move from state primary to private secondary school - how realistic?

[countrysidemuffin]

Is it possible (or how realistic it is!) to move to a private secondary school after studying in state primary ? what?s the criteria, competition and availability?

Thank you.

I did it. The criteria depends on the school. Do you have a school in mind?

I did too, and we would have followed that route with our children if we'd not moved. I don't think it is particularly unusual.

From my DCs primary probably 15+ out of 90 do this every year. 7 to a very selective, private boys grammar, girls to a range of schools, boys to other selective secondaries and some to prep school for a couple of years.

There are a lot more private secondary places than prep ones, so lots are joining the sector at that stage (though some will be overseas students, and there's a big increase in boarding eg from services families and that skews the figures a fair bit).

The overall picture is however far less important than local supply and demand. If there is only one secondary school nearby that is particularly good/desirable, then it becomes much harder.

What you may not find out so easily how many apply but receive no offers. If 30 had made applications from mummytime's school, the strike rate doesn't look so good.

Those going for 2 years prep school (unless to one with guaranteed transfer to a senior department) may have done so because no offer was received at 11+ and they're trying afresh for CE (happened to a couple of families I know, both last year).

From DCs primary I would guess about 5 don't get in, BUT there are excellent state schools, including one that even the Good School Guide sees as a good alternative to private.

I did it - I struggled in my first year as the quality and range of the teaching in my state primary school hadn't been great and I was behind the rest of the class on many of the subjects that weren't part of the entrance exam (I had been drilled in English Maths and Verbal reasoning - but my classmates had done a lot more things like French and Science etc). By the end of the first year I had found my feet and blossomed academically and was moved up to the top set for most subjects. It's going to depend completely on which state primary and which private secondary, but expect to pay extra for private tuition both before and after the move to help the adjustment.

It's a normal thing to do.

Most independent senior schools will have a large intake from state primaries (in the region of 50% of pupils).

Knowsabit: I'm interested in that, as that means that probably only 40% or less are from prep schools. Would you be kind and link a source? Thanks.

At 11, lots do it. The stats show that there is a huge jump. Around 4% of DC attend private at primary age. It jumps to around 7% at secondary age.

However, hardly anyone goes from state to public school, which takes them at 13.

Suspect not that easy if you happen to live in SW London...

It will depend a lot on local secondary provision, I think.

SW London is rife with great state primaries, and not so rife after that

We did this. DS1 went to a local selective independent secondary. We did no tutoring apart from a few NVR tests. He achieved L5s in his SATS and I believe about 15% of his year went to an indepentent school. His Y7 was made up of approximately 70% pupils from the prep school and 30% from local state primary schools. We are in the Midlands.

It is possible, but it is hard and usually involves a lot of tutoring.

I moved DCs from an "outstanding state" which sent many DCs onto Indys for secondary to preps and have seen both sides. The top 20% from state schools with switched on parents and a tutor can move into top SW London/Surrey Indys at 11, anyone below struggles, and may end up somewhere with worse results than the local comp just for the sake of saying they go to private school. The preps are getting 80% into the top schools, DS's prep aims for 2/3, but always does better than that.
Example from DS's year at state primary about 10 boys,pretty much the brightest, sat for Hampton, only 2 got places. At his prep of about 27 boys, the top 7 didn't bother to sit Hampton as they already had 3 offers (Westminster,KCS, St Pauls) the rest sat and 15 got places. Of the 5 left one is for Harrow, one Latymer, and the others 3 St Georges Weybridge. actually Harrow boy didn't sit Hampton so I've missed 1 boy, but you get the general picture.
IF you have a very bright, motivated DC and can either teach them yourself or can find a good tutor, anything is possible.

I did it with two of mine - no tutoring just sat down with the Bond VR NVR and maths books a few times a week - it very much depends on what sort of school you are after. It is unusual for any Y6 to go private from their primary (a few leave at the end of Y2 to go to prep) but they were both the only ones in their year to go. The secondary we chose has about 75% coming from prep, the only difference that is noticeable in Y7 is that the prep lot have already done rugby.

At DS's school- SW London primary I think something like 24 out of 27 in Y6 went to independent secondaries this year. I expect all had some sort of tutoring but perfectly possible.

Hi, I'm from sw london and we did it. My son was in local primary and doing great we thought ,but boy did we get a wake up call in yr7. While our ds was being 'taught to the test', the prep school kids had actually been learning languages& science to a much higher level. It has taken 2 fairly tough years to properly catch up but glad we did it. He is now starting some gcse topics in yr9.

My DS1 did it and currently hoping to for DS2. Did lots of Bond papers! DS has not found it hard to keep up at all and approx one third of his class are from state primary. As someone else said, the only difference seems to be lots of rugby experience!

It is a academically selective school but I know kids from all levels of ability who have gone on to private secondary, it is just down to finding the right school for your child. IME it is not as difficult as people think.