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