Private School

[HuntyGirl]

For those of you who send your DC to private school, what are the main professions of the parents? There has been lots of articles recently about the squeeze on middle class families ability to afford private school due to the current economic circumstances and I would be interested to know from those with experience. It is definitely something we want to do and hope it will be possible.

I do not want this to be a private school bashing thread so please move on if that is your intention.

@mrssunshinexxx
I actually agree with the idea that primary is important but for me it was always about class sizes. As a state school teacher I wanted to avoid 30+ in a class. However, personally I think 9 is too small a pool for friendships. We rejected a couple of schools with class sizes under 10 and opted for the one with 15 as that seemed to me to be the sweet spot.

@HuntyGirl , I’m a state school teacher and my husband works for an investment bank. We lived in Manchester and my children attended a co-ed prep and single sex secondaries. We were very fortunate to have such high achieving senior schools on our doorstep. My daughter attended Withington Girls School which is one of the best in the country yet such good value at 12k a year. Paying 3 sets of school fees basically equated to my teaching salary so all in all good value I think especially when they came out with a good clutch of A*s and As at A’level.

@montysorry I would agree with you depending on the girl/ boy split
Luckily it's 50/50

@mrssunshinexxx,
Thats handy but obviously unpredictable from year to year.
I’m not sure I agree with your assertion that teachers are better qualified in the private sector. In fact, in my experience, the opposite can be true. I have good A’levels, a degree from a top university, a PGCE and a Masters. I teach in a state primary in a deprived inner city school. Many colleagues are equally qualified. I know of a few teachers that we’ve encountered through my own DC’s schooling who are paid as unqualified teachers yet are taking the class. One was in EYFS, one was a linguist and a few more were sports teachers. (1 ex international and a few more elite sportsmen and women) Apart from the EYFS teacher I don’t actually have too much of a problem with skilled individuals plying their trade as long as the school has been vigorous in its safeguarding when recruiting. But I know that it simply wouldn’t be allowed in the state sector.
Pay is often pretty similar and they are aligned to the Superannuation scheme too. They do have nice long holidays though and plenty of non contact time whilst the kids are with specialists. It’s not for me though as my vocation lies elsewhere.

My son goes to private school. I run my own property management/ development business, and I am qualified in a medical specialism (which I have been retired from on health grounds). His Dad is a supermarket manager. His friends have parents who work in retail management, running their own food outlets, a taxi firm owner, a landlord who owns many flats, and a few from legal occupations. If you are going to pay the fees, do your research on where to choose. I rushed into the decision and have been generally disappointed by the school. If I could go back again, I would have looked elsewhere. Not all private schools are good by definition, as I discovered the hard way.

@montysorry most children stay at the same school so it would be unlucky to differ too much. I hear what you are saying I should of said particularly at my children's school re the level of teachers.

Just to add that we paid fees from income. Sadly, grandparents died young (my side) or have zero interest (DH’s side). My salary basically equated to 3 sets of fees.

When our DC was at private/independent school many parents were doctors, solicitors and accountants, lots were Conservative economy careers like financial advisors and property developers, many were in IT/tech companies (Silicon Fen), few were academics (like us), a few were old school posh, a few were small business owners. Not that many were posh or second generation private school.

I think it depends on the type of school. I teach in a big independent day school in a city. Lots of doctors/ lawyers/ academics etc. DH teaches in a small town boarding school - I’d say wider mixture of farming/ old money/ Chinese boarders.

My son had his first taster day and today they emailed they want to invite him for second taster day and would like me to meet the head teacher afterwards - what does that mean??

kindest abit scared

They interview parents to check they are a good fit for the school, too. Sounds like your son has aced it, congrats 🥳

Thankyou.

just wondering why they have invited him for a second taster day was worried on that

Hello i really need help.

my son had one taster day in independent school. He really loved it. Now they sent an email they want another taster day and head teacher wants to meet me. He loved the school. What do u think? Will she not offer space? What could it be? Ive attached the emAil they sent

Headteachers like to vet parents. It’s usually nothing to worry about

But they also asked for a second taster day which is worrisom

At my school not sure much is inherited, but otherwise it’s THIS.
80%+ of families have someone working in finance in some capacity - and often both parents.

Myself - a freelance tutor, hubby on a minimum wage. Day school, we pay full fees. It is absolutely manageable, if you live in a rubbish area, don't go on 4 holidays a year and go out 4 times a year, don't smoke, don't do takeaways, drive an old car and live in a flat you with no redecorations and no designer clothes.

How much are the school fees? Surely you are spending your husband’s entire salary on fees?

Agree. I would find it unusual for at least one parent of a child at my son’s school not to work in one of that list of professions.

@Georgiepud my friend working at Kings in Bruton says a high number are funded by grandparents. I doubt many parents discuss that though. Mind you, I’m not sure how grade 7 civil servants would fund independent school places (I’m grade 7 and dh grade 8 and we can’t afford it).