To ask how you afford private school fees

[Elephantslovetofly]

We have a young DD, and although it's a while away yet we are thinking about school. The area we live in does not have a good local school, and we are considering an independent school for her

Disclaimer - I went to a private school and for what it's worth had a great education. I enjoyed being there and did well in exams. I believe my parents decided to send me there also because of a lack of a good local state school. I might have done fine at a state school, but will never know I guess

We are probably 45 min drive from the school I went to - further than is ideal. DH doesn't mind driving her there if we decide to send her there though (if she is fortunate enough to get a place)

The issue is whether we can afford it. The fees are about £9k per year for junior and £12k for senior. Assuming we therefore need to find £1k per month for fees

My cheeky question is this - if you have a child at private school, what does your household earn and how difficult is it to find the money each month to pay the fees? Our income is about £60k, and at the moment I don't think we can do it (along with our other current expenses). Wages might go up a bit before we would need to start paying, but if this is always going to be a pipe dream i'd rather get over it now

I know we could move closer to a good state school, but am exploring my options at this stage. Don't really want to move, as we have a good house here and are settled

Thanks for reading

Are private school parents really the governing class?

And why assume we have no idea how those with less £ live?

No. But the governing class are private school parents. A small but significant difference.

Our finances are similar: saving before dc's started school, living frugally (low mortgage, cheap car, little/no holidays), financial advisor.

Dh had a plan drawn out a few years in advance and a lot of savings so had 'proven' we could make it work. We weren't prepared to start them in private school and then take them out due to lack of money later on.

^Are private school parents really the governing class?

And why assume we have no idea how those with less £ live?^

Genuinely how much of a handle do you think the folk in the higher echelons of gov't have on how the people live? Particularly those in lower socio-economic areas? Do you think they have a decent grasp of it? And how do you think they know?

It wouldn't harry. It would just create a bigger divide between state schools. Because when you take out the minority at private who are funded, you can guarantee all the rest will be using their money to make sure their dc end up at the best state schools. And the same state schools that aren't good enough now, will remain the same. Or probably worse, because the overall education budget will have to go further. And don't forget that 7% also includes some dc whose needs can't be met by the state, there aren't enough none mainstream state schools as it is, adding greater numbers of children is hardly going to help.

The bigger inequality of vast differences between state provision is what needs fixing first.

The governing class may well have attended private school but I don't know about sending their own DC.

The last three PMs have used state schools and I can't recall when the last education secretary sent their DC private.

The bigger inequality of vast differences between state provision is what needs fixing first

Yes, I would actually agree with that.

I just have a pretty big bugbear about the class system in the UK. It blinds me to common sense sometimes.

harry if going to state school was a great eye opener to social injustice etc the UK would not be as socially divided as it is.

I don't really see how that's relevant on a couple of levels, GAHC. Very few of the government actually went to state schools and social division is (I believe) mainly caused by capitalism. A division which can be somewhat redressed by giving everyone an equal opportunity to make the most of themselves. Through their education.

It has become politically unacceptable for the PM to send his DC to private school. It's hardly a "choice" when the Camerons send their DC to top London state schools.

I haven't read every page of this thread, OP, so sorry if I am repeating what has already been said.

If you decide to send her to the private school then start early to see if she has any musical talent, not necessarily with the music teachers at the school. Maybe do the piano, but forget about the violin or guitar. If you can persuade her to do a less popular wind instrument such as the oboe or bassoon so much the better. Cello, harp or organ would also be good. The less children playing an instrument the more likely they are to get a scholarship provided they reach a really good standard by the time they take the 11+.

If I had my time again that is what I would do. Thankfully I have family help with the school fees for DD.

Of course bobo.

But the suggestion is to close public schools thus removing choice from the rich, so that they'll be forced to think differently.

It doesn't work. People don't have their eyes opened by having opportunities removed from them.

harry how will closing some excellent schools help those with no access to them in the first place?

How will that help to dismantle capitalism?

The vast majority of the public support capitalism however they were schooled. They voted this shower in for a start!

There are good reasons, IMO, for reigning in independent education in the UK. Making independent schools less financially onerous has many positives.

I don't think making them cheaper and more accessible is what posters had in mind .

GAHC, I am not sure I mentioned actually dismantling capitalism. I mentioned that by giving everyone an equal chance at a decent education, it would go some way to redressing the obvious inequalities caused by capitalism.

An state education meritocracy, if you will.

harry fair dos.

Though TBH mumsnet has taught me that it is hard to identify what a good education looks like.

Some consider the school my DC attend a veritable field of dreams, others a place they would die before considering. In truth it's just a school .

If you closed it I'm not sure what you'd achieve for other DC who don't attend.

I never know why people just pick on education. Why not say parents mustn't read to their children so that they level out the unfairness for those children whose parents do not. It's the same thing. Or require parents to speak very few words with limited vocabulary and never supervise homework and speak and spell badly again to level the playing field. Or require very bright parents to make sure their spouse has a very low IQ level so that the children are likely to be below average IQ to even things out.

If instead you abolished the schools where only 8% of children go you are left with posh and exclusive state schools and other state schools and the private parents would either go to those or send their children to board wherever the boarding schools move to (and plenty of hte boarding schools already have branches abroad already) or home educate which is what our Queen's parents chose. I suppose you could change the law to require every parent to send their child to the nearest school of whatever kind and abolish home education but then people who can work anywhere would just move to a country which does not do that (most of my work is by email. I can do it anywhere).

How about if the richest in society (i.e. the people lecturing others on this thread about making 'sacrifices') were asked to pay more tax towards better schooling for all - which they would do willingly, presumably, if their children went to the same schools as everyone else? Can anyone tell me why this wouldn't be a good idea for everyone and society as a whole?

fancy I've lectured no one. I don't make sacrifices to pay school fees. Not really.

And no I don't want to pay more tax thank you. If my DCs school were abolished I would just buy into a good catchment or apply for super selective grammar.

I'd make the best of it and use my resources to try to provide what the state school couldn't.

Keep an eye on the Cameron children when his stint as prime minister ends. You'll have to be vigilant-they will be moving very fast...........

"Have I touched a nerve, baggy? It wasn't my intention."
Harryelephante - of course your spiteful post about polo pitches was suppose to touch posters nerves!
Why else did you post it?

I never know why people just pick on education. Why not say parents mustn't read to their children so that they level out the unfairness for those children whose parents do not. It's the same thing. Or require parents to speak very few words with limited vocabulary and never supervise homework and speak and spell badly again to level the playing field. Or require very bright parents to make sure their spouse has a very low IQ level so that the children are likely to be below average IQ to even things out

That's a very odd argument, user!

Oh for sure bert my point was that forcing people into the state sector solves nothing.

Ah, don't worry, dapplegrey, we are managing to get by using the neighbour's polo field! Bit of a walk, mind. Especially as we've done away with the hovercraft.