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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Private schools and holidays

97 replies

Joysmum · 09/04/2014 07:49

AIBU. To find it ironic that those who can afford to send their children to private school are better able to benefit from cheaper family holidays because private schools have longer holidays and they can take theirs before the masses break up and the prices get hiked!

btw it's just an observation as I'm not anti private school nor anti market forces re pricing

OP posts:
BrianTheMole · 09/04/2014 09:19

Thats true beast. Same for us. Camping holidays only. Nice to have quieter campsites though.

AfricanExport · 09/04/2014 09:20

Exactly Beast

Some state school parents have this fictional image of private schools. If only it did mean we're all rich.Hmm

nicename · 09/04/2014 09:22

What's a 'holiday'? I haven't had one for about 5 years, so my mind is a bit sketchy.

The only folks I know who take regular holidays (1+ a year) are either the increadibly wealthy or those 'ordinary' folks with kids at state school.

It really isn't so cut and dried as all that.

When did it become a 'right' to have 2 weeks abroad every year? It wasn't like this when I was a kid. Most classmates went to granny in the countryside for their hols.

VenusDeWillendorf · 09/04/2014 09:27

My dcs have been in two private schools. One had ONLY two weeks holidays in August. One has holidays from end of may till end August. (Three long, long months)

School fees mean we are too broke to go on hols anywhere except visits to various family members for short trips.

We try and go abroad every few years for a week to get some sun, but in the main we are at home with the occasional camp for the DC.

There are no state schools nearby, otherwise we'd be happy to have them there! I quite fancy going skiing once in my life- or having a two week holiday, rather than the few days here and there.

Not all parents of kids in fee paying schools are rolling in dosh! And we sold our beat up Volvo too.....

lionheart · 09/04/2014 09:33

The extra week doesn't make much difference since the prices go up in the week before the state schools break anyhow.

meditrina · 09/04/2014 09:35

Yes, £15k or so per child per year is definitely works out cheaper than the difference between peak and off-peak holidays Hmm

consideringadoption84 · 09/04/2014 09:53

No kids here but I teach in an independent and I often feel really guilty about the amount of holiday I get. I love having it but I do find myself lying about the dates I break up on to other teacher friends in particular, and to anybody who isn't local. I also exaggerate the amount of work I do in the holidays.

It just feels so wrong to have so much leisure time and get such a good salary for it.

Partly it's an imbalance thing as I have to work very long hours in term time (boarding school so I do a couple of night shifts a week plus Saturdays) but being so busy makes the term go very quickly and then I just feel like lady muck!

I haven't noticed a massive difference in holiday prices though. But I suppose, as a single person, I'm unlikely to choose the kind of holidays that hike the prices up for school holidays.

mummymeister · 09/04/2014 12:12

Please stop saying that the holiday companies should make those breaks in school holidays cheaper. it is supply and demand, basic economics. if more people want a product the price goes up. if less want it, the price goes down. many holiday companies do subsidise out of school holiday breaks with the prices in school holidays. this is a fact. that's how come you can get a Travelodge type room for £18 a night for 2 in a wet weekend in January. because someone else is paying £120 a night in August. its also why you pay more for a dress in harrods than one using exactly the same amount of material - supply and demand. if you are waiting for the govt to legislate to make holiday companies reduce prices in school holidays then no matter what govt colour it is you have a hell of a long wait. Goves big idea is to stagger across counties and schools. this is fraught with problems. First problem - teach in one school, kids in another means holidays don't over lap. Second problem - kids in junior and kids in senior both with different holidays. third problem - national exams, 11+ etc all have to happen countrywide at the same time and this constrains the flexibility.

BumPotato · 09/04/2014 12:18

My kids are at an independent school. As well as the extra holidays, I can take them out during term time whenever I want, within fear of fines. And I have done.

BumPotato · 09/04/2014 12:18

*without

Whyamihere · 09/04/2014 12:20

My dd is in private school but I have never benefited from the extra holidays as nearly every single on of them falls on month end (I'm an accountant and there is a ban from taking leave one week a month).

Plus most of our money goes on school fees so we can't afford a holiday every year.

echt · 09/04/2014 12:32

YABU to assume that all those who send their children to private schools are rich, and choose education based on holiday prices.

Colossally deluded as to the reality of state funding of private schools /snobbish/full of aspirational mince/stuck between a rock and hard place/dependent on the taxpayer to shore up their private school fees?

Take your pick.

I really really don't think they do it because of the rather unlikely costs of holidays.

LIZS · 09/04/2014 12:38

Also if you have children at different independent schools or work in one sector and have children in the other , the holidays often don't overlap to enable families to take advantage.

Hulababy · 09/04/2014 12:42

The only 'cheaper' week we have ever benefitted is the week before Christmas holidays. The Easter one and the summer one are never cheaper ime.
I work in a state school anyway so no longer benefit after that first year or two.

MrsDe · 09/04/2014 12:43

I have children in a private school but a OH who is a teacher in state school. So it's just additional childcare costs for me. Still, carry on with the generalisations if it makes you feel better.

Hulababy · 09/04/2014 12:45

Dd has 3 weeks extra: 1 week extra at Christmas, Easter and summer. Inset always tagged to end or start of holidays - only 4 this year not 5

tethersend · 09/04/2014 12:50

Every time someone tells state school teachers that their conditions should be more like 'the private sector', I like to remind them of private school holidays Grin

morethanpotatoprints · 09/04/2014 12:50

YANBU to find anything ironic OP.
My dd is H.ed so we can go on holiday whenever we like. Dh is self employed so can have as many holidays as he likes, isn't that ironic?

grovel · 09/04/2014 13:42

I think you'll find it's not all the fault of the holiday companies. A friend of mine works for a hotel chain. The chain increases its prices to the operators at peak periods. The operators pass these prices on to consumers.

IDugUpADiamond · 09/04/2014 15:30

You could also argue that because some parents are stretching themselves to send their DC to a private school for reasons that are none of your business, they should get a break and benefit from cheaper holidays. Or you could direct your anger to businesses that raise their prices to a ridiculous level, sometimes double during school holidays. My DC are in State schools by the way.

edwinbear · 09/04/2014 15:34

ds is at private school, however we have to take our holiday in peak time the same as everyone else, as the childminder takes her 2 weeks at the end of August and we need to co-ordinate with her. Bit of a sweeping generalistaion OP really.

SuburbanRhonda · 09/04/2014 15:46

Am I misunderstanding something here, or don't people without children also pay income tax but not use the state education system?

SuburbanRhonda · 09/04/2014 15:50

"You could also argue that because some parents are stretching themselves to send their DC to a private school for reasons that are none of your business, they should get a break and benefit from cheaper holidays."

You could, diamond, but you'd look like a massive dick if you did.

IDugUpADiamond · 09/04/2014 15:54

you'd look like a massive dick

I agree with you Suburban, because it's a statement as moronic as the OP's

TheWomanTheyCallJayne · 09/04/2014 15:55

I'm sure there are more private school parents who are having to find extra money for childcare then there is money being saved on holidays.
Like Pag I have children at both. We are far far from rich. Camping for us this year if I save enough.