Can’t afford school fees any longer

[Whichwaytooo]

We have 2 DC (Year 3 and Year 5), both at private school. Our bills have more than doubled this year, but the big issue is our fixed rate mortgage ends in 7 months’ time and our monthly costs are going to go up massively.

Added to that school fees are increasing by 8% due to CoL, and then it’s looking like there will be VAT on top of that. It’s just no longer affordable for us.

We’re wondering whether to take younger DC out of their school now, and try to weather the storm for a year with older DC and then go state for secondary. But both love their school and I think it will cause huge resentment in younger DC. I do have the option of working 6 days a week to bring in more money but I feel that I hardly see my DC as it is. We have to pay next term’s fees anyway as haven’t given a term’s notice, but would it be easier to move both to state school at the beginning of a new school year?

Another issue is that there isn’t space for both DC at the same local school, so easier to justify keeping elder at current school for a year.

Sorry, a bit of a ramble but any advice would be appreciated.

@Monster80 it would be high interest/mortgage rates, high COL and high rises in fees because of high inflation and increasing pension contributions before we even get to the VAT issue.

As you have to pay for the autumn term anyway I would keep both DCs where they are until Christmas.

Get your younger DCs name on the waiting list for the preferred state primary & ask if they are able to hold older DCs Year 6 place for a term (not sure if this is possible). Hopefully then you would be able to move both children together at Christmas.

Speak to the school first and see if they can help. Good luck OP.

@SheilaFentiman Yes I agree, it's a perfect financial storm for many households, before you even get to the VAT. Most private schools have already raised the fees by 20% based on COL, but parents are ready for Labour to do the same again next year, which would be a 40% rise in a year. Obviously the super rich can just suck it up (sell the Jag etc.), but for plently of rather ordinary middle class families in barely affordable private schools - it will be the final straw.

I agree with this. It’s easier to move in year 3 than year 6. Plus whatever you do you can’t make it fair, the oldest will always have had more years of private education.

Shshshs don’t mention the elephant in the room. I know another family in the process of doing this. Luckily for them the child is okay with it and he’s still very young.

I agree with a pp. it would be unfair and disruptive to move dc1 at the start/middle of year 6. I’d move dc2 a year earlier to save on fees and try to make it work for dc1 to finish there.

'This post will surely be a repetitive theme on MN if/when Labour add VAT to school fees. Where exactly are local authorities going to magic up the 100,000 + school places required? It’s such a terrible plan for everyone involved.
Shshshs don’t mention the elephant in the room. I know another family in the process of doing this. Luckily for them the child is okay with it and he’s still very young.'

Well, there are many, many theories on this and it's been covered by all the Education think tanks, etc...

Basically - it's not all going to happen overnight. Is it?

Many parents will continue to pay the fees, some schools may actually start behaving more like charities and opening places to poorer kids which will leave lovely state spots open for more MC kids.
There are falling numbers all over the country in primary schools which will lead on to secondaries, private schools that close - or chose to actually earn state money - can use their vast buildings and resources for more state pupils, and, hear me out, I'm fairly sure that when well off parents actually start to use more state schools the government might actually start giving more of a shit about them.

There is a theory - one proven in countries where most kids go to their local state school - that everyone sending their kids to a local schools and all kids having the same opportunities there, benefits everyone.

And as a parent with money and resources, you can still get tutors, pay for extra curricular stuff, travel etc. and give your child all of those experiences, over and above.

But the question here is, should Op use state schools? Yes, probably. Should s/he treat her children differently from one another? Absolutely not.

Hi OP,
Does your house allow for much downsizing?
Do you have much equity (despite hefty mortgage)?
If you could downsize and reduce your mortgage perhaps both kids could transition to state at year 6.

If you are in an area with huge house prices could the need to move both kids schools be the right time to think about moving to a cheaper region?

@Monster80 rises I have seen are more in the 8-10% bracket but after a few years of 0-5%, and with compounding, it’s a chunk of change.

“Most private schools have already raised the fees by 20% based on COL”

@VaccineSticker Very wise, beat the rush. Imagine this process is easier for parents in small villages, whereas London primary schools can vary wildly and inevitably the most popular have the fewest places to offer (and are heavily over-subscribed). Allegedly in-year transfers can be the best bet.

Best of luck @Whichwaytooo , it's a scary time at the moment for lots of us. All you can do is carefully consider all the options and make your best decision. I would also consider telling your children in age appropriate ways about the finances. We're doing similar with our children, not to scare them or go into too much detail but the basics so they have an understanding of the 'why'.

Don't forget that Year 7 applications for state secondary (England) are done in the autumn term. If you're going that route, you'll want to get yourself clued up in advance and ensure you know what you're doing (lots of threads on here).

If you can afford it, I would aim to keep both in their school for one more year since you have to pay until Christmas anyway. Then both children are leaving/starting a new school at the same time. I also think a lot of kids are ready for a move in Year 5 ( when middle schools used to start) rather than Year 4. We had new children starting Yr 5 in state primary and they seemed to settle fine.

Why would you keep a child in school to sit SATS? SATS are meaningless to a child!

‘Best of luck @Whichwaytooo , it's a scary time at the moment for lots of us. ‘

I having to go to a normal school??? Oh the horror. FFS.

I agree with a lot of pp to ask the school for discount etc to keep eldest in one more year until secondary. And yes you haven't given the terms notice and as far as I know they don't tend to budge on this but you never know but if there's no space locally for both then what would you do anyway pulling them both out? My eldest was pulled from pillar to post in private due to in laws and in the end I had to start him afresh in year 3 and little one in reception in state school and haven't looked back since. It's a shame and they like their friends and everything but you have to think about yourself and the family and a whole too ,hope you are able to sort it.

@ChunkaMunkaBoomBoom I think that's unfair. Its not wrong to acknowledge that moving schools is a big deal. In the hypothetical scenario where a school closes and a family has to find 2 or 3 places in different year groups for their children, plus childcare that co-ordinates and all links up that's a huge ask, especially if (as others have pointed out) there is a mass exodus to state. Added to that, many of us are breaking ourselves financially to keep our kids in private because the state system failed them and cannot accommodate their needs. I can't imagine telling mine they have to go back to the school that they were at before, leaving the place where they finally feel supported and able to learn.

Lets not forget that at the heart of this are children, who did not ask to be sent private and might face very upsetting disruption, separation from friends etc. The almost gleeful attitude of some on these threads about how "poor little Tarquin will have to slum it with the plebs" is really uncalled for.

Speak to school about scholarship??
If not then take them all out and start afresh September. Not fair to keep one in and one out.

‘The almost gleeful attitude of some on these threads about how "poor little Tarquin will have to slum it with the plebs" is really uncalled for.’

Almost as bad as the attitudes about how awful sending a child to state school is… as if the rest of us don’t care about our children’s education.

I think people are just worried about the, often, marked difference and how their children would adapt going from private to state. Though there has been the rare thread about a state school child adapting to private.

I changed schools frequently (changing, chaotic fortunes of my parents) and attended private, as a boarder and a day pupil, and occasionally state school. There was a difference. I was bullied at one state school for my accent and was called 'posh' and a 'swot'. They do things slightly differently, and use different names, just from the daily routine angle.

If you've attended both you'll understand.

Both my boys are at private school and we’ve had emails from both schools reminding us that there are bursaries available and fee help if people need it.
The prep school that my younger son is at also has about 90% getting scholarships for secondary schools so is there an option there too?
Talk to the school, I know our prep school is very nervous about losing lots of kids as the margins are pretty tight so there may be help available.

I don't think that's the norm.
Scholarships, hardship funds and assistance with fees are usually in short supply and competition is high for the former. I know of people who have had to leave my children's schools after a change in financial circumstances, or change from boarding to day, where possible.

If you local primary is good or least acceptable to you I would move your younger one now and appeal for a place for your year 6 to start asap. Plenty of kids in state (and I'm sure private) move school's for loads of different reasons and it's not always a disaster. The child starting year 6 will have a whole year to make new friends, go on the residential, do the play and bond with the group.

I have known several year 6 kids transfer at the beginning of the year and make loads of friends and happily go to high school with their new friends.

You will need to help them by inviting friends over/maybe doing a birthday party but it's all doable. Sell them the school and the advantages of being local. It could be really positive.

I’m a firm believer that unless you can very comfortably afford it you should stick with state or of things get a bit more expensive you’ll have to move your kids. It’s a nice luxury for the very rich, but not a necessity.

that said. It’s easier to move primary aged kids than secondary. It’ll be harder on your eldest, but they’ll get through it. I’d just pull the plaster off and move both now. You can’t afford it and there’s no point getting yourself into financial difficulty for it.