Husband's financial deceit means son now can't go to private school

17 posts
notwhatitseems
Posts: 1
Joined: May 2019
Options:
Share this post on:

Husband's financial deceit means son now can't go to private school

Postby notwhatitseems » Fri May 24, 2019 4:34 pm

 I am a retuning Nappy Valley user of old and really hope that someone might have some words of wisdom.

My son recently sat the 11+ and got a place at a London Day School but last night I discovered that our finances our far from what I understood them to be, increased mortgage and more credit and even a v small 'pay day' type loan. 

There is in fact no way that we can afford to go down this route.

I am devastated for my son who understandably is very excited about his next move and am so cross with my husband for putting him (and us) in this position. How do I tell my son? 

Thank you for reading.
Post Reply
daisydaisy
Posts: 144
Joined: May 2012
Options:
Share this post on:

Re: Husband's financial deceit means son now can't go to private school

Postby daisydaisy » Fri May 24, 2019 5:07 pm

Could you speak candidly to the head / bursar to see if you qualify for a bursary?
Post Reply
coldatchristmas
Posts: 340
Joined: Jan 2009
Options:
Share this post on:

Re: Husband's financial deceit means son now can't go to private school

Postby coldatchristmas » Fri May 24, 2019 5:43 pm

Yes I would suggest speaking to the schools about what has happened although they may have already allocated bursaries some schools have hardship funds. I guess it depends on whether you think you will get back to where you thought you were?

Good luck with it all.
Post Reply
SW11er
Posts: 126
Joined: Oct 2015
Options:
Share this post on:

Re: Husband's financial deceit means son now can't go to private school

Postby SW11er » Fri May 24, 2019 6:34 pm

Send him to the local state school. He might even be better off for it.
Post Reply
juliantenniscoach
Posts: 2274
Joined: Oct 2009
Options:
Share this post on:

Re: Husband's financial deceit means son now can't go to private school

Postby juliantenniscoach » Fri May 24, 2019 7:30 pm

I understand your anger but I think perhaps finding out the reasons for your current financial position would be more of a priority.  Addressing this issue as a family will help you all.  I went through a virtually identical situation where I had to leave a fee paying school because of our financial situation and go to the local comprehensive.  It didn't do me any harm.
Post Reply
https://theluxurytravelboutique.com/offers/
https://www.jesseshouse.co.uk/
https://paintthetowngreen.biz
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/womens-enterprise-day-and-awards-2024-tickets-797829438327?aff=oddtdtcreator
https://visitclaphamjunction.com/
https://www.thesmartclinics.co.uk/
https://maroconstruction.co.uk/
https://www.edwardjameslondon.com/
http://www.ayrtonbespoke.com/
https://www.hurlinghamdevelopments.co.uk/
https://nappyvalleynet.com/wellbeing-guide
https://www.thecrooshhub.com/
https://edwardjameslondon.com
Goldhawk
Posts: 1305
Joined: Jul 2010
Options:
Share this post on:

Re: Husband's financial deceit means son now can't go to private school

Postby Goldhawk » Fri May 24, 2019 8:45 pm

So you have signed the contract and paid the deposit?
Will cancelling now also mean you owe school fees for the Sept term?

Are you not on the mortgage?
Post Reply
wonkymonkey
Posts: 50
Joined: Oct 2015
Options:
Share this post on:

Re: Husband's financial deceit means son now can't go to private school

Postby wonkymonkey » Fri May 24, 2019 11:23 pm

This must be a very difficult time, to find out your husband has been hiding the truth of things from you. I’m sorry you’re going through this.

Your post asks how to tell your son. I think if you have the time (he’s not already telling his friends where he’s going) then do as much research as you can first on state secondaries locally and the possibility of bursaries at the private school he has got a place at. Get your ducks in a row, so to speak, so you can give him some clarity. If the bursary route doesn’t work I think you have two options:

Be straight with him and tell him that you and your husband have realised you’re not in a position to send him to private school. If you go down this route I wouldn’t blame your husband (it could create all sorts of problems and resentment now or later) but reassure him finances are fine day to day but just won’t stretch to private school. Back this up with examples of the state schools you’re considering and why. Get really educated on what’s out there. We’re not at that stage yet but I understand there are some really good secondary state schools in the area with great results. Some have a certain proportion of students via selective entry (Graveney I think?).

Option two is to say you understand there are some good state schools locally which you’re exploring as an alternative (assuming you can’t explore them first and then tell him a decision) and that you think the experience will be more positive for him. Maybe involve him in looking at them? I give option two because I know as a child I would have felt terrible for my parents and worried that there wasn’t enough money to live on even if they reassured me there was. But I was a worrier and your son might not be. My children are much younger so I’m not sure what an 11 year old is capable of taking on. If his friends are going to state schools it won’t be such a massive issue I think. If everyone else is going private it will be trickier and I think then you probably need to be upfront but be clear the family will be ok. Children do tend to sniff out when adults aren’t being straight with them.

If it was me I’d do option one. But I don’t know your son, exact situation etc. I hope that helps a little.
Post Reply
Charlie82
Posts: 25
Joined: Jul 2018
Options:
Share this post on:

Re: Husband's financial deceit means son now can't go to private school

Postby Charlie82 » Sun May 26, 2019 8:14 am

Really feel for you and your family. You have every right to feel betrayed but i am sure that your husband feels very guilty and bad about this already. he's probably trying his very best. So my advice would be not to come down to hard on him. I would also speak candidly to you boy and explain the situation. X
Post Reply
parsleysong
Posts: 245
Joined: Mar 2017
Options:
Share this post on:

Re: Husband's financial deceit means son now can't go to private school

Postby parsleysong » Sun May 26, 2019 3:53 pm

There's good advice above about asking the school asap if you are eligible for a bursary in these circumstances. If that doesn't work out, I don't think I'd get into too much detail with your son about your husband being deceitful. I'd be rope-able in your situation but that's for you and him to discuss privately I think. Once you've sorted out the immediate school issue set up a joint bank account with all of both your salaries going into it and your name on the mortgage and main assets otherwise you and your child/ren are vulnerable for this sort of thing to happen (am assuming he is main or sole breadwinner). Then you can check statements and keep an eye on the money which I wouldn't trust him to do now, given this situation. Best of luck!
Post Reply
https://www.edwardjameslondon.com/
https://theluxurytravelboutique.com/offers/
https://www.thesmartclinics.co.uk/
https://maroconstruction.co.uk/
https://nappyvalleynet.com/wellbeing-guide
Kirstie’s Mom
Posts: 159
Joined: Nov 2017
Options:
Share this post on:

Re: Husband's financial deceit means son now can't go to private school

Postby Kirstie’s Mom » Tue May 28, 2019 7:39 am

You have had good advice about your son but didn’t mention details of your husband’s deceitfulness . A very big word of advice . My husband did the same thing when we were first married . I forgave him but it only became worse . He ended up forging my name on a second mortgage and pawning my jewelry many years later. The last thing I would do is set up a joint account . But I would focus also on this deceitful ness. You didn’t mention if you worked . If you do I’d be very wary of this situation and leave now . I should have walked out 20 years earlier and saved me and my daughter huge heartache and protected my finances . The deceitful ness does not go away it just gets harder to detect .
Post Reply
LastMumStanding
Posts: 73
Joined: Dec 2012
Options:
Share this post on:

Re: Husband's financial deceit means son now can't go to private school

Postby LastMumStanding » Tue May 28, 2019 7:46 am

I’m afraid that you also need to consider that the good state schools will have allocated their places for September by now so you also need to talk to the council about which State schools have spaces and get on the waiting list for any which you prefer but which are full. It is quite common for spaces to become available as many families accept a state school offer as a back up for private and never get around to withdrawing - just don’t turn up on the first day of term. So you and your son may have to hold your nerve even beyond the start of term - and in the mean time he may have to deal with not going to the same school as his friends. Be prepared for him to be very angry (frustrated and scared) - and don’t be tempted to blame everything on your husband. That won’t help your marriage or your son - and could backfire nastily - he is old enough to understand that marriage is a partnership and he may well hold you responsible for not being properly informed about the family finances.
On the up side he is clearly a bright boy and he will do well in a good state school which will mean - even now - that he has a better chance of getting into a Russell group university - and by the time he gets to be 18 the current tentative policies to get more balanced intake will be even more established. Use any extra money you do have to give him the chance to do a range of sport, drama and music and pay for extra tutoring if he needs it at any point.
Good luck
Post Reply
janee
Posts: 107
Joined: Dec 2010
Options:
Share this post on:

Re: Husband's financial deceit means son now can't go to private school

Postby janee » Tue May 28, 2019 9:06 am

No one seems to be talking much about your husband.  I understand that you may be annoyed by him but a) you need to talk to him about it; b) he needs to be involved in the decision about your son and c) perhaps he needs to be the one who talks to your son when the decision is made.

There seems to be a rather big lack in communication on both sides.
Post Reply
K1999
Posts: 48
Joined: Sep 2017
Options:
Share this post on:

Re: Husband's financial deceit means son now can't go to private school

Postby K1999 » Tue May 28, 2019 10:11 am

How awful for you, I am so sorry.  Losing trust in your partner can be really hard, especially when it has such an impact on you and your children.  I have to agree with janee, perhaps you should get your husband to tell your son.  After all, he got you into this mess, so he should be the one to get you out of it.  I also think it is a good idea that you keep your own bank accounts, but make sure money for bills, mortgage etc is being paid into a joint account. Perhaps you should take over the finances to avoid this happening again.  I really do hope you manage to sort this all out.  Wishing you all the best.
Post Reply
https://www.glowdental.co.uk/
https://edwardjameslondon.com
https://www.thecrooshhub.com/
https://www.hurlinghamdevelopments.co.uk/
http://www.ayrtonbespoke.com/
atbattersea
Posts: 262
Joined: Oct 2014
Options:
Share this post on:

Re: Husband's financial deceit means son now can't go to private school

Postby atbattersea » Tue May 28, 2019 10:17 pm

It's not really clear to me what you are angry about. Is it that your husband has gone out and spent the money? Or is it that you've just discovered that you aren't as rich as you thought you were, and you blame your husband for not informing you of this at his earliest opportunity?

As others have noted, you can try getting a bursary out of the school - but I would imagine that they would only give you short term assistance (ie, maybe a year), if your son hasn't gone through the process relating to bursary applications. Alternatively, you can start planning now for 13+ entries, and find another place for your son.

As also noted, state school allocation for next year has already happened, so you are probably going to struggle finding a place.
Post Reply
HDM
Posts: 28
Joined: Feb 2016
Options:
Share this post on:

Re: Husband's financial deceit means son now can't go to private school

Postby HDM » Mon Jun 03, 2019 6:17 am

The best education you can give your son is to show him a strong independent (financially so) mother - Private or state - the only real education is in the home -you and his dad are his mentors 

If the dad is deceitful and bad at handling money (for what ever reason) and you haven't taken responsibility for getting involved - what lesson is that teaching you son?

Sorry to be harsh - but honestly - there is a lot of elitism in private schools and nothing wrong with a good state school but if the family dynamics are dishonest and based on conflicting values then the basis is not a good education for your son

Educate your husband first and be involved so you know what is going on . Good Luck 
Post Reply

Start a conversation
To create a new post and start a new conversation, please click on the button.