state school then inde at 13+

[Loopyloulou]

worth £100K? just wondering.

Worth every penny. You can't buy even half a cottage with that these days.

Imogen is charming, intelligent and mature, despite having spent two years at a comprehensive; but she has found the transition at thirteen to be difficult. She mentioned two things in particular:

Very well, that is indeed a personal opinion, although I think widely held.
Others might wish to delete the word "despite".

[JSN]

The main problem with Top Tier Indies is they're squeezing out ordinary middle class families out of this sector, when I was young the mainstay of private school parents came from brackgrounds like solicitors doctor and small busness ownners but the relentless increase in fees yr on yr is simply pricing us out of this market, my sons indie 5% yr on yr increase despite the present economic crisis, there is this mad facility war between private school driving up fees in an attemp to attract oversea clients.do these schools really need a 100m swimming pools state of the art sixth form centres and 5 unused astro pitches? whats wrong with a fit for purpose classroom , small classes and inspirational specialist teachers and a backboard ?
some of these schools need a reality check if they continue to effectively ostracise their bread and butter they will reap a terrible vengence,and retribution mark my words!
some of which is apparant on this thread , the resentment is palpable.

[hermanmunster]

just wondering, when is the most cost effective time to invest in private education if funds are limited ?
1) at prep level
2) senoir school upto GCSE
3) sixth form
4) state school with external tutoring at any of the levels above
You only have one choice.

I was very pleased with 1)

[ClappedOutMum]

The main problem with Top Tier Indies is they're squeezing out ordinary middle class families out of this sector, when I was young the mainstay of private school parents came from brackgrounds like solicitors doctor and small busness ownners but the relentless increase in fees yr on yr is simply pricing us out of this market, my sons indie 5% yr on yr increase despite the present economic crisis, there is this mad facility war between private school driving up fees in an attemp to attract oversea clients.do these schools really need a 100m swimming pools state of the art sixth form centres and 5 unused astro pitches? whats wrong with a fit for purpose classroom , small classes and inspirational specialist teachers and a backboard ?
some of these schools need a reality check if they continue to effectively ostracise their bread and butter they will reap a terrible vengence,and retribution mark my words!
some of which is apparant on this thread , the resentment is palpable.

Indeed, or peakocks on the lawn, Bonsai gardens, and a mini zoo (thinking Whitgift here - not even a top tier). I do want to pay for good education, since too difficult to get into the grammars, but some of the "extras" are just luxuries that we can do well without.

[Loopyloulou]

just wondering, when is the most cost effective time to invest in private education if funds are limited ?
1) at prep level
2) senoir school upto GCSE
3) sixth form
4) state school with external tutoring at any of the levels above
You only have one choice.

I was very pleased with 1)

There is something to be said for 1). I have read arguments to that effect. It can be used especially where grammar schools exist, as a help to entry.

[hermanmunster]

It wasn't so much getting in to the GS (different area) but the mindset about learning that I noticed - seemed to carry on throughout GS.

TBH Maybe it was just my kids or maybe it was the school, can't re run it to try out the theory..

[Yummiemummie]

"Yummiemummie, I have significant experience of both sectors of education and am aware that the standards and styles in each vary considerably around the country - all that is asked is that people have thought through their reasons as to why they choose one over the other."

I think this goes without saying doesn't it?

It's a massive investment and one that you only get one chance at, so of course OPs give it a great deal of thought. The very fact that forum members are forum members shows that they certainly do their research. Some posters are contacting me privately to avoid the, 'why inde?' discussion. It's a shame because others could benefit from the Q&As if it was on the forum.

[Yummiemummie]

The main problem with Top Tier Indies is they're squeezing out ordinary middle class families out of this sector, when I was young the mainstay of private school parents came from brackgrounds like solicitors doctor and small busness ownners but the relentless increase in fees yr on yr is simply pricing us out of this market, my sons indie 5% yr on yr increase despite the present economic crisis, there is this mad facility war between private school driving up fees in an attemp to attract oversea clients.do these schools really need a 100m swimming pools state of the art sixth form centres and 5 unused astro pitches? whats wrong with a fit for purpose classroom , small classes and inspirational specialist teachers and a backboard ?

JSN I completely agree. Boarding costs in particular are crazy.

[JSN]

there are exactly 25 grammar schools in the ft-top-100 i.e 25%
there are 164 such schools .

at hit rate of aprox 15% of getting into the top 100

there are aprox 520 Indies listed of which 75 are in the top 100 i.e 75%

a hit rate of aprox 14% of getting into the top 100

fair comparison??

methodology/assumptions
the last Indie listed is Box Hill School at rank 2,139 and yes it is selective, entrance exam, interview and school report i.e the whole sheband, and all the Indies above have competitive exams that I checked at random
reasonable assumption ?I think so
(BTW fees for this school an eye watering £27,840 for full board )

I think its safe to say all state grammars are selective.

why ft-ranking?? the most holistic and consistant league tables out there ?

the figure 520 from 2011 listings 2012 not listed, safe to say not much will change in numbers in one yr
reasonable assumption? I think so

conclusion- if money is tight and you have the option of a grammar in the top 100 think very carefully about parting with your hard earned money for an Indies
reasonable assumption ? open for discussion

do grammars do as good a job as Indies ? you decide

http://rankings.ft.com/secondary-school ... hools-2012" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[d2001]

this is too stressful. I 'm gonna stick him in a grammar, save some dosh and then try 6th form for inde, if that's what he wants. Unless, he gets 50% scholarship in which he deserves an inde... he wants a big swim pool