So have your private school fees been worth it?

[jeanne16]

Just that exactly? Both my DCs have been through private London schools all the way through from Reception to 6th Form and although they have both done very well ( eldest now at Cambridge, younger about to go to very good RG), I can't help wondering if it has been worth the money.

I am currently wondering if we could have done things differently. We have spent an enormous amount of money on school fees that could perhaps have gone on other things. Could we have tried harder to get them into decent state schools, particularly at primary level?

Your thoughts?

I haven't read all the thread but we are more of a mixed bag. Ours went to excellent state primary and DS moved to a sought after London indy at 8 which took him through to 18. It was absolutely perfect.

Our daughter who isn't quite so bright got into one of the London Holy Grail type cofe schools. It was a total disaster with falling standards, shocking behaviour, limited vision and poor leadership. Many many parents still speak very highly of it and are grateful to be there. We moved our daughter to the indy sector after two miserable years.

In our experience from secondary onwards I think an independent education is worth every single penny as I am able to compare it with one of the supposedly best state options locally.

beauforte congratulations on finding the right school for your kids. You have just highlighted my point beautifully. Independent schools just offer you a choice. I do disagree that an independent is inherently better. I think it all depends on the school ethos.

On accents I have to hold my hand up and say I did send my daughter to a school in Surrey. So that hopefully she will pick up the accent. I know I will get burnt for this but DH didn't want her to have a Northern accent. When he speaks in his broad Lancashire accent to his mates. To be honest I'm not very sure what he says half of the time.