Does fee subsidy for teachers annoy you? (private schools)

[manicinsomniac]

I teach in a private school. Single mum of 3 kids. Chose to go into teaching to get free wraparound care and needed a family friendly job. Admittedly the massive fee reduction was a huge draw too. (Plus it seemed a more responsible career choice than my other option of struggling and probably failing actress/dancer!)

I was talking about schools with an acquaintance this morning and she said something about not wanting her child to go to a private school because all the families are rich and she doesn't want her child in that environment. I said most are but not all and pointed out that I'm a long way from rich. She then said (she's quite forthright!) that my situation was even worse because I get other people to pay for my privilege as well as their own!

I was a bit taken aback but now also a bit worried. I get on well enough with most of the parents at school but don't make friendships outside of those who are also colleagues because it's a bit of a professional conflict. But now I'm wondering if they're all secretly smiling at me through gritted teeth thinking that, not only are they paying my wages, but that they're paying my kids' fees too! I've never really thought about it like that. I think it's more that the school still makes a bit of money (school isn't full) and gets to have us in school for a lot more hours than might otherwise be possible.

So if you are (or if you were) a parent paying school fees - do you resent staff discounts and would you prefer it if they weren't there?

I was thinking about taking holy orders to get a discount!

I teach at an international independent school. It's very common for such schools to give free education to teacher's children. A lot of people attending the school are wealthy but of the ex-pats, most of them have free school fees included in their packages.

I've been working abroad for over 15 years and am yet to hear of any instances of 'treated as second class citizens', nor have I ever heard a parent think it's unfair. I think I would have heard it if it were a common sentiment: in our time away, we've had many non-teacher friends and been to parties etc. I'm sure I'd have overheard someone at somepoint.

I went to a very old public school and scholarship children weren't treated as such either.

Abby - ours is 85%. They are getting less generous though. Fo staff who started after 2015 it's 65% but they didn't change it for those of us already there. Sounds like 65% is still unusual though.

Edwin - haha, if my oldest had ever got into an A team for sport I'd have fallen over in shock then gone and asked my sports colleagues if they were feeling ok! She has many talents but team sports aren't among them. I'm surprised that you've seen this tbh, most teachers are really careful to avoid it. In fact, I've had to do the reverse at times. I teach performing arts which is also my childrens' main talent. They had/have good parts in shows but I never give them a lead part, even if they were/are the best - it would open me up to too much criticism.

dailymail - yep, accommodation too! Ours isn't free but it's heavily subsidised because we're a boarding school (therefore have to have a certain proportion of staff within a 1 mile radius or something) in a location where a teacher's salary wouldn't enable you to rent/buy. I think we pay 33% of market rent. But yes, the houses are falling down around our ears!

So glad most people think the set up is fine.

Its nowhere near 80% fee reduction for staff at our school 😂

I also work in a private school- 50% discount for staff children although mine are too young to attend yet. The head loves it as it helps to recruit and retain excellent staff. I've never heard a parent complain about it but perhaps it annoys a few.

The last school I worked at has a 85% reduction in fees for staff children. Those of us with no children felt it rather unfair at times as the benefit that some were getting with 2 or 3 children in the school was equivalent to around £25k a year - we didn't get any extra benefits to make up for it and had to do extra work to make up for the parents when they took time off to care for their sick children!

Sounds to me like your friend has her judgy knickers in a twist.

At my DC's prep in Central London, teachers can rarely afford to live anywhere near the school and commuting in with primary aged DC from miles away isn't that attractive to most of them, which is a shame, I think.
I'd be more concerned if teachers didn't want their own children to attend the school where they work tbh. I'd feel more of a mug to be paying if the teachers thought they were getting the same or better for free elsewhere!

I would say the only people who think that are people whose children do NOT attend private schools. Sounds a bit of envy to me.

Your friend isn't your friend.

I get 50% discount for my DCs and it's the reason I took the job.

Daisy - no, she's not a friend. I used the term 'acquaintance' but I suppose she's a bit more than that. I know her fairly well but we have nothing in common; just happen to go to the same church.

She sounds jealous. It's a perk of the job and people who do know teachers think that it's a cushy gig anyway (9-3 term time, long holidays, playing ring a roses all day...).

But now I'm wondering if they're all secretly smiling at me through gritted teeth thinking that, not only are they paying my wages, but that they're paying my kids' fees too!

That has never even occurred to me! I think your friend sounds rather horrid.

I didn't mind

I think 'smart career move!'. I'd not want to be a teacher though!

Sounds like a win win perk of the job to me.

The fee discount doesn't bother me as it is a perk of the job and obviously a way of attracting good staff which in the end benefits my child.

It is more annoying however when staff children get picked for all sorts of things over other kids who are just as able eg. school plays, presenting things to visitors etc. I do not begrudge those that are clearly talented sportsmen or very academic or talented musicians - but there does seem to be a high level of lower than average/average kids that won prizes, got to put the wreath on the memorial etc for no apparent reason other than their parent is a child (usually head teacher's!)

I never resented the subsidy - don't even remember ever thinking about it, although I knew somewhere in the back of my mind that teachers got a discount.

There are far too many staff kids at my kids' school for them all to be favourites

A TA job came up at my kids' school while I was job hunting. I did think about applying just for the discount. I then remembered I don't like OPKs much and a good proportion of the parents are complete bellends. Really not the career for me

I don't see it an an issue at all.

I get a company car or cash in lieu as one of my benefits - probably not a dissimilar amount to the value of the fees discount. (Different profession entirely).

2 of DDs friends at her school are the children of teachers
I think it's nice that the teachers get reduced fees as a perk and I very much doubt if our fees would go down if they didn't

Your friend sounds like a chippy pain in the arse, OP.

And possibly pea green with envy.

If schools offer a fee subsidy to teachers, that is because it makes business sense for them to do so.