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Original poster

JCoSS (vs a top private school)

31 replies

Buru · 21/04/2023 11:59

Good morning all. There is an old thread on JCoSS, so I thought I’d start a new one to get more recent reviews and insights.

We have just unexpectedly received a place at JCoSS, which was our top choice for a state school together with Yavneh. However, as our original state school option was at the bottom of our wishlist and DD did very well on 11+ exams, we accepted an offer from a top private school in north London.

We feel a bit confused now, as a private school is of course a lot of money (and we have two more children), and JCoSS seems to have a great reputation. Can moms please share their experience and views on JCoSS and the area for raising children (in particular, if there are many options for extracurricular activities at a semi-professional level (sports, gymnastics, ballet etc)? Would you choose it over a selective private school if you had that option?

We will be moving up north from central London, so it’s a huge change for us and I would welcome any views and opinions on the matter.

OP posts:
premierleague · 08/11/2024 21:45

thesunsoutagain · 21/04/2023 12:07

You will get more responses if you clarify what these acronyms are for. You are assuming that we all know what you are talking about

Anyone who doesn't know isn't of much use to the OP!

premierleague · 08/11/2024 21:46

Bells3032 · 21/04/2023 12:54

Jcoss is an amazing school and has done well under Patrick Moriarity. However, he has now left and they have a never head who may be phenomenal but we just don't know yet. However, my friends experiences there have all been positive and i don't think I've heard anyone say a bad word about it.

Private schools are an option. The obvious downside is cost. They're all min £20k a year and i don't think i'd be able to send one child and not the other two. So that's over £60k a year on school fees. Plus uniforms, trips etc and a lot of the private school people round here also have tutors despite being in private school so that's all in all prob about £80 a year which means you need an additional £120k a year income you're not using (once you've paid tax). Can you afford to keep doing that for at least the next decade? What happens if you or your partner loses their job?

I also think it depends which private school you are looking at as well. how well will your child thrive ie. my child wouldn't thrive in NCLS as too pressurised but would thrive at St helens where theyre more about nuturing (well that's what they used to be like but not sure now). Would your child be ok being the only jewish kid in the year as with Yavneh, JCOSS and JFS there are far less jewish kids in private schools than there were a generation ago

£20k a year? The London private day schools, with VAT, are mostly upwards of £10k per term.

premierleague · 08/11/2024 21:48

premierleague · 08/11/2024 21:45

Anyone who doesn't know isn't of much use to the OP!

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d'oh, zombie thread

Bells3032 · 08/11/2024 22:51

premierleague · 08/11/2024 21:46

£20k a year? The London private day schools, with VAT, are mostly upwards of £10k per term.

Show quote history

You do realise this was written 18 months ago and therefore was not taking into account vat being added to school fees?

premierleague · 09/11/2024 08:24

Bells3032 · 08/11/2024 22:51

You do realise this was written 18 months ago and therefore was not taking into account vat being added to school fees?

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Yes but even then fees were about £25k upwards per year in many london schools and VAT was clearly coming

premierleague · 09/11/2024 08:33

premierleague · 09/11/2024 08:24

Yes but even then fees were about £25k upwards per year in many london schools and VAT was clearly coming

Show quote history

And even without vat fees were rising at upwards of £5% per year

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