Private or State Primary? Post Reply

[siying]

Dear mums, apologises if this has been discussed before. I am debating to send my daughter to private or state primary, but surely hope she can get in a good private secondary. If my daughter attends a good / outstanding state primary (Thanks to the good education we have in Wandsworth), how hard is it to get to into a good private secondary? Or would you suggest to go to outstanding state first, then transfer to private at 7 or 9 years old to get prepared for secondary? Will be grateful of your thoughts and experience

[MTC]

Following this post. I'm curious too!

[Bubs]

In short, you can go from one of the good/outstanding primary schools to a London day school at 11. Most people have a tutor in Year 5 to facilitate this move. Be prepared for lots of horror/scare stories, long waitlists for the sought after tutors, and some secrecy/rivalry between parents over who the best tutors are (and what their telephone number is!). It is do-able though.

Alternatively, you could go state for a while and switch higher up the school to a prep or to an independent school that goes all the way through .... so for instance at Yr 2 (Alleyns have an intake here), or Yr 4 (Broowmood Upper/Northcote Lodge take/start here), or Yr 5 (I believe Emanuel now have an intake here as well as another Year ??) - effectively getting into that slipstream ahead of the crazy 11+ intake. You need to do your research on when the school you like has an intake, or wait it out for an occasional place. Usually it is still competitive/selective/you'll need to sit an exam and be up against many others, but the ratio is better, so it's perhaps a little easier.

That's probably it in a nutshell ...... or as nutshell-like as I can get it!

[JustSW17]

In my experience (being a parent of a Year 6 pupil at a Balham state school), all the children who wanted to get into private school this year did so. Many with multiple offers and some with scholarships. I’ve also got lots of friends with children at Belleville and the same applies there to.

As Bubs points out, the topic of secondary school choice is a very hot topic between Year 5 and 6 parents and this causes much angst and worry with scare stories about schools being oversubscribed. People often forget that everyone is making 5 or 6 applications so, even if every school is 5 or 6 times oversubscribed, there are enough places for everyone.

Of course it’s a personal choice but, in my view, private primary school is an unnecessary luxury.

[siying]

Thank you Bubs and JustSW17, it's very helpful. Seems State primary + tutors, then transfer during Key Stage 2 is the approach for getting in a place in a good private secondary.

[Phoenix]

I'd say - see the outstanding state primary through to the end. It's not really fair to jump ship after the several years of outstanding (and free!) education your child will have received there.

[firsttimerSW11]

A note of caution however. Many people have the "state til 8" mindset so you might not get a private place at Stage 2 as plenty of others will be competing for those same places. Or at any rate you might not get a private place at a school that gets children into the secondary schools you're interest.

[firsttimerSW11]

*interested in

[outnumbered2]

If you are thinking of private sitting exams for a year 7 entry is the way to go, there are less places for yr 9 entry. It also allows you to apply further for yr 9, if it doesn't work out with your yr 7 choice. It also gives child experience of sitting exams, so they may listen second time around when you are 'encouraging' them to do some prep!

[SWJuggler]

Key to all of this is the right tutor, start getting referrals asap. Check their track record of getting children into the schools you have in mind. Then if they are good they can give you an honest opinion of your child and their suitability (ability, interests and personality) for the various options you have in mind.
I used to nanny for a family who went through this with their elder child and I know they valued the input from a tutor. Unfortunately I can't remember their name, If I can find out I will certainly let you know.

Good luck!

[Marmot-in-london]

Just to say I pulled my boy out of state primary in yr 1 and we have been amazed at what is of offer my husband was against it but he has said "that was the best thing we did"

It is a heavy bill why??? I was calculating a lot more than my Dad paid when I was sent to private school. Don't listen to people who criticise you (I heard years later people criticised my Dad for doing it) for coming out of the state sector it is your child/ren and you only have one chance.

I do think it is especially relevant if you work more than 3 days and can't do many pick ups as private school can do what you haven't got time to do. We used to take him to football on Sat am to "top up the low amount of sport he had" now we don't have to. I know he get's read to everyday so I can relax on the days my nanny picks him up as she can't really do reading and homework with him to the standard I do it to.

What I would say is look at EVERY school and register ( I know it is galling they charge for this but you just have to accept that)
You never know which one you might use don't get set on one particular one. I had a spread sheet and kept changing the rankings depending on what I heard, if you have time skulk around at pick ups/ drop offs then you really see what the school is like take the "open days" and some ofstead reports with a pinch of salt but you need to go/look.
Good luck

[MumOfTeens]

There are so many different reasons to chose private over state but if money is a limiting factor I would definitely say state at primary and private at secondary. In fact it appears to be an advantage as some private secondary schools to come from the state system at 11+. If you feel unsure I would recommend state at reception as it is harder to swap from private to state once you are used to small class sizes and nice toilets

[kidswithadhd]

All the kids from my son's Y6 state class that sat exams for private got offers, most multiple, some scholarships. Yes, tutoring from Y5 but that's more about helping them work out what and how to sit the exams; the curriculum is the same regardless of whether you are paying or not.
My son's class is also forecast to smash their SATs this year with high numbers achieving Level 6 (top 1% of country).
Don't write off the state schools. Most are excellent and if the parents have the right mindset the children generally seem to do fantastically.
Have heard anecdotal evidence (but not first hand experience) that a number of the local private schools did not do as well in terms of places offered.
Combination of many things makes it up; but the most important thing to remember is that different schools suit different kids - find the right one and the rest follows.

[Writerlady]

I find it extraordinary that there is (hardly) a mention in this whole thread about all the OTHER things that come with private primary education. You are talking about your child's WHOLE education up to the age of 8 or probably 11. That is a long time. These are their formative years. People only seem to talk about the academics and the SATs and the % of this and that. For me, what is important is an all round education. Of course good academics - which I know they also have at many of the great state schools around here, but also exposure to lots of different sports, several times a week - netball, hockey, rounders, tennis, swimming, gymnastics, athletics - who knows what they might excel at. Music - compulsory recorder to give it a go, and the chance to sing in different choirs and perform regularly in front of an audience that helps with confidence in every area. Lots of school plays, learn chess, learn Latin - yes, I can tell you are now rolling your eyes - but why not? They might love it - give them a chance to try it! Also, very important, learning from aged 4 or 5 to shake hands and look people in the eye, to make conversation. All very important life skills! And little things (or big things as far as I am concerned) like reading to the teacher every day, having many and regular spelling tests and a focus on grammar. Things that you want to install very early which will set them up for life.

I am absolutely not saying private is better than state for everything or everyone. I know we are lucky enough to have truly outstanding state schools in this area. And yes, you must must must suit the child to the school. I just wanted to point out all the OTHER things that come with a good private primary education.

[Reb]

Only children educated through the private system can make conversation, hold eye contact and shake hands? That's a bit of a sweeping statement!

Sorry, just couldn't let that one go.