Would you put yourself in a precarious financial position…

[Merryoldgoat]

…to privately educate your child.

I work at a private school and deal with the school finances.

We have a few parents who seem to be completely unable to afford the fees. We assist and are understanding and offer payment plans etc.

But there are a few who fail to pay on time every single term.

I just couldn’t cope with the stress.

We have some of the best state schools in the country in the same area so it’s not that there aren’t other options.

Is anyone here in this situation? Why do you put yourself through it?

And this isn’t Covid related btw. This has been going on long before Covid for the parents I’m talking about and we offered assistance to all who needed it (and continue to) when earnings were affected by Covid.

Absolutely not

But then I disagree with PE on principle

Not sure id appreciate the school judging my finances though

Not in a billion, trillion years.

But I also disagree with private education. Even if I didn’t I wouldn’t heap that
much worry on myself for comparatively little benefit.

I’m not judging - I’m trying to understand the mindset.

I find it baffling.

Im asking here on an anonymous forum. I don’t discuss it with other staff except my manager and the Fees Committee if any debts become a problem.

Thats hardly judging.

Definitely not. Far better to save the money to invest in their first home.

Are you sure they're struggling to pay? Maybe they're just disorganised

Then they’d go on DD surely?

The often lie about having sent payments etc. I’ve been doing money chasing a long time - I can tell when someone is bullshitting me.

No, I wouldn't- I couldn't cope with the stress.

To be honest, in the town I live in, there is one fee paying school - I can't honestly see what people get there that they don't get at one of the good state secondaries in the area.

The disorganised ones are the ones who frantically call the office asking how much they owe, copy invoices, repeat DD forms, paying twice etc.

No. But I know some people who would/are. It's a mixture of thinking you must sacrifice everything for the best education and thinking that must mean the most expensive option, and a bit of an eternal optimist mindset that if you just commit to it you will find a way to magic up the money.

A friend has borrowed to within an inch of her life to do it.

So what happens when parents are chronically late paying fees over and over again? Would it eventually result in their child's place being terminated?

@PumpkinPie2016

the three local state primaries are absolutely fantastic. I doubt they do anything worse than we do - our sports and extracurricular are amazing for sure - but £17k a year? Nah.

No. Friend was coerced by exh to send dc to private school and split fees. She will be paying off loans until the dc is 30+ Their primary school friends who went to local comp got far better GCSE and A level grades too.

Absolutely last resort.

We have only excluded 1 child for non payment in the last 10 years but it has come close a few other times.

If you actually pay it’s fine. You have until half term before we start to get ‘heavy’ and our ‘heavy’ is always extremely polite and understand.

A parent experiencing hardship would be given assistance and fees waived for a period until either the parent made alternative arrangements or their income picked up.

Particular sensitivity would be shown at key transition points/exam years etc.

No because so many people I know who went to private school do perfectly ordinary jobs. I know the stats are the privately educated do better but I suspect that is down to their parents and aspirations/ knowledge and opportunity due to that, rather than the school education.

Does your school do a fee discount for children of teachers who work there? I know of a few teachers who work in private schools where their kids attend- I wouldn't have thought they could afford the fees on their salary, but who knows if they are financially stretching themselves

Yes 100%. I went to a really good state school, but friends of mine who went to private schools still had more opportunities and a more well rounded education

I wouldn't.

I can see how a parent who has a negative view of state education or would not wish for a child to change school once started would do anything to keep a child in the private school they are in.

Then there are people who in general do everything last minute and cannot be on time for almost anything.

I wouldn't. But then I do use all my spare cash to put my children in a range of sports clubs after schools each day so I can understand the mindset of wanting to give them every opportunity.

@schoolhol

Yes - 70% 😮

So a massive discount. We could’ve sent my boys there but I didn’t want to be tied to a job and actually the younger wouldn’t have been a good fit owing to SEN needs.

@SarahSissions

But would you put yourself in a position where you struggle?

I understand a decision and sacrifice but ultimately affording it and reducing your life accordingly.

Surely you wouldn’t borrow vast sums?

@Crocsandshocks

And that way you can drop clubs off finances no longer permit I suppose.

I think I’d prefer your way.

My son has zero interest in anything except Minecraft 🙄

Wow so do you mean they pay 30% of the full price or 70% of it?
Either way it's a big discount, but you're right, if the parent/teacher wanted to move jobs they may struggle to continue to pay fees

Fees are discounted by 70% so they only pay 30%

We are particularly generous. Most schools are around 50% which is still hefty.

There's a bit in Vanity Fair when Becky Sharpe says that lots of people live well on nothing a year.
It's about image. Their friends will see the private school, nice house, car etc and have no idea that it's all on credit

@Twizbe oh lovely. I must read that again.