Do people expect ROI after paying private school fees?

You are a fool if you do. Our children had a full all-round education with lots of sports, activities and friends. They finished school as well-mannered socialised people who had loved their school and were mindful of their privilege. They made lots of friends. They probably got better results than they would have elsewhere, but how would you know? One is a chef. The other an actor who works in restaurants. They are good people. They do have very nice friends from all over the world. They have resisted the alumni clubs particularly in London, but their friends are all members and are convinced the networking is useful.

Depends whether your idea of a stimulating career aligns with theirs.
Depends whether reaching their potential is important to them. How do you define reaching potential anyway?

I can see why you’d be disappointed if you spent 100K plus on education and your child chose not to work or to do a minimum wage job.

For families that have to scrimp and save to get their kids there...yes, they do expect ROI.

My DD1 went to school with a girl whose parents made insane sacrifices to pay fr private school. We're not just talking no holidays etc. We're talking going without meals, working two jobs, only having one pair of shoes etc - honestly, it was pretty shocking to see. But the local states were shit. People don't make that sort of decision to see a child throw it away on a degree in media studies.

Yes, on the fence here. I'm less diplomatic than you - I see a load of problems with becoming an influencer. Not a career I'd ever encourage and yes, would be disappointed if dc picked that.

But private school is no guarantee of a lucrative career. Neither should a young person feel they have to pick a career based on income prospects.

I’m sure plenty will come on here to say they don’t but in reality….of course they do. As someone who worked in a private hellhole school for a while, parents absolutely expected a return on their investment and were often angry when they felt they weren’t getting it.

I took full advantage of my private education and it's made me miserable but self sufficient.
My kids are in state school but I'd move them if they were unhappy and failing.
I just want them to be able to pay their way in life and be happy ultimately.

Not their kids fault their business was shit

Everyone wants their kid to fulfil their potential. It shouldn't be dependent on how much money is spent on them. And I hope parents like this are screened out at selection

My experience, both as a pupil at a rural private school and as the parent of a child at a local prep school, was that there were two groups. The first were broadly those who had family money or a family business and weren't "academic" themselves (although often intelligent). They sent their child to a private school as they wanted their child to have a inice time at school and better facilities, smaller classes, a more varied curriculum and lots of trips lent itself to that. Then there were those (like me) who could afford the fees as we were in well paid professional jobs and wanted our DC to do well academically and make the most of the music/sport/theatre opportunities as we wanted our DC to have something on their "CV" for the next stage of education/life. The fact that a private school might give them more confidence was a bonus too. For the group I was in, we were essentially looking for some sort of return on investment as we wanted our children to be the best they could be and thought a private education would facilitate that.
That, though, is perhaps only relevant for the types of school I am familiar with. I think some of the London day schools would have more parents in the ROI camp than in the "have fun" camp.
What will be interesting, is if society does become more equitable with the old school network and so on counting for less as then those looking for an ROI might realise that they can't buy the opportunities they used to and therefore question whether it is worth it. If the private school label counts against them, then that, along with the imposition of VAT, could lead to some changes in the pupil body make up as people might not be prepared to make a bigger sacrifice for a reduced chance of an ROi

My dd and son in law are more interested in a nurturing atmosphere, no class disruption, stimulating material (trips that tie in etc.)
And lastly the opportunity for further education. Not a guarantee to XYZ uni or connections to XYZ business sector.
Basically good childhood memories.

Don't joke about it if they are in earshot

It does seem like a waste of money if nothing comes of it, I'd rather go on a family holiday

People will say no… it’s a terrible way to think about it

DH and I are children of immigrants.
none had any education beyond GCSEs some didn’t have that.
We both sat and got scholarships to schools that were academically in the top 10 in the uk.

they 💯 expected “ROI”.
we also expect “ROI”

if my child shows little academic aptitude I will support their education and in the best available state school option help them navigate their way to find the most appropriate career path…
but there’s no world in which we are dropping £250k to send them to St Cuthberts Nitwit Academy and Boarding school so they can go to Leeds Beckett and read media studies.

we don’t have generational wealth and despite being high earners our children don’t /wont have the luxury of studying fine art…

Nope. I just wanted my DC to have an enjoyable time at school, which they are.

In the case you describe your friend did get the ROI - their kid ostensibly got into a good uni course, as you say in your post. That the kid thought 'sod it' or a variation thereof is a looming risk but thems the breaks.

Having said that, if you have the sort of parent capable of shelling out hundreds of thousands on your schooling and extra circulars to seemingly buy you a place at the top then you'll probably be fine doing a BA in Studies in British Soap Operas at a uni founded 2 months ago. You can reasonably take a few years to 'find your calling' while spending your afternoons journalling.

Of course some do. For many it might not be actually to do with investment but affording private school is often a luxury of high earners that are very driven. Very often they expect kids to have the same values as them and this is what their issue is.

For me it is about reducing the odds of not getting though the school system.

I have too many friends whose teens (for many reasons) are school refusers.

If my child can have a love of learning egnighted and surrounded bully others that are motivated to learn that has to be a good thing.

I went to a (bad) state comp and have struggled with sending my son privately. But it is the right thing for my family at the moment.

I do not care what he does post school as long as he is motivated to do it.

Not really but I would be cross if they wanted to be an ‘influencer’ 😂😂 - only because im old and the concept of that is ridiculous to me (I have friend who are influencers - still ridiculous to me) 😂😂 I’m hoping it would die down by the time they graduate - they’re pretty young.

No, I send mine so that hopefully he has more choices in life and mainly just so that he has a more pleasant and enjoyable education. As long as he is happy I don’t mind what career he chooses.

Return On Investment

What does ROI stand for? I can only think Republic of Ireland, obviously it's not that!

I do know someone whose child ended up an Estate Agent after 100k spent on private school. They lost their business and would now kill for that 100k back. They were fuming.

Some do, some don't. Believe it or not parents in private schools hold different values and aspirations for educational outcomes, just like parents in state schools.
Your question seems a little faux naive. It's like saying are all state parents poor and don't care what they're children do?
I'm a state and private parent. I want all my children to be well stimulated, taught in line with their abilities and to emerge having fulfilled their potential with real choices and aspirations for their future.

Well I think many parents do expect that from paying so much. I must admit I did think last month when my DD got 11 x G9’s from a state school that I’ve not paid a penny for that. Of course people don’t just pay private education for the academics, but the majority probably hope they will go on to a good Uni

Would have loved to have had the opportunity to go private school. Forced into to a bottom drawer comp instead.

I personally haven't met anyone whose gone to private school who hasn't benefitted from it. They just seem to have a wuder scope of general knowledge and a certain polish. That's apparent even with those who have ended up in the same positions I have.

I think you can never lose in investing in your children's education. As regards specific high status ROI, it may well jump a generation so, grandchildren may benefit from experiences or connections gained by parent who went to PS.