If money wasnt an issue

[Swan2019]

Would you send your kids privately?

Struggling with the decision. We have a good local state school and are in catchment, it's enormous though. I feel that they'll survive it rather than do brilliantly there.

Have inherited enough money to send kids privately without worrying about it.

Would you do it? Is it worth it?

For people considering paying private school fees, paying if there’s a problem should be a consideration before you start. Who wants to remove dc? We certainly didn’t and most people we know had a cushion that used our schools. Certainly at secondary it was pretty much not a thing to be winging it. Very much a case of many people planning from birth: saving, trust funds, grandparents etc or just very well paid work! Not that we had saved fees from birth but others definitely did! One of DDs friends left at 16 because they could t afford 6th form but were honest. Another couple transferred to a day school from boarding. I could see little evidence of parents going without although one dad went to prison! I guess he was winging it.

@Privatecomprehensiveo At secondary I’ve no idea how dd could have fitted in 10 extra curricular activities if they were not in school. It was an immense pleasure to her and me that I didn’t need the car and to the minute timing to facilitate the fewer activities she chose when at primary school! Had I been working it would have been impossible. At senior school it was all there and more. Any good school should have a wide variety of clubs and activities. Sport will always be compulsory but our school championed drama, music, and many other activities as well as sport.

Maybe this is quite a specific example. My DC is passionate about classical music. Comprehensive doesn’t offer much. Outside school DC has over 8 hours of music “contact time” each week - mostly over the weekend, and also manages 1hr/day of practice. I’ve wondered about switching to private, but I don’t think that the standard would be as good as what is possible outside school. We’ve been able to select instrumental teachers, groups and ensembles, rather than relying on school (which might not have a choice.) I have been able to attend lessons too which helps with practice.