving for the start of s3. We've never considered fee-paying before but I'm worrying about their education now. I'm glad they're not currently in exam years but of course that means they're bottom of the pile for getting back to school. We can afford to send them so maybe we just have to take the leap? No idea what to do for the best. Is anyone else considering this right now?
Is there even realistically a chance of them getting a place at this stage? I feel like our s3 will be horribly behind if we move him now. What a mess. We could have sent them private this whole time but chose not too. If only we'd k own what was coming.

OP posts:
BigGlasses · 20/02/2021 20:55

I’ve contemplated it for my S1. My worry is that we have 3 kids so it would be a real financial stretch for us.
Their education is really suffering though Sad

littlebay · 20/02/2021 21:38

We had already seriously considered it for eldest (P7) before lockdown 1. Then during that time I saw the enormous difference between what we were getting from school (nothing) and what a lot of independents were providing, especially the one we had as our first choice. Moved them both in August. The difference is beyond belief. Even if you have to make huge sacrifices, I would 100% recommend you do it. Not sure what you mean by less chance of them getting a place though? If you’re considering somewhere hugely selective that may be an issue but most senior schools would welcome them even mid-term? Kids start all over the academic year.

Cismyfatarse · 20/02/2021 21:57

I now work in a Scottish independent school and we have new pupils starting all the time. All year groups.

ScatteredMama82 · 20/02/2021 22:02

We moved our son at end of p6. He’s doing p7 at private school now. Compared to school closure last year, the difference is immense. He’s doing a full timetable with exception of games and swimming. All lessons are live with a teacher on teams. It’s a huge difference. So glad we moved him this year, we are going to leave it until after p7 but we went early due to the way this last year panned out.

Eightytwenty · 20/02/2021 22:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

riverrunning · 20/02/2021 22:07

@Rae36 if you don't manage to get both in, find a tutor, we got one before we moved our first dc and it helped us gauge how they'd do and provided extra back up. We moved one and then reluctantly moved the other one later, a huge difference to our state experience.

Sootess · 20/02/2021 22:17

OP I would contact admissions dept at any schools you're interested in and just ask about places.
DDs school has had children joining and leaving every year. There's always movement in private sector due to families moving for work or else feeling the school is no longer suiting their child so moving them.

Original poster
Rae36 · 22/02/2021 18:46

Thanks all.
A lot of their websites say they take new entrants at s3 but not s4 which is where my eldest will be. I also worry that he would be really behind if we move him half way through a nat5 course which would not be good for his already fragile self esteem.
I swing between thinking they need to move now and thinking that it will all be fine, all state educated kids are in the same boat etc but I just don't know.
It would be a massive financial stretch, I think I just had a moment of panic at the weekend.

OP posts:
Cismyfatarse · 22/02/2021 19:04

Our website says that but most schools would do case but case. A pupil already educated in Scotland would find adapting easier, for example.

ItsIgginningtolooklikelockdown · 22/02/2021 20:23

Why would your S2 get back in school faster if they are in a private school? I don't understand

ItsIgginningtolooklikelockdown · 22/02/2021 20:24

An S4 move isn't a good idea if avoidable as even if they switch to the same subject, the units studied could be completely different.

Hope4theBestPlan4theWorst · 22/02/2021 20:31

I think one thing to consider is that you can't "buy brain cells" as it were - I considered it with the slightly smaller class sizes but the cost put us off and we have 2 children not to mention all the extras and financial expectation from parents to attend balls and donate expensive raffle prizes.

Some children are academic and some are more sporty or artistic

I've got friends who've really stretched themselves financially thinking their doing the right thing. 3 sets of friends have done this and I have no idea why as the state provision round here is excellent, having said that we live between Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire and 1 of these families had their kids at the Portland hospital because that's where the royals go - "it must be the best"

They took out bank loans both times and it's 300 miles away!

Some people have more money than sense

kirkandpetal · 23/02/2021 06:15

@Hope4theBestPlan4theWorst

I think one thing to consider is that you can't "buy brain cells" as it were - I considered it with the slightly smaller class sizes but the cost put us off and we have 2 children not to mention all the extras and financial expectation from parents to attend balls and donate expensive raffle prizes.

Some children are academic and some are more sporty or artistic

I've got friends who've really stretched themselves financially thinking their doing the right thing. 3 sets of friends have done this and I have no idea why as the state provision round here is excellent, having said that we live between Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire and 1 of these families had their kids at the Portland hospital because that's where the royals go - "it must be the best"

They took out bank loans both times and it's 300 miles away!

Some people have more money than sense

I don't know which private schools you are gleaning your experience from, but my kids attend private school in Edinburgh and there is def no expectation for parents to attend balls or donate expensive raffle gifts! What a ridiculous statement.

Whilst there is a segment of parents who are clearly very well off, most of us are pretty regular, making sacrifices of all sorts (some big, some small) to send kids to the school.

stampsurprise · 23/02/2021 06:28

@Hope4theBestPlan4theWorst

I think one thing to consider is that you can't "buy brain cells" as it were - I considered it with the slightly smaller class sizes but the cost put us off and we have 2 children not to mention all the extras and financial expectation from parents to attend balls and donate expensive raffle prizes.

Some children are academic and some are more sporty or artistic

I've got friends who've really stretched themselves financially thinking their doing the right thing. 3 sets of friends have done this and I have no idea why as the state provision round here is excellent, having said that we live between Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire and 1 of these families had their kids at the Portland hospital because that's where the royals go - "it must be the best"

They took out bank loans both times and it's 300 miles away!

Some people have more money than sense

My DH went to a grammar school and left with a couple of O-levels whereas I went to a local comp and got 5 A-levels Grin

Sorry OP! Not very helpful of me but good luck in your decision.

Rhumba · 23/02/2021 11:27

If you are still considering this, I would contact some of the schools you are interested in. My S4 has had new starters every year including August when I think all years of the school had new starters (more than usual due to lockdown)

Original poster
Rae36 · 23/02/2021 11:28

Why would your S2 get back in school faster if they are in a private school? I don't understand

He wouldn't, but he might get better education while he's not physically in school.

An S4 move isn't a good idea if avoidable as even if they switch to the same subject, the units studied could be completely different

That's what's worrying me. We always had in the back of our minds that we could afford to send them private for S5 and S6 so I think that would be a more sensible plan, instead of the slightly panicky immediate move I was thinking about at the weekend.

My DH went to a grammar school and left with a couple of O-levels whereas I went to a local comp and got 5 A-levels

Dh and I both went to pretty average state schools so it's not about the education it's about the resources both sectors have to deal with online learning. But maybe with a bit of luck we'll hear some good news later today about returning to school.

OP posts:
MintPI · 23/02/2021 12:57

I've been considering on and off this past year, mainly due to the huge discrepancy in lockdown provision Confused

It used to cost us £500 a week in childcare fees at one point so surely now they're at primary it would be manageable... BUT we've recently moved to a bigger house in a supposedly great catchment and what we've spent on the increase could've easily managed 2x secondary private fees in Glasgow. But I do feel it would be tight and not sure if the potential financial pressure is worth it?

The thread about Scottish education has also got me thinking, my DD clearly finds the work given by school very easy, but I've no idea if that's typical or that it's lockdown schooling specific. She's not terribly motivated to do more schoolwork (she reads widely though) so I've not asked for anything more challenging, instead focused on prioritizing them getting out for exercise and socializing. I'm also FT (supposedly - impossible at the moment!) so don't have the time for huge amount of extras.

Watching with interest...

Hope4theBestPlan4theWorst · 23/02/2021 16:44

@stampsurprise

My point exactly!!!!

ItsIgginningtolooklikelockdown · 23/02/2021 17:30

He wouldn't, but he might get better education while he's not physically in school.
I'm really happy with the remote education of one dc, mostly happy with that of the other - the output I'm doing myself is as much as I can humanly manage, I've learned so much about teams since lockdown #1
I would personally try to deal with anything you think of poor quality in your current school and save your ££ for tutors in the exam years.

riverrunning · 23/02/2021 17:51

if it's a tough financial stretch, tutors are a good call. There are non academic reasons for moving to private like better pastoral support, more encouragement, more attention. If my child was otherwise fine with the current school environment but not academically challenged, I'd hire a tutor to stretch them in what they are most interested in.

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