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Go easy with me. Advice badly needed please.

Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 6:31 pm
by Dani
Hi everyone.
Can I just say what a fantastic forum this is. I so wish I had found it months ago.

I have a dilemma which is amazing but I cannot seem to work out what is best for my son. He sat entrance exams for two independent schools and we have now had both sets of results back.

He has been so fortunate and I know that, in the scheme of things, this just is not a problem. But I would love some help trying to decipher which school to opt for.

School 1 - a good school academically. Son offered small scholarship but financial help meaning that we pay no fees at all. This could change over the years as income rises though. Fees are extortianate at this school.

School 2 - less good academically. Son offered a scholarship for half the fees with a bursary for most of the rest. We still have to find 20%. The fees are pretty low. Even if income rises we will only ever need to find a maximum of 50% of the fees.

Son wants to go to school 1. We want him to also.
Are we being sensible choosing school 1?

I know that this is a great dilemma to have and I really haven't joined to be boastful in any way. No one I know has faced this sort of problem and I cannot ask my friends for advice as their children have not been as fortunate as my son.

Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 6:38 pm
by PB Mum
First of all, well done to your DC. We faced this same dilemma 2y ago, and made the wrong decision :oops: ...chose the less academic school (which DD preferred) - within 5 weeks she was 'bored' as not being sufficiently challenged or stimulated :? . We admitted the error, the other school had no hesitation in taking her mid-Autmun term, and yes, we now pay full fees :shock: ...you're doing it for the 'education' in the broad sense of the term...we're none of us sure what's around the corner, but if your circumstances change, you'll tackle that and sort it out, I'm sure!

Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 6:41 pm
by 3pink
School 1, because if your income rises then there's no problem is there, they won't take all of that income and if it doesn't then the assistance is in place.

I'd be delighted he prefers the sensible option my DD is determined she's going to the "lesser" school in my mind, for good reasons but even so.

Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 6:49 pm
by mad?
Yes well done. Tricky one. Largely I agree with PBMum, all you need to do after all is ensure you don't increase your income in anyway :shock: , which, in the current economic climate should not be difficult :lol: if you do increase it, then you'll have the money to pay anyway. So I would recommend going with whatever feels 'right'.

At the same time as PBMum we did the opposite, we made a decision which involved a longer term financial commitment as our instinct told us it was the right thing for DD1. A global recession, dramatic down turn in our earnings and DD2 awaiting results as we speak this often now seems like a really rash decision. That said, we're here, she's happy, and apparently 'things can only get better' :evil: Go for it and worry about the what ifs later, the less academic school will probably always be interested in her if things don't work out.

Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 7:40 pm
by yoyo123
I;d say follow your heart....

Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 8:25 pm
by T.i.p.s.y
yoyo123 wrote:I;d say follow your heart....
I'd say tell us the schools...or pm Miss Nosey (aka me)! :wink:

We may well be in a similar position in a couple of years although our second choice is the most academic.

1st choice - scholarship 10%, the rest means tested (Eton)

2nd choice - scholarship 50%, the rest means tested (Westminster)

3rd choice - as 2nd choice but less selective so pretty much guaranteed that he'd get a scholarship here.

The question to ask yourself is how likely is it that you'll get to the position of affording most of the fees for choice 1 and if it is likely would you feel you were getting more value for money with 20% off choice one or 50% off choice 2.

If it is unlikely then go for choice 1 as you are virtually paying nothing and you will always wonder "what if". :)

Re: Go easy with me. Advice badly needed please

Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 9:25 pm
by kirsty&boys
Dani, you said "Son wants to go to school 1. We want him to also."

The above should have answered pretty much of your dilemma. :)

Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 10:22 pm
by yoyo123
I would have to agree kirstie, the actual schools are irrelevant, life is too short to say " what if.........."

Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 12:43 am
by Dani
I appreciate it that you have taken the time to reply folks. Especially as it was only my second post on this forum.

We think we will go with school 1 which, until today, was always the school of choice. Just a little wobble due to the second school offering more stability with the larger scholarship.

How lucky we are to have this silly dilemma.
Wishing everyone going through tests or awaiting results all the very best of good fortune. x

Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 12:48 am
by Dora
Good for you Dani. I am sure you have made the right choice academically.