Just a warning this is a long post alert! Im in a real dilemma, my eldest DD is in year 9 at a good state school. Originally we wanted her to go to a private girls school in Newbury but we were unsure of affording the school fees for her and her younger sister. So we opted for the very good state school. The state school is not our catchment (30 mins away) and we were lucky to get her in (low birth rate year). However it's not been an easy ride with friendships. This time last year some friends fell out with her over something really silly. There was a particular unpleasant girl who was known for being a bi## and unfortunately most of the girls followed and chose to not speak to my daughter. She had one friend (not in her classes or her tutor) who stuck by her. It was a very miserable time and she hated school and was desperate to leave and was adamant she was not going back in Sept. Last July I spoke to the private school again about her starting year 9 in as I was seriously considering moving her. I never proceeded as it was just such bad timing. By July a month on the friendship issue had not got any better, but by then the private school had broken up. We were also due to go on holiday, and part of me didn't want to rush in just moving her to see if it could be resolved in Sept. The summer hols went buy and she saw not one school friend. To speed this up she went back to her state school in Sept and eventually maybe a month in the issues were resolved. However her best friend (who stuck by her) moved overseas and although she has friends they are not deep rooted friendships. I worry if there was a falling out again she could be in a similar position. She doesn't see friends from school very often outside of school. Luckily she has old primary school friends and friends from her dance school that she sees. That's the background, part of me has always regretted not getting her to sit the entrance exams last summer hols for the private school. My youngest daughter is in year 5 we are now in the position that we could afford to send both of them to the private school. I have to apply in Oct for secondary school for her. We will have the sibling rule in our favour but won't be guaranteed to get her in. However I feel it's not fair to send my youngest when my eldest didn't have that opportunity at the beginning. Plus my eldest has already started some GCSE work and she doesn't seem keen on moving but also doesn't want her sister to go to the private school as its not fair as she wasn't given the same opportunity which I completely understand. Has anyone had a similar situation eg moving a child from state to private to start in year 10? I'm gutted that we are in a position to do it but feel I can't send either as moving eldest could back fire re making new friendships, GCSE's etc! Any experience advice would be greatly appreciated.