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Summary: State or private education for your children? You have some tough financial decisions to make.

Private schools - examine the options.

Author: Richard Norfolk

Ask a mix of people to name private schools and generally you would probably get a list which starts

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with Eton and Harrow and maybe a school local to the individual, but then the list would quickly fade out. In truth there are very many private schools and many variations of education are provided. Most people want the very best for their children, and a good education is usually high on the list.

Most private schools provide a good education in the usual subjects, with all the advantages of smaller class sizes being expected and 'low take-up' subjects available. If your child has a learning difficulty of some sort then there are specialised schools available, where the disadvantaged child with hearing or vision problems etc. will receive the specific education which they need.

Conversely, gifted children can be 'brought out' at private schools which cater for their particular strengths, which are developed whilst general educational subjects are also taught. So it follows that few parents could honestly claim that private schooling is not a requirement of theirs. If the fees can be afforded then a child is likely to benefit in the jobs market for the whole of their working life.

It would appear that education in state schools is regarded by many parents as failing the pupils and private school education is becoming more popular but also, by the rules of supply and demand, much more expensive. Over the last seven years, figures show that fees ( home insurance ) have increased by 50%, with the result that the cost of a senior boarding school is now likely to be over £20,000 per year. Non boarding could reduce the direct cost to around half these figures, but remember that 'boarding at home' also has a cost!

The possibility of scholarship for a gifted child could be a lifeline which most private schools have available. Alternatively, bursaries are available in cases of low family income, although these are means tested and priority is given to pupils already at the school where the parents are in 'reduced circumstances'. According to the Independent Schools Council, assistance is currently given to around 30% of pupils. More details are available online at www.isc.co.uk .

Parents in the armed forces, the clergy and some who are employed abroad may find that some or all of the fees are paid for them. Try asking - you may be pleasantly surprised! On the other hand, if a change of occupation was to bring an end to the perk, ( critical illness ) the disruption to the child's education could be serious.

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