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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Is St Pauls really worth it?

54 replies

CocoC · 26/02/2019 00:10

DS has an offer from St Pauls.
We have just moved to the UK, and are not used to this system, so we are just shocked at how high the fees are (and dubious at the fact the school is single sex, in today's world).
At the same time, we want to do what is best for him , as he is very bright and does not particularly enjoy school right now as he is bored most of the time, which feels a real shame.
So, my question is - is an education at St Pauls really worth it? I am not so swayed by the sporting side of things, as quite frankly for the price of the fees, am happy to drive him around to various after school sports clubs.
And is the quality of the teaching, and the academic side of things really better than what you would get at a school like Latymers (which has, to me, the advantage of being co-ed)? Both schools are very local to us, so distance is not an issue.

OP posts:
OVienna · 27/02/2019 13:54

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Allyoudoiscriticise · 27/02/2019 19:30

Agreed. I would like to think the old boy's network (and paying for the privilege) is outdated and businesses / institutions are more open in terms of recruitment. Still, if people buy into it, and if they have loads of money and don't mind stumping up the fees, then up to them. However, I could be wrong and in 10-20 years the country will still be run by and investment banks will still take graduates from the pool of students who have been to schools like these,!

Icannotbelievethis001 · 27/02/2019 21:31

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Allyoudoiscriticise · 27/02/2019 22:11

How depressing, but thank you for being honest, litan.

I guess though it depends if you want your DS to have a career in the city / any other institution that values the old boy's network...??

Original poster
CocoC · 27/02/2019 23:06

To be honest I wasn’t thinking along those lines so much (rightly or wrongly!), and I also think whilst the old boy network was definitely true of our generation and the ones before, it will hold less true for future generations.
I was more thinking about the next 10 years, and the actual substance of it, if you see what i mean? (Beyond the branding andthe 17 football pitches or whatever they have).
Basically, about the quality of the teaching (combined with the small class ratios and the profile of the children).... and whether the children, in a school that is supposedly so hard to get into, really get stretched (in a good way), challenged, engaged and stimulated more than they would do elsewhere... basically feeding and developing a passion to learn and have the most possibilities to develop... or if actually all these selective private schools are much of a muchness and in fact you are paying for branding and history.

OP posts:
Goposie · 27/02/2019 23:14

This is a prep school place. At a good school. You don’t have another offer. I don’t understand what you mean about his current school if you have just moved to London.
This gives you time to figure out 11 plus and will help prepare your son for it. Unsure why you are hesitating. What is your alternative? Please be aware that 11 plus is v v tough.

Original poster
CocoC · 27/02/2019 23:50

He is in an international school, not a prep school.

OP posts:
Goposie · 28/02/2019 00:04

Ok. Well, if you can afford it, move him. It will give you more options at 11 plus.

Allyoudoiscriticise · 28/02/2019 00:09

Lots of international families at St Paul's

Michaelahpurple · 28/02/2019 00:46

Agree with the above. You don’t like his current school so send him to Pail’s juniors and if you decide you don’t want him to go to big Paul’s move him. I have known boys to leave for Eton and another family who weren’t wild on the then named Collet Coirt moves to Latymer. And paul’s manage some out along the way. These things aren’t set in stone

EdwinaMarlow · 28/02/2019 08:34

Having attended a similar-type school to SP, yes, he will definitely be stretched and stimulated, whether more than at a less "brandy" school like Latymer, I can't say, but the quality of teaching at SP will certainly be of the highest order, they can afford to attract the very best. Anyway, as others have said that's not the choice for now, so I would strongly recommend you go for it if you have the cash.

CruCru · 28/02/2019 10:24

It’s up to you what you do - I have the impression that most of the prep schools in that area are quite expensive (I think the American School charges £31k for a child of the same age).

However, please don’t dither. There will be lots of other people who are desperate for their sons to have the place that your son has been offered.

CruCru · 28/02/2019 10:35

Sorry, I’ve just realised that I might have sounded quite rude there - I don’t mean to be.

My children are younger than yours but I know quite a few parents of older children who are on waiting lists for the schools they want. They’re trying to make light of it but it’s stressful. So please don’t hold onto a place if you aren’t going to take it.

Original poster
CocoC · 28/02/2019 11:38

Thanks everyone for your insights, it is really helpful for me to have - I really appreciate the time you are taking to help on this.

(To be clear, the current school where my son is less half the price of St Pauls, so the financial commitment is a key question especially as I have two other children).

OP posts:
EdwinaMarlow · 28/02/2019 12:07

Oops, I meant "branded" school not "brandy" school

It's expensive but if affordable worth it imvho

Icannotbelievethis001 · 28/02/2019 12:10

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Caucasianchalkcircles · 28/02/2019 14:27

These threads fascinate me. Not criticizing anyone but those amounts are mind boggling. Sad that the vast majority of children are not privy to these advantages and never will be. Much of the Brexit issue sadly stems from the lack of social mobility in this country and these schools just compound it.

Bluebottle2 · 28/02/2019 15:16

@Iitan I have to say I do think volunteering that you plan to spend 1M on school fees is a little uncouth....

organiccoffee · 28/02/2019 16:34

As this is in the secondary school forum, i was thinking you were referring to either 11 or 13+. but apparently it's for 7/8+? For SPJ, they do expect you move to SP at year 9, and therefore the school will not prepare you for external exams. however boys do leave, and the parents will prep them for the exams/interviews. It's good and bad. You will not have the pressure on pretest/test/interview for 11/13+, and the teaching could be more creative. Bad for those who do want to leave, and need systematic support from school, which means extra workload for parents.

But if you are already at an international school, which I think is probably not cheap either. And personally, I beleive SP education is better than international schools.

Aniart · 21/02/2020 21:52

Hello my DS trying to decide between St Pauls and Hampton. Wanted to know what are the other expenses apart from tuition fees that we have to be prepared for at St Pauls and also how much
does the fee increase every year. Would appreciate any help.

Testbunny · 21/02/2020 23:00

St. Paul's is significantly more expensive as there is a big jump in fees at 13, but it's best to call the school to see what the annual percentage increase has historically been.

ripple11 · 21/02/2020 23:12

As far as I can see ....at 11+ both schools are about 7k a term...but SPS includes lunch .
So ball park figures....Hampton you add 330 for lunch and 330 for coaches,( I presume) makes it about 660 more expensive a term.
However in year 9 SPS fees jump to 8.5k...so they take the lead.
Cost of trips?..probably similar, but I think on the SPS school tour they said in year 8 (I think)....there was a trip to NASA 😎
Fees?....I thought it was law all schools go up a few % every year 😉

Aniart · 21/02/2020 23:47

Thanks @Testbunny @ripple11 much appreciated. Really stressed about making the right decision for DS. One week to go...

organiccoffee · 22/02/2020 11:43

If you join at 7+ or 8+, after 3 years, the boys would most likely "fall in love" with the school, and are not willing to move to other schools. So it's not that easy to move them for cost or co-ed reasons.

WombatChocolate · 22/02/2020 12:28

Fees are really important for lots of families. The difference of £4K between schools can be the difference between a whole family not having holidays or worrying about their car needing replacing.

Yes, to pay any fees puts you in an income bracket above the majority but the difference between fees can be great.

I would say that given you have other children to consider you should think about the long term increase in fees which far exceeds inflation and decide if it’s really worth the extra.

HOWEVER, your position turns out to be very different from it appeared at first. It sounded like you had a Latymer offer and were looking at 11+. Your scenario given you only hold one offer and it’s for 7/8+ is very different.

If you take the place, know it will be hard to pull out for a cheaper option later....you and your DS will get drawn in - of course you will. So don’t do it if you can’t afford it and won’t be on for hefty bursaries.