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AIBU?

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Original poster

If you attended private/grammar school, what is your job role and salary?

539 replies

Z3lda · 31/10/2021 08:24

Extremely nosey I know and obviously no one is obliged to share. But I'm just intrigued as it seems many are quite desperate to get their children into the best private or grammar school, but I just wondered what kind of jobs and salaries students from these schools go on to actually have? I know that education provides children with far more than just a path to a specific job and salary, but I do think many send their children to these schools for this reason.

OP posts:
MadamMoth · 31/10/2021 17:11

@Howshouldibehave

Dh went to a non selective grammar

Where are there non-selective grammars? I thought that was the whole point of them!

Genuinely interested to know.

No idea GrinThat's what he says it was. Pretty sure it's a normal state school now, maybe it was a thing in the 80s?
Howshouldibehave · 31/10/2021 17:12

maybe it was a thing in the 80s?

I don’t think it was Grin.

MadamMoth · 31/10/2021 17:18

@Howshouldibehave

maybe it was a thing in the 80s?

I don’t think it was Grin.

I've married a fraud GrinGrin. I'm intrigued now!
OublietteBravo · 31/10/2021 17:22

@Howshouldibehave

Dh went to a non selective grammar

Where are there non-selective grammars? I thought that was the whole point of them!

Genuinely interested to know.

There were a number of schools in the area I grew up in that kept the name, but which were no longer actually grammar schools and thus completely non-selective (e.g. Bingley Grammar, Nab Wood Grammar, etc).
Howshouldibehave · 31/10/2021 17:24

There were a number of schools in the area I grew up in that kept the name, but which were no longer actually grammar schools and thus completely non-selective (e.g. Bingley Grammar, Nab Wood Grammar, etc)

I would describe them as ex-grammars, rather than non-selective ones (yes, I know they’ve kept the name)-it’s a bit of an oxymoron.

SisforSoppy · 31/10/2021 17:26

Girls highly selective private school. Hospital consultant and have just nudged into the £100k bracket working FT, 20 years after graduating. DH went to a grammar equivalent in mainland Europe and significantly outearns me.
Except for the other drs I only know one other person from school who earn 6 figures (in big pharma), and most earn under £50k (mid 40s). Any of them with kids at private school are either paying for it from DH salary or inheritance. I don’t think one salary of £100k is enough to send 2 DC to private school without making significant sacrifices.
Do I think private school is worth it? Probably not. And def not if you are sacrificing to do so. It would be interesting to survey privately educated teachers, social workers, nurses, police officers, army officers- or anyone earning under £50k -and ask them if at age 25 they would have preferred a private education or £250k (the cost of private Ed the whole way through or £105k if they went to one of the cheapest secondaries) for a house deposit. Because £250k is a lot of money to spend on pre university education, and whilst it might give you a lovely experience of school if you are living your adult life pay check to pay check, perhaps a house deposit might have been money better spent.

SlipperTripper · 31/10/2021 17:34

Grammar school. Editor. 60k.

SisforSoppy · 31/10/2021 17:41

I should probably add that growing up we were ‘below the poverty line’ poor and I had a full assisted place. I vowed that I would earn enough to not have to tell my children ‘we can’t afford it’. Obviously I do tell my children ‘we can’t afford it’……but the truth is that with DH’s salary we can.

groundcontroltomontydon · 31/10/2021 18:09

Grammar (accident of geography, not due to any parental effort), RG masters, was editor/writer (law) on £60k until caring responsibilities did for my career, now in a CS role designed for a school-leaver on less than I was earning 20 years ago

Shumoo · 31/10/2021 18:12

Grammar. Turned down a full scholarship for local independent. Salary 75k

Asking4Advice · 31/10/2021 18:45

[quote Bluecheck679]@Asking4Advice I'm always intrigued by teacher salaries on this board. I'm a teacher (6 years qualified) and I'm on £41k. Are you newly qualified or is this a common salary? I'm in Scotland and we have set scales, I'm at the top of the main scale now.[/quote]
I’m in my second year! It’ll be a while until I’m on the upper pay scale.

gettingolderbutcooler · 31/10/2021 19:02

Nurse. 50. About £43k.

Knotnowdear · 31/10/2021 19:13

@XelaM The irony of this is that horses are really expensive! I think DD wants to just have a property with stables and a paddock, but I have no idea how she'll manage it with her current career plans.

68degreesnorth · 31/10/2021 19:14

@OxanaVorontsova I was just wondering the same 🤔

Ireolu · 31/10/2021 19:18

Late 30s. Private boarding school from 14-17 yrs old. Arrived from overseas and boarded fully for these years. Now a medic (GP). I work and earn part time :).

Dreamstate · 31/10/2021 19:40

90s child, went to local grammar school had to do a selection test if I remember rightly.

Current role as project manager in public sector on £55k but could earn more in private but the projects are more rewarding in public sector esp the engineering ones e.g. building new tunnels, bridges. Knowing you oversaw the delivery of something that changes the area you live in is really satisfying.

Xenia · 31/10/2021 19:53

Siri asking where was I - I did post earlier on the thread including the statistics for % at private schools at sixth form level (20%) and grammar schools 5% so that 25% and then 30% private school and I think grammar at Oxbridge is pretty much representative of the % of those people in the population.

I certainly don't push my children to do anything (2 are lawyers and 2 law students and one drives a van). So far we 3 siblngs went to private school and all 9 of the cousins have (or currently are from age 4 - 18) and my grandchildren - those born so far and probably the next one but I certainly have no agenda that all the grandchildren must go to fee paying schools - I want my children to make their own choices over that.

Alarae · 31/10/2021 19:58

Went to a Grammar school but not super selective as if you passed 11+ you were pretty much guaranteed a place as there were three of them in a mile radius (one co-ed, one girls and one boys). My siblings and I all went to the same co-ed grammar.

Oldest sister is a deputy care manager for deaf children - earns around 28k.

Middle sister is an admin booking assistant on £10 an hour plus a small amount of commission. Works 20 hours a week.

I work in tax, currently earning 49k. Could earn 55-60k if I moved jobs, however I'm happy with my team and my job at the moment so don't want to chase the money. I have enough anyway. When I go up to the next rung of the ladder I reckon I will be on 70-80k in a few years. More responsibility though, so biding my time for that.

I am 28, living in SE.

uneffingbelievable · 31/10/2021 20:01

Knotnowdear - one of my colleagues was despairing of his eldest son who was just bumming around - not career plans. Was intent on diving instructor in the summer, ski instructor in the winter - thank you bank of mum and dad for the relaities of life and the luxuries.

He took him on a v lovely holiday first class flights out there mega luxury hotel for first week, then for the second week dumped him in a 1* hostel and economy flights home with middle seat in a row of 3 - just behind the baby row!

On landing, Dad pristine, son looking less than dapper - said - this comes with a price. Either pull your finger out and work out a way of affording this or sit in baby sick everytime you go and see grandma( lived overseas) The gravy train is stopping!

3 yrs later, first class degree, landed primo sponsorship and 10 yrs later now on more than Dad. Lovely young man - who admits it was a very big wake up call.

Maybe time for some hard love!

Wagsandclaws · 31/10/2021 20:05

Me ( no private education ) sahm age 49.

Dh 47 private education management accountant/works as a contractor mostly £155k after tax.

As an interim we cost in sickness and holidays so it works out less than that but he's been earning v good salary since he went down the contracting route, it's not forever though and he hopes to get something a bit more permanent ( for half what he earns now ) in the next 5 years.

I know people who earn as much as he does with no private education and people who have had a private education who earn a modest salary.

Our ds's ( 8 and 12 ) attend a private school ( cheap as private schools go ) one wants to be an accountant like his dad ( he's good at maths ) the other one wants to be a gamekeeper! 🤷‍♀️

Peace43 · 31/10/2021 20:21

Private School. I head up a European team in the Pharmaceutical Industry. I’m 44, my salary just topped 6 figures. My best friend from school used to be very Senior in a high street clothes brand but now is an alternative therapist. Another ex school mate is a gardener…. Private education doesn’t automatically give ££££. Nor is £££ always the best measure of a successful/ happy life.

68degreesnorth · 31/10/2021 20:22

Well - I'm 44, went to comprehensive, have BA, MA and PhD, now run my own company, taking out minimum wage at £12.5k a year plus dividends at around £3-4.5k a year. Hopefully a grand or two more each year as the company grows. No pension savings yet. I think I live pretty comfortably, but a few grand more wouldn't hurt.

I'm not sure what the "low earner" on 50k would think of it, but I'm happy and I don't work very many hours a week at the moment. I have time to walk, talk, meet for coffee's and do sports whenever I fancy.

Tokyotammy · 31/10/2021 20:32

Really shitty failing state school, single parent family. Ex poly for uni degree.

Been earning above £100k for last 5 years, moved into running my own company, looking at 7 figures plus income over next 12 months.

Every successful and wealthy person I know went to state secondary. Think it made us competitive and hungry to prove people wrong.

whowhatwhen · 31/10/2021 20:33

Technology consulting, I'm 38 and earn £120k

HalfCakeHalfBiscuit · 31/10/2021 20:34

Late 40s, went to state grammar. Now earn approx £500k per year in the energy sector