Page 11 | AIBU to question rising private school fees amid declining GCSE results

Sidedoors · 2026-08-23T15:09:51+00:00

Private school GCSE decline. What happened? Is this an example of what’s to come? Fees are rising well beyond inflation annually yet, results are in decline. State schools prioritising, ‘reserving seats’ in house for 6th Form. Risky investment? [[https://schoolsweek.co.uk/gcse-results-day-2026-6-key-trends-from-this-years-data https://schoolsweek.co.uk/gcse-results-day-2026-6-key-trends-from-this-years-data/]]

Boredofprivateschoolbashing · 24/08/2026 14:06

Sidedoors · 24/08/2026 11:39

By that time you risk your children being socially unsettled. It’s a huge consideration.

Do not put your children into private school if it will put you into debt or financial hardship.

There are already 1 in 3 in that boat within private schools. Operating budgets cut to the bone, cut backs to provision and standards to plaster over internal financial black holes.

If you’re outside of London your fees will pay these deficits.

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You sound like a parrot OP. Our indie (outside London) is brilliant - quality teaching, good grades, careers advice and a wealth of extracurriculars.

Backtoschooloncemore · 24/08/2026 13:57

Why is it a shock to private school parents that some students are on bursaries? They all advertise them. And what relevance is there anyway? You must assess value for money on the basis of your own child.

CoventryCity · 24/08/2026 13:53

Sidedoors · 24/08/2026 13:42

I urge families to start sharing the begging letters (not just on what’s app chats) online. Once the illusion is destroyed and the spell is broken everyone will see things as they are.

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Ok thanks for clarifying who you are, again.

Bored of you now. Ta ta.

HollyhocksandPeons · 24/08/2026 13:52

Sidedoors · 24/08/2026 13:44

Now that’s a smart private school parent! Believe me there are many (all feeling the same!) those in receipt of discounts 1/3 are laughing and mocking but it’s not at all funny for those footing the bill!

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Unfortunately, this has been my unpleasant experience. We have remained living in a bad area because we paid full fees, so the money that we could have spent on buying a house in a decent area, was spent on tuition fees. Because of that, we could not afford hobbies and holidays, seriously, but we were happy because we thought we were buying something special. School trips abroad were also out of the question. Imagine my surprise when I found out that people from posh areas were on bursaries - not a thought in their parents to release equity to finance the fees, always a begging bowl out for the rest to pay for them. There were also several minority pupils on bursaries, with properties abroad, second homes in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, but still pleading poverty and begging for bursaries. The bursary committee clearly could not care less - they did not check properly, because even from Instagram posts it was visible that they were lying.

Backtoschooloncemore · 24/08/2026 13:52

Sidedoors · 24/08/2026 13:38

Where are you getting all of this?

Fantasists!

If there’s nothing to hide then why would anyone protest and hurl insults towards anyone for simply suggesting.

Research the individual school finance.

Research results

Speak to other families (who are full fee payers) enquire if there have been any school begging letters, any cancelled co curricular or any complaints. They will tell you.

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Quite clearly not resentful of those on bursaries at all!! I wonder where I got that idea from? 😂😂😂

Original poster

Sidedoors · 24/08/2026 13:51

Backtoschooloncemore · 24/08/2026 13:50

Burseries are not normally paid from general funds. They normally come from endowments and cannot be used to reduce fees more generally.

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“Normally”

well they’re not. Fact.

OP posts:

Backtoschooloncemore · 24/08/2026 13:50

HollyhocksandPeons · 24/08/2026 13:42

Speaking as a private school parent, I think private school fees should only be increased after all other options have been exhausted - like removal of bursaries.

Burseries are not normally paid from general funds. They normally come from endowments and cannot be used to reduce fees more generally.

Original poster

Sidedoors · 24/08/2026 13:47

CoventryCity · 24/08/2026 13:41

What?

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The bursary brigade 1/3 one third! Are the only ones left still championing the Independent sector.

You’d have to be a moron to be satisfied paying more receiving less! Which by its very nature goes against the purpose of “independent education”

OP posts:

Zimunya · 24/08/2026 13:45

ConBatulations · 23/08/2026 16:23

Completely meaningless data. Doesn't control for SEN, prior attainment, selection policy, disadvantage or any of the multiple other factors that influence results. Some private schools closing may also have had an impact.

If your child is at a private school or you are planning to send them to one then the only thing that matters is whether that school is right for them.

Yes, this. Most people that I know who send their children to private school do so for a variety of reasons, none of which are better GCSE marks. Think SEN, learning difficulties, the need for smaller class sizes, previously been bullied etc.

Original poster

Sidedoors · 24/08/2026 13:44

HollyhocksandPeons · 24/08/2026 13:42

Speaking as a private school parent, I think private school fees should only be increased after all other options have been exhausted - like removal of bursaries.

Now that’s a smart private school parent! Believe me there are many (all feeling the same!) those in receipt of discounts 1/3 are laughing and mocking but it’s not at all funny for those footing the bill!

OP posts:

BingoBnago · 24/08/2026 13:42

Both my children attend private school not for the “best” results but because I know these settings will support them and push them where needed, they’d both get lost in the state system as neither of them fit the mould.

Essentially their mental health won’t suffer as they’re in the right school for their needs.

Original poster

Sidedoors · 24/08/2026 13:42

CoventryCity · 24/08/2026 13:35

😂😆

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I urge families to start sharing the begging letters (not just on what’s app chats) online. Once the illusion is destroyed and the spell is broken everyone will see things as they are.

OP posts:

HollyhocksandPeons · 24/08/2026 13:42

Speaking as a private school parent, I think private school fees should only be increased after all other options have been exhausted - like removal of bursaries.

CoventryCity · 24/08/2026 13:41

Sidedoors · 24/08/2026 13:40

Any full fee paying family or friends of such will know that no full fee payer is remotely finding the current situation amusing.

Make of that what you will……

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What?

Original poster

Sidedoors · 24/08/2026 13:40

CoventryCity · 24/08/2026 13:35

😂😆

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Any full fee paying family or friends of such will know that no full fee payer is remotely finding the current situation amusing.

Make of that what you will……

OP posts:

Original poster

Sidedoors · 24/08/2026 13:38

Backtoschooloncemore · 24/08/2026 13:32

I think she is resentful of those on bursaries and thinks private school is a waste of money - but doesn’t want her (currently primary) child to have to go to a state school unless it is a super duper selective that gets high grades and full of children of appropriate people. And doesn’t want to move private school either. But does reserve the right to complain about it. Repeatedly.

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Where are you getting all of this?

Fantasists!

If there’s nothing to hide then why would anyone protest and hurl insults towards anyone for simply suggesting.

Research the individual school finance.

Research results

Speak to other families (who are full fee payers) enquire if there have been any school begging letters, any cancelled co curricular or any complaints. They will tell you.

OP posts:

CoventryCity · 24/08/2026 13:35

MsSquiz · 24/08/2026 11:44

And most of those comments were you repeating yourself and replying to yourself.

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😂😆

Backtoschooloncemore · 24/08/2026 13:32

FourSevenFive · 24/08/2026 12:55

Ok, so your point is - if you considered putting child in private school from wrong reasons, don't do it.

You might have to rub shoulders with <shock> ordinary people, some of them will use bursaries or even <double shock> staff discount.

And there is no guarantee your child will get better marks even though you pay for it.

I think she is resentful of those on bursaries and thinks private school is a waste of money - but doesn’t want her (currently primary) child to have to go to a state school unless it is a super duper selective that gets high grades and full of children of appropriate people. And doesn’t want to move private school either. But does reserve the right to complain about it. Repeatedly.

FourSevenFive · 24/08/2026 12:55

Ok, so your point is - if you considered putting child in private school from wrong reasons, don't do it.

You might have to rub shoulders with <shock> ordinary people, some of them will use bursaries or even <double shock> staff discount.

And there is no guarantee your child will get better marks even though you pay for it.

GirlsInGreen · 24/08/2026 11:59

The most bizarre threads!

"Show me on the dolly where the private school hurt you"

Backtoschooloncemore · 24/08/2026 11:45

Sidedoors · 24/08/2026 11:39

By that time you risk your children being socially unsettled. It’s a huge consideration.

Do not put your children into private school if it will put you into debt or financial hardship.

There are already 1 in 3 in that boat within private schools. Operating budgets cut to the bone, cut backs to provision and standards to plaster over internal financial black holes.

If you’re outside of London your fees will pay these deficits.

Show quote history

Loads of children move school for all sorts of reasons. Including because their parents decide not to continue paying private school fees.

You are not forced to stay somewhere you don’t like.

MsSquiz · 24/08/2026 11:44

Sidedoors · 24/08/2026 11:22

It maximised 40 pages and 1000 replies.

I was unable to add further comments. MN explained its full. Capacity.

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And most of those comments were you repeating yourself and replying to yourself.

Original poster

Sidedoors · 24/08/2026 11:39

Backtoschooloncemore · 24/08/2026 11:36

Yet none of you are capable of making changes. It is only one term’s notice you have to give at most schools and you are not required to leave your children there for that term. If available state schools don’t appeal for whatever reason then it is up to you to decide if it is worth paying for the difference or look at a different private school.

The school might be at fault in persuading you to start there, but if you don’t like it and stay then the fault is all yours.

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By that time you risk your children being socially unsettled. It’s a huge consideration.

Do not put your children into private school if it will put you into debt or financial hardship.

There are already 1 in 3 in that boat within private schools. Operating budgets cut to the bone, cut backs to provision and standards to plaster over internal financial black holes.

If you’re outside of London your fees will pay these deficits.

OP posts:

Backtoschooloncemore · 24/08/2026 11:36

Sidedoors · 24/08/2026 11:21

I’ve seen too many of my personal friends suffering, their kids suffering making payments to a corrupt tiered business “pyramid scheme” masquerading as education provision for their children.

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Yet none of you are capable of making changes. It is only one term’s notice you have to give at most schools and you are not required to leave your children there for that term. If available state schools don’t appeal for whatever reason then it is up to you to decide if it is worth paying for the difference or look at a different private school.

The school might be at fault in persuading you to start there, but if you don’t like it and stay then the fault is all yours.

Charlotte120221 · 24/08/2026 11:34

OP I really have no idea what you're saying?

The article you quote admits that the 'drop' is so small that it might be a statistical anomaly.

If you're not sure you're getting value for money for your kids by sending the private then switch!

All the independents near us did really well in the recent exam round.

And lots of parents are choosing independent for bigger reasons than exam results.

VAT will make some schools financially precarious. It won't make the whole sector suddenly cut all extra curriculars and stop employing quality staff.

Grade inflation has been a thing for decades - not sure why you're so exercised about it now? Someone will be along to advise that they're introducing a grade 9 star (or a grade 10) shortly