I am taking my son out of private schooling and enrolled into state school for this August. This has been to reduce dependency on ex who is an emotionally abusive person. We were jointly contributing to the private schooling. Our son told me that his dad had been saying that he was spending alot of money on our son, and son said to me that did not like it when his dad points out. Since I notified the private school of my decision to withdraw (after informing ex), ex has been putting down the state school consistently to our 12 yr old. He has been telling son how "bad" the education is at state school compared to private school, that he won't get to do subjects he would be able to at the private school, telling him that all the other kids will come feeder school and will already have friends, and worse of all causing him concern by telling him about kids bringing knives into school and stabbing teachers - basically anything and everything that seems to make the state schooling bleaker. This is not the first time that he has resorted to saying things to son which has caused son distress and anxiety. I have emailed ex several times now explaining the effect of what he is saying is not helping son with the transition and asking him to stop. His response is that he is preparing his son for the stark realities of state schooling. I know that this is a retaliation for him further losing control over me. I have been trying to build my son's confidence for the transition. I have asked him to stop and pointed out that he is emotionally abusing our son. If he does not, I am not sure what I can do to stop him. It is already tough for a child to transition from primary schooling into high school and he does not need this further anxieties.