When did you determine your child's ability for private school?

[idky]

I know there is an assessment for entry into private schools but do you prepare beforehand with your child or become aware of their ability then decide to go for private education. Which comes first?

If you knew your child(ren) had the ability, what signs were they showing? You'd love to hear your experiences and thoughts.

Thank you in advance!

Um just applied to the school at secondary and sat the tests.

You don’t need to be a genius to go to most grammar school or private schools, slightly brighter than average is fine. If you are looking at a super selective or something like St Pauls then yeah you have to be very clever. It probably won’t be apparent for a few years tbh. Some kids are late bloomers.

It is too early to say anything if he is 3 years old.
It is actually quite funny to think about his suitability for superselective schools at the age of 3.

If you want him to have more chances for success and you can afford it put him in preparatory private primary school. They prepare for the 11+ exams.

Absolutely, I was confused by what the OP meant for a minute! We are a grammar school area, so our private schools are virtually all comprised of pupils who hadn’t passed the 11+ and the only ‘selection’ is the ability to pay the fees.

This. Private schools in toto are as likely as state ones to have lower-achieving children.

Interesting, I didn't realise this at all! I am so glad I asked.

I am not trying to assess my 3yo ability, just thinking ahead on what I need to consider, watch out for etc.

I don't live in a grammar school area sadly but there are some good private schools in our closest city. Will investigate further 😀

As pp have said: Not all private schools are selective, some say they are selective but in reality will take happily take pupils that are fairly average academically but fit well in other ways, some private schools are highly academically selective. Even in the most academically selective schools, there are both children who are genuinely super-bright and others who are moderately bright but have had several years intense tutoring to get them in.

Crikey your child is 3 years old and you are considering secondary school!??!!!

thinking ahead incase we need to consider moving. I have an older child too. There are also private primary schools which my 3yo will start soon.

If anyone does care about the vat issue, read more about it and sign here :

https://www.change.org/p/stop-labour-from-adding-20-vat-to-private-school-fees-and-forcing-kids-to-change-schools/u/32672954?cs_tk=An7Iy1Sp4okMBb7UcWYAAXicyyvNyQEABF8BvE7huEk9vVrX8Yg0wNRkMX8%3D&utm_campaign=d2ae502bce934219954a5d593e74cfe7&utm_content=initial_v0_7_1&utm_medium=email&utm_source=petition_update&utm_term=cs

In the nicest possible way, OP, if you’re so completely without basic information on this issue but it didn’t occur to you to Google, maybe just let your kids take their chances in the geographically closest school.

@Vermeer

I have been googling but wanted to learn from the experience of other mum, hence I asked.

I have a sisterinlaw that works in a grammar school, her daughter attends and had to take the entrance exam, it was very much based on ability. I have had a chat with my sisterinlaw and she didn't imply that it was just a private school.

I realise now that some are selective and some are not.

I also have a friend with a son in private school, also with an entrance exam. I don't know anyone or live in an area where private school is there just for the ones that can afford, I wouldn't have even know to google that to be honest.

So I'm still glad I asked, I need to be selective of where my children are educated and not just choose an establishment because it's 'private.'

Again, I ask on this forum to hear about experiences which Goggleing doesn't satisfy.

Thanks again!!

Forgot to add, the grammar school my sisterinlaw works in charges, she gets a discount for her child but even with her working there her daughter still needed to complete and pass the entrance exam.

OP I get the impression from
your last post that you are still a bit confused. In the U.K. secondary options are (broadly) as follows:—

private schools (some of the big/famous ones confusingly referred to as public schools) - these are fee paying. They can be selective or non selective, and if selective there is a wide range of thresholds (so some are a lot easier to get into than others). If a school has “grammar” in the name but charges fees, it is actually a private school and not technically a grammar school in the way that most people would understand that (see below); and

state schools which are free to attend. State schools include:

• comprehensives (which are not academically selective, but most stream for at least some subjects) and
• grammar schools, which are academically selective. As with private schools, the level of academic selection varies - some grammars are easier to get into than others.

It seems that what you’re really asking about is ability for the purposes
of academic selection, which as per the above can be in the private or state sector. But it’s impossible to say without knowing the area you’re looking in because the thresholds vary widely between schools. And also, 3 is much too young to know anyway.

Grammar schools are selective. They are state schools and are free.

Private schools can be selective by exam or by cost. They are fee paying. They aren’t grammar school, though some may still have ‘grammar’ in the school name as a hangover from their previous life as one.

If your sister in law works in a fee paying school, it’s not a grammar school, it’s a private school.

Fee paying grammars are very common, usually in the region of £2-4k per year. A lot of schools disguise it as a voluntary contribution but really and truly it isn’t - if you don’t pay the ‘suggested donation’ each year you will be hounded for it!

Where on earth did you get this from? There's no such thing in England!

Can you link to some?

Whaaat? I have never heard of this (and I went to a selective state school).

@idky, @ParentsTrapped has given you a good summary in an excellent post.

Your SIL works in a private, fee-paying school, not "a grammar school that charges", there isn't such a thing.

If you want to send your DC to private school, and can afford it, then look into the ones locally (or in the area you might move to). Some will have entrance tests, others will not. Local to me there are a few private schools that have "grammar" or "high" in their name but they are simply fee-paying.

BTW I see you say "sadly" you don't live in an area with state grammar schools - many people would see this as a good thing. If your child does not pass the 11+, they have to go to the sec mod with all the brightest DC creamed off (this still happens where I come from - I don't live there now!) - not an ideal option IMHO esp for a bright child who just doesn't show that at 11 (again, happens a lot where I am from).

Fee paying grammars are very common

They really aren’t. Some cash-strapped grammars might ask for a voluntary donation-they might send emails, but you don’t have to pay them, nothing will happen if you don’t and it certainly doesn't make it ‘fee-paying’.

We’re in NI. They’re a very normal thing here (and yes fees are compulsory, not ‘voluntary’ at some)

Than it's not a grammar school it's a private school that has grammar in the name.

What schools are you talking about?? I’m from NI. Yes, state schools (secondary AND grammar) often ask for voluntary contributions. They are voluntary - if you can’t pay them you don’t and it doesn’t affect your place at the school.

Of course the schools would like you to pay them but they have no recourse if you don’t. Unlike private schools which obviously don’t admit pupils who don’t pay the fees.