If you were privately educated in the UK, what job do you do and how much do you get paid?

[MNisMyGuiltyPleasure]

You often hear that people who were privately educated had a better start in life and that's why they are more likely to secure better-paid jobs.

I was not privately educated but I am well paid. So I'm curious to see what jobs people who were privately educated in the UK have as adults, an how much they earn from those jobs.

Me - primary school teacher. Which actually makes very good use of the wide educational grounding my secondary school gave me. In what other job would I frequently draw directly from the Greek, French, History, Physics, Maths, Latin grammar etc that I was taught?

Private school is a waste of money! Maybe good for connections possibly… no one I know has done well from it! Grades/university degrees/courses/masters are what get you the better jobs and money!!
as a pp said spend your money on holidays, experience WITH your children, savings pot etc

Many of us do all of those. It’s not one or the other and certainly not a waste of money.

No, not family money.
One of DDs friends has her fees paid by her grandparents and her parents have decent jobs but no, on the whole it isn’t family money.

My DHs parents still live in the same 3 bed council house he grew up in and my parents were a paramedic and a finance officer so no family money round here to speak of. Due to its location, there are quite a few children of professional sportspeople at the school. A few large business owners. Wealthy parents, not wealthy family going back generations.

@Meandfour
that was meant towards those who spend all they pretty much have on private school

we earn 160,000 joint income and couldn’t afford it for our two

@Joesghostkyconscience would you like to comment on the point that I and others have made that it isn't about the ultimate outcome but the experience our children have of being failed by the state system? Is it a waste of money for me to protect them from arsehole thugs who beat up my son and threaten him every day? And don't tell me "oh it happens in private schools too" - I have a direct contact to his tutor and housemaster and there are 1/3 number of kids there for them to keep track of. Any even minor incidents that crop up get communicated and dealt with immediately.

I agree with you in the circumstances where significant sacrifices have to be made.
That’s not the case for all.

£32k in a public sector job that doesn’t require a degree.

I was a very nervous child (still am as an adult) and my parents sent me for that reason (smaller class sizes etc). This was in the 80s so private school was more attainable then for middle earners - neither of my parents had degrees, both were in middle management type jobs.

That’s your opinion.
I do not consider 1 penny I have spent of Private school a waste because we didn’t choose it so that our DC get better jobs and earn more money.

Absolutely yes

@Hoppinggreen
Unfortunately in this country you need money and connections to experience life to the full and live a good quality of life!!!

People I know
Academic 60k
School teacher 30k
Engineer x2, unsure but decent standard of living
Doctor Also unsure
Unemployed TBH their personality means they are going to struggle in life always, DS of someone I know.

The best paid person I know went to a state school and ended up at Cambridge, huge salary now on about 200k.

Of course, State schools famously don't teach, err, maths and history.

Despite how it seems I have no particular view on private schools, but this is an objectively funny statement. I went to State school and have GCSEs in Latin, French, history, physics and (shock!) maths.

I went to private prep school and then state grammar. This was in Kent which has the grammar system still and everyone who could possibly afford it paid for private prep or tutors of their child stood a chance of getting into the grammar. I will say it was much more affordable then, and lots more grammar places per applicant than where I live now.

I'm now a lawyer on £115k plus bonus and going into the equity track this year.

I think the small private school was a huge benefit to me as I was a massive daydreamer. (Finally diagnosed with inattentive ADHD in my 40s). In a bigger class I would have just sat at the back and stared out of the window. Grammar too applied an additional pressure I needed to keep focused.

However it's more nuanced than that. My sister had the same education and was much more academic but has ended up in a poorly paid part time job. Once she finished education she didn't really know what to do "in real life". Lots of my classmates were similar. There are a few with really successful careers, not necessarily the ones I would have predicted. Lots of teachers, a very high number, some teaching at our old school! Quite a lot have just drifted like my sister though.

My husband went to public school (boarding) and is an accountant but earns quite a bit less than me, about £70k.

His niece went to private boarding school (paid for by grandparents) and is now on universal credit with a part time pub job. She didn't know what to do with herself after school and she's still deciding. mid 20s though so still time.

It's not as simple as private education = highly paid job.

Private school is a waste of money! Maybe good for connections possibly… no one I know has done well from it!

No one you know?

You either know very few people or those you DO know were very unlucky

Completely agree.

I do not consider 1 penny I have spent of Private school a waste because we didn’t choose it so that our DC get better jobs and earn more money.

Isn't that the point?

Parents who choose to spend their money this way are happy with their decision!!

I'm not sending mine to private schools for connections or to get a better job. I send them so they have a more enjoyable school experience. Our family income is less than yours too, so we are making sacrifices.

Privately educated here. First Class degree in Health Science and earning 80k per annum (NHS). I also have a private clinic which is steadily increasing in turnover since opening in 2020.

I invested wisely in property years ago and have a rental income. I will have very robust capital return from that property when I retire (nurse in the NHS).

However, I chose not to privately educate my children as my own experience at school was awful. Bullying - both from teachers and pupils which impacted my self esteem, which then impacted on my lifestyle choices and choice of men.

Don't do it, think long term, if your children are bright they'll do well in a good state school. But that's just my opinion from personal experience.

So only people who go to Private school can “experience life to the full and live a good quality of life”?
Money makes life easier of course but plenty of people who aren’t wealthy and have no good connections (whatever that means) can have great lives.
I hope my DC will, whatever they choose to do and while I know they are getting a great education and overall experience at Private school that won’t on its own determine their lives

@3WildOnes
waste of money. If you choose the right state you will have the same outcome!

I agree that most DC will do well in a Good State school, unfortunately not all of us have access to one

You do know you can’t choose your State school don’t you? You have a preference not a choice

People without children in private schools would never understand. To them the return on investment in education is a number, so there must be a figurative income to justify the cost.

But most people will get their no1 choice if they live in the catchment