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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
CaMePlaitPas · 01/11/2021 19:28

30s, unemployed Grin

girafferafferaffe · 01/11/2021 19:28

Part time admin 8.5k 🤦🏻‍♀️

Mollymoostoo · 01/11/2021 19:30

Went to a state school, uni graduate, now a teacher £30k. Husband went to state school, no GCSE's earns £65K working in IT.
Schools don't make you more money, your attitude to work and career choices do

Addictedtohotbaths · 01/11/2021 19:34

Received a scholarship for private school but chose to attend all girls grammar.
I’m late 30’s work in financial services and this year will earn £400k plus which is a particularly good year.
I deliberately choose this sector because I wanted to make lots of money, really glad I did now I’m a single parent.
I realise how incredibly lucky I am.

RAB121609 · 01/11/2021 19:38

I agree. Was a bit shocked at that one

supertedious · 01/11/2021 19:38

In my 30s , NHS 27k, hardly stuff of dreams but enjoy what I do for the most part.

HaveringWavering · 01/11/2021 19:43

@Snoozer11 why is it disgusting? What’s wrong with choosing staff based on academic achievement?

Lazymum78 · 01/11/2021 19:47

Remember lot of able grammar school kids make it into Oxbridge..the percentage of intake is slowly tilting towards state schools esp as Oxbridge and Ivy leagues want to be more inclusive. Having said that, if you take only money as a criteria, I know plenty smart people from State schools doing phenomenally well.

ittakes2 · 01/11/2021 19:51

Actual - I think a better question for you is in your last sentence "but I do think many send their children to these schools for this reason." I would be asking if people send their children to these schools so their children can earn more money. We have one child in grammar and one in private - and we did not send them there for that reason. In fact I think its more common to send children to private because people want the other stuff other than the academic stuff for their children. The enrichment programmes which help their children develop emotional and social intelligence.

alh26 · 01/11/2021 19:52

Went to boarding school, 27 years old, £39k plus bonus. Work in private wealth management

Lazymum78 · 01/11/2021 19:53

@antsinyourpanta

Private school. 44. Work in banking - Trader. Earn £500,000 per annum plus bonus which usually exceeds my annual pay. The bank I work in only recruit from Oxbridge or Ivy leagues (which can come from both private and highly competitive Grammar schools).

I find this quite depressing (about only recruiting from Oxbridge or Ivy League)

@antsinyourpanta - Unfortunately, that is the reality. However, Oxbridge has both private and grammar school/state school children and some of the brightest children I have seen are those entering the private school system competitively at 11+ or 13+.
ladygindiva · 01/11/2021 19:53

@OxanaVorontsova

I'm relatively poorly paid (50k)

Since when is 50k poorly paid??

I agree! DP has just landed a 50k salaried job and we feel like we've won the lottery !
DrDreReturns · 01/11/2021 19:57

I went to a private school. I'm 44 and am on £48k. I'm a software engineer.
My friends from school are on a big range of salaries.

Mellowyellow222 · 01/11/2021 20:01

The poor poster who is getting lambasted said £50k was relatively poorly paid.

It would be relatively poorly paid for my peer group from uni. Most are on six figures now. I am on £80k and feel relatively poorly paid compared with them. There is an obvious difference in our lifestyle.

But I am very well paid when compared to my friends from primary school.

It’s all relative!!!

KatyNana · 01/11/2021 20:02

Private school in London. I'm in my 30s and work doing something financial, earn around £140k. Really enjoy my job although/because it's a huge challenge, feel very lucky.

Husband went to similar school and earns around £50k working for local council. Suspect his parents are disappointed he's not a master of the universe, but I don't care he's on less than me.

Raaarrrrrrrr · 01/11/2021 20:03

@bluecheck679 main 6 here is approx £37k

Suzanne999 · 01/11/2021 20:08

I attended a grammar school run by nuns. Left as soon as I could ( luckily my family were relocated because of job and I just didn’t go back to school) In my 20s I did a Uni access course, then a degree and was never unemployed. Owned and ran 3 businesses before I was 45.
The miserable, narrow minded, elitist school had nothing to do with it though 🙂

bemusedmoose · 01/11/2021 20:17

Stay at home mum so zero. Hated private school but was forced to go from reception to yr13. Would never send my kids. So many in my year were forced to go, tutored to oblivion and then completely lost it at uni when they couldn't keep up anymore doing a course they didnt like but parents pushed them down. Either full breakdown or ditching uni completely. Because it was private there wasn't a catchment area so kids were miles apart (opposite side of a county not just across town) making friendships tricky as couldn't meet up. My eldest is doing gcse exams and he loves his school, has great friends all local, teachers far more supportive than mine. I wish I had gone to his school.

My sibiling went to the same school and did very well.uni, high earner.not actually doing anything related to choose not subjects or uni though.

For me, if a child is headstrong and capable then consider it. But don't push the poor things just because you as parents want them to go because their life isn't the same as what you want. Yes you may find they have opportunities there other schools don't get but honestly it's usually over priced trips. My local comp had more facilities and larger range of subjects than the private school I was at. Could have been home in 10 mins instead of a hour which in winter was horrible and if I missed the school bus (teachers overrun!) it was a 2hr walk as the only other way to get home so not home til 6pm which on a cold winters evening was rubbish and exhausting and then still had at least 2 hrs homework a night. We started earlier and finished later so had 8 weeks off at summer which I loved!

Wasn't until I got a weekend job and had friends from the local schools that I realised how much I had missed out on socially, with subject choices and experiences. I haven't stayed friends with anyone from school but I'm still friends with lots from that first job and most are in far better jobs than my private school people.

You still get nasty bullies and rubbish teachers whatever school it is so choose a place your child is happy with, where they can get to easily, where they can have friends local enough to hang out with and where they have a work load they can do unsupported. It's not all about league tables, charts and stuff it's about what school can bring out the best in your child and where they will be happy to grow into their best selves. If that is private, grammar or comp - it doesn't matter as long as your child is happy, confident and capable.

Osrie · 01/11/2021 20:29

More pushy parenting and extra money spent on tutoring after school as you find school has a reputation built on parental support.

Chuzzle · 01/11/2021 20:38

Consultancy is the way forward...

Bard6817 · 01/11/2021 20:38

52 year old Comprehensive educated. £200k plus when i work full time, i don’t now, just do a few months a year in the winter because that quieter months and the garden is cold and ugly.

Sent daughter to private, part of her inheritance is her school fees, investing in her education. She won’t need to get a great paying job, will never want for money, but I just hope she finds a job she loves, so it’s the opportunity i’m paying for.

Derrymum123 · 01/11/2021 20:59

Teacher 48K.
(State grammar school)

SeenYourArse · 01/11/2021 21:01

I’m a belter of a situation, 37 (as of yesterday!) private school with great results and vv fancy… average GCSEs… I earn circa £12k a year officially as a self employed stylist Grin I work two days a week and my DH is the breadwinner as we have two little DSs of 5 and 2.

SeenYourArse · 01/11/2021 21:04

Oh and DH has NO formal qualifications whatsoever and went to the local Comp on his council estate until he was 14 then left and started working! He now supports us and we’re comfortable, nice large house etc so is proof that sometimes education isn’t the be all and end all in all cases.

speakupattheback · 01/11/2021 21:06

Private girls school. Own business. Shitloads.