| The decision to send your child to a private | | | | pre-prep school and see how it goes. |
| school is a very personal one. There are | | | | |
| parents who make this commitment soon after, | | | | The cost of private education using an |
| or even before, their child arrives in the | | | | averagely priced pre-prep school from the age |
| world. The child's name may be put down for | | | | of four, through prep school and on to an |
| the parent's choice of independent school. | | | | independent senior school could be as much as |
| Quite often the school may be the one which a | | | | £200,000 plus. More if a boarding school |
| parent attended or one chosen because they | | | | is chosen. |
| wish the child to be educated according to a | | | | |
| particular religious belief. | | | | In the case of parents who have pre-planned |
| | | | their child's education, it is likely that |
| There are also private schools catering for | | | | they have built provision for the costs into |
| children with special needs as far as their | | | | their budgeting and there are various |
| education is concerned. Children with | | | | products geared towards this. |
| impaired hearing, problems with vision or | | | | |
| mobility or some degree of learning | | | | Many parents, disillusioned with the state |
| disabilities are catered for. Schools are | | | | sector, come more slowly to the decision to |
| available for specially gifted children, | | | | head for the private option and therefore |
| offering training in drama, music or dance | | | | have made no provision for the costs. In this |
| alongside a comprehensive academic | | | | case, unless you dip into your savings or |
| curriculum. | | | | have sufficient income, borrowing may be the |
| | | | only choice. |
| All independent schools in England and Wales | | | | |
| are required to be registered with the | | | | There are tens of thousands of parents who |
| Department for Education and Skills. In | | | | are making great financial sacrifices to give |
| Scotland and Northern Ireland the | | | | their children the very best start in their |
| registration is with the Scottish or Ireland | | | | education. Around a quarter of these have |
| Executives. | | | | average, or lower, incomes and are choosing |
| | | | to go without holidays or other luxuries to |
| The normal pattern of private education is | | | | pay school fees. |
| kindergarten or pre-prep school from the age | | | | |
| of four (sometimes earlier) and then on to | | | | There has been a notable rise in applications |
| prep school until the age of thirteen when | | | | for personal loans to fund private education |
| they move into a senior independent school. | | | | fees and it is expected that these will |
| | | | increase as more parents decide to invest in |
| Some parents choose to use independent | | | | their child's future. Around 620,000 children |
| schools for part of their child's education, | | | | are now educated in independent schools. |
| combined with state schools. They may decide | | | | |
| to send their child to a local state school | | | | A recent study shows that not only are |
| for some years, before transferring him or | | | | private school pupils more likely to attain |
| her to a private school for their senior | | | | better results, but also to get higher-paying |
| years. Not all parents like the idea of the | | | | jobs than state school pupils who were just |
| large comprehensive state schools. The child | | | | as able and of similar backgrounds. |
| may have attended, and made good progress, at | | | | |
| a smaller village school and the change may | | | | For all the advice you need on loans, the |
| be something which worries both parents and | | | | internet is the place to go. Here you'll find |
| child. Alternatively the decision may be made | | | | advice and help and discover the best way to |
| to give the child a good start at a good | | | | fund your "personal investment". |