What a bizarre post..
firstly as long as you get the right grades sixth forms don’t bump out existing students, they get priority to stay on?
Secondly yes we all pay taxes so absolutely I will feel no guilt for transferring my child from private to state sixth form. I wouldn’t do it for university admission advantages - I don’t think there are any but I certainly won’t be worried about bumping anyone out of state places as I’m just as entitled as anyone else!

Both of our girls went to state (Belleville Meteor) for primary and then private from year 7.  We have not regretted this choice at all - although the class sizes in state are much bigger, so is the diversity of people which has given both girls an understanding of what real life actually looks like.

We invested a small amount of money into tutoring to help them transition into fee-paying secondary, and both of them are doing well, with our autistic eldest just getting all nine GCSE's, and our youngest in top set for pretty much everything.  If you asked them both, I think that they would agree that it would have been a complete waste of money to pay for anything up to secondary, unless your children have any specific educational reasons to do so.

Jonny

Let's say that moving your kids to a state 6th form will improve their chances of a great uni offer - I don't believe this, but let's say that it would be true - would you really do that?
Would you really send your kids to private schools, to gain all of the luxury, benefit and academic advancement of a private education to then bump a state school child out of a good 6th form place? And then another state school kid out of a uni offer just to benefit your kids?
Do you not see how absolutely ick that is?

It blows me away that some parents could even consider doing that. The entitlement is simply astounding.

However, the idea that a university would favour a state school pupil over a hugely privileged private school pupil does not seem to be true. So probably not worth your time.

Hi, we have children now out of the other side. But have discussed it with my husband as to what we would have done.
When ours were little a number of our friends did state school until age 8. If we were to have had our time again we would have done that. Then definitely moved the one who struggled academically and needed a lot more help and a smaller environment for their confidence etc. The other we would have happily kept in a state primary until age 11. We would still do private secondary again the whole way through for the sport, drama, clubs, academic support etc.
I think the worry about university offers from private schools is largely unfounded. My children’s friends all received good offers.

You make a range of points:

Schooling is a very child centric choice. Assuming of course you have a choice.

Assuming all things are equal I would send my children to a state primary ( many are excellent) until 8 or possibly 11. This would mean some tutoring for 11 plus and probably more extra curricular support from parents. The independent day run an informal quota of 50/50 entry from state/prep at 11. They are used to dealing with children who have not been pushed hard at preps.
You cannot tell the difference .

I would do whatever secondary option then suited. If independent there are good options. My younger has just done sixth form at independent day. It has been the best part of the school and the teaching has been outstanding.

Children did not struggle with university entrance at all. All his friends had exceptional offers. School type is not the real issue - it is disadvantage and region. Look up POLAR.

In my experience there are excellent state schools. St Cecilia, Graveney, Burntwood. Grammar also in Croydon if your children will travel. Being in a high set is the issue.

This is not a subject to be approached with fear but positively. Mistakes can also be corrected.

I personally will only pay for the secondary school years y7 to GCSE. Mainly for the sport and drama opportunities.

but it all depends on your child and their interest/strengths

I personally will only pay for the secondary school years y7 to GCSE. Mainly for the sport and drama opportunities.

but it all depends on your child and their interest/strengths

If you are in the vicinity of an excellent state primary (which you most likely are if you live in Nappy Valley, there are so many) then I would start them all off in state school. My daughter started in state and went to prep at aged 8 as that’s what she wanted to do and it was more suitable for her. She has since stayed in the independent sector. My son, on the other hand, was thriving and loving school so we kept him in his state primary the whole way and he is now in state secondary at the school he chose. Both kids are very happy and doing very well.

I honestly don’t see the point of paying when they are very young. Especially when you don’t know what sort of school would be best for them until they are a lot older.

Another VAT motivated question but I am wondering if anyone ahead of us in the education process could advise what might be best.

Like lots of our friends we put our eldest down for private schools early but with the recent VAT increase of fees looming we aren't sure that we will manage to get our school fund pot big enough to cover everything from 4 - 18 for both of our children. Not without a lot of sacrifice and stress and I feel that shouldn't be how we do it.

The obvious things seems to be to only pay for some not all of it.

My husband wants to start paying later, most likely from 7 or 8 and save the first 3 years of costs but I am not sure we shouldn't start early and finish earlier at 16 as I keep reading that it is easier to get into university from a state school. Not sure if the latter is true, to be honest we aren't close enough to anyone with children at this end of the equation.

I would love to hear from anyone who has done either of these things and if they felt disadvantaged if they started later or if their children did benefit from better university offers or maybe job offers if they left before 18. It is hard to make a decision without any real knowledge.

Any insights would be very helpful.