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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think that independent schools should publish the earnings of their alumni?

37 replies

justalotofwandering · 14/05/2019 19:02

I've been wondering about this for a while. I know that in reality it would be impossible.......but.....I know very few privately educated adults who can afford to send their children privately. I'm also conscious that many parents send their DC for reasons other than wanting to ensure that their DC earn 6 figures when they grow up. Its all very well private schools publishing leaver university destinations, but if you go to oxbridge and then do a second degree that pays £25k/year you aren't going to be sending your own children to your old school. For the purposes of not drip feeding our DC are at private schools, and got moved from the state system because they were deeply unhappy. Im not convinced they'll end up with any better exam results but at least they'll have happy memories. But would I send them to a private school where the average alumni salary by mid 40's was £25k? Probably not.

OP posts:

00100001 · 14/05/2019 19:06

Well, how would they measure it? And at what point?

10/20/30 years after leaving?

And as we all know, education alone isn't enough to get you earning the big bucks. But an independent education can offer opportunities and you may mix with very influential people which may help with a leg up.

I'm guessing not all people send their child to an independent school solely based in future earnings? They're going to have all sorts of reasons.

AlaskanOilBaron · 14/05/2019 19:06

I think you've misunderstood the motivations of parents who send their children privately.

Still18atheart · 14/05/2019 19:09

I went to a private school. If they asked me for my earnings. I’d tell them where to go. I wouldn’t mind telling them what my job was but my actual income no chance.

Figure8 · 14/05/2019 19:16

Because how much you earn is the ONLY indicator for happiness in your career?

Honestly!

No, independent schools do NOT have the right to ask what alumni earn.

People can have fulfilling/ worthwhile/ impactful careers with out earning loads.

Even people from state schools can earn a high wage.

Sheesh.

Original poster

justalotofwandering · 14/05/2019 19:17

001, which is why it wouldn't work...as you say, at what point, and I agree with all your other points.

alaskan, I think most parents send their DC to private schools to 'give them the best start possible', whatever that might mean to any one individual.......but if the end result isn't much different from the rest of the population is it worth the £250k per child it costs?

still...which is why I know it wouldn't work

OP posts:

Plipplopbop · 14/05/2019 19:21

I send my DC to private as the state around here are dire. I send them so they can get a good education, what they do with that is irrelevant, if they have it they can either earn loads or join a sect. The base is what I'm paying for, not to ensure my kids earn triple figures.

IAmTheChosenOne · 14/05/2019 19:23

but if the end result isn't much different from the rest of the population is it worth the £250k per child it costs?

Lets be honest, it doesn't matter how much you educate women, a lot of them drop out of the career race and become home makers, or choose to down size their career aspirations. So by your reckoning, we might just as well not educate people if they aren't going to give a financial return.

Original poster

justalotofwandering · 14/05/2019 19:25

we might just as well not educate people if they aren't going to give a financial return. Some of them need to give financial return, otherwise the country grinds to a halt.

OP posts:

Usuallyinthemiddle · 14/05/2019 19:26

Education is about giving your child choices. This is a horrible view of what constitutes happiness and success. You are awfully unreasonable. Eurgh.

Original poster

justalotofwandering · 14/05/2019 19:31

Let me be clear....I do not think that a 3 figure salary = happiness. As I have already said our DC go privately because they were unhappy at their state school. We specifically chose a non academic school with an emphasis on extra cirricular activities . But I have met several parents who are already planning their (6 year old) children's careers in law and medicine, and part of the planning includes a private education, which may or may not produce the goods.

OP posts:

Fiveredbricks · 14/05/2019 19:32

@justalotofwandering are you really being so naïve to assume it's mainly anything other than just wanting your kids around a 'better class' of people?

We're sending our son to private school. But because at £5k a year it's cheaper than wrap around care and holiday clubs. But I'd be lying if I said part of it wasn't because of the kids and families he's more likely to mix with.

Or I can send him to one of the 5 state schools locally who have kids running 'county lines' before year 9 🤷

Which would you choose, OP?

Usuallyinthemiddle · 14/05/2019 19:33

Well then surely a quick Google tells you what those occupations pay.

Vile. Sorry.

JingsMahBucket · 14/05/2019 19:34

YANBU to me OP. Salary information is important and lack of knowledge sharing regarding them is what keeps a lot of people in bad wages and poorly paid jobs. I wouldn’t want my child to be making only £25,000 at 40 years old. Money doesn’t immediately equal all happiness, but scraping by on a low wage that close to retirement age isn’t my idea of happiness either.

JingsMahBucket · 14/05/2019 19:36

Also, showing salary results would help open minds for some kids who would never imagine themselves making more than £12,000 a year because that’s all they’ve every been surrounded with in their immediate social circle. Exposure genuinely helps those kids.

JacquesHammer · 14/05/2019 19:36

Is the whole premise of this thread that your reasons for choosing private education are more valid than everyone else’s?

LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD · 14/05/2019 19:37

Why? I went to a fairly crap school and Unis but started out earning fuck all, went on to gear good money and am now earning fuck all again.

zsazsajuju · 14/05/2019 19:40

Private school kids are vastly over represented in higher earning occupations. Whether that’s down to private education, who knows. But you’re kidding yourself if you don’t think they’re doing better generally

Usuallyinthemiddle · 14/05/2019 19:41

I'm not sure how you earning £25k means you wouldn't send your child to that school. You know that parenting and the actual child have a bigger effect on the salary?? It's not a sow's ear into a silk purse stuff.
You give them choice and opportunity. Not shackle them with "earnings by 40 expectations."

Girlicorne · 14/05/2019 19:43

my daughter starts private secondary in September. I don't care what she earns afterwards as long as she has a good secondary experience and is a happy and balanced adult. Success is not measured by money, YABU.

lavenderbongo · 14/05/2019 19:46

I send my kids to a private school. Not once did we consider how it would impact their earning potential.
We considered the opportunities and education it offered compared to the local state schools. It’s a sacrifice to pay the fees but one I think is worth it as it opens up the world to them in a way our local schools don’t unfortunately.
At no point do I expect my kids to pay me back the fees. I just want them to be happy and have more opportunities in life than I did.

CarrieBlue · 14/05/2019 19:48

Independent schools should publish exactly how much subsidy from the state each student receives via ‘charitable’ status tax breaks. I’d be far more interested in that than how much alumni earn many years later.

Bluntness100 · 14/05/2019 19:52

What an odd thought. Even if they do end up with great exam results, it's no indication of how their adult lives will turn out. What they will choose to do. Career success is about much more than exam results.

It's not just unreasonable, it's simply an odd, limited vision view.

Original poster

justalotofwandering · 14/05/2019 20:27

As is so often the case on MN, the question is completely misconstrued. As I've already said, I'm not saying that success is measured by money or that money = happiness. Most of the responses have said its about giving their child opportunity and about them being happy......and I guess the end point of the question, is that if thats what yo want for you child, is it not also what you'd like for your grandchildren......and if thats the case you children would need to come out of their private education with a career that earns sufficiently well to enable your DC to send your grandchildren to a private school (and I know plenty of people whose parents pay their grandchildren fees).

Usually, DH did a degree in economics......you can't look up his earnings on google.

Is the whole premise of this thread that your reasons for choosing private education are more valid than everyone else’s, er, no. see above.

But you’re kidding yourself if you don’t think they’re doing better generally i think thats more to do with the parents than the school. ANd put a bunch of 'those parents' together and the result is magnified. Many people believe that the state system would be better if all the private school kids went there (aside from the fact that it would go bankrupt). Someone said to us once "no-one would be surprised if you kids went to oxbridge". I was really offended, but actually what they meant was 2 intelligent parents, every opportunity going, why wouldn't they? Their school is just a nice place to cement it all together and provide better wrap around care.

I'm not sure how you earning £25k means you wouldn't send your child to that school....because no-one on £25k a year can independently send their child to a private school, even if they have no holidays and live in a tent.

OP posts:

Cordelio · 14/05/2019 20:29

But would I send them to a private school where the average alumni salary by mid 40's was £25k? Probably not.

This is bizarre. If I were thinking about suitable schools for my children I honestly think this would be the furthest thing from my mind!

Also, completely agree with this:

Spinnaret · 14/05/2019 20:30

I was educated privately from age 5. DH for 6th form only. We are both high earners. Our DS are privately educated. But only because we moved in year, couldn't get a state place and I am not cut out for home educating. It has turned out to be the better choice for older DS who is dyslexic, and much better suited to a small class size. But means I can never quit work. I do not anticipate either child will get any better academic results than had they remained in the state sector. I do hope it gives them opportunities to try different things, to develop self-confidence, and to become the best people they can be, regardless of their earning potential.

My siblings were also privately educated. One works in the City and has three DC in private schools, so is a slave to the money for the foreseeable.

The other is out of work and living on rental income. He has dipped in and out of jobs. Doesn't have kids to support. Has several foreign holidays a year.

I know which of the three of us is happiest.

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