School fees have risen by 19% in the space of 12 months

[Findingfactsaboutfees]

AIBU to think this is outrageous ?! Fees are exorbitant anyhow and in the last 12 months we have had an increase of 19% by way of 2 increases in a 12 month period. Fees per year for the senior school are £16690 per year and do not include state of the art facilities as other local schools do. The junior school fees aren't much less either! This is a school in the north of England. If you are paying for education, where are you based and how much do you pay? I wonder whether it is comparable.

Private education will only be for the ultra-rich if fees continue to rise at the rate that they are. It is unsustainable for most working professionals who are comfortable but not ultra-wealthy! Parents locally have tried to take their children out but can't as there are no state school places to be had within a 12 mile radius. The only other option is home schooling which isn't possible when the parents are working full time. We're not yet at the point where we are thinking of taking our child out of school but hearing the plight of those who are in the process of trying to is worrying. I've always been a labour voter but if they do go ahead with the introduction of VAT, I fear it's going to get even worse.

If labour get in at the next election VAT will be added as well

Why are you still posting this kind of thing when you whinged about not being able to visit your second property in lockdown? Hypocrite.

The school has a large proportion of children of hospital doctors and nurses - I'd say they are middle income and make sacrifices to invest in their children's education. They work long hours so likely can't support with education in the way they would if they were at home with the children or worked ordinary office hours

They could Use State school and pay nanny or after school tutor.
They dont need a private school to provide that input
It s a lifestyle choice

State school is free.

Fees are significantly more here (SE).

Good.

Buying privilege for your kids getting too expensive? My heart bleeds for you… 🙄

@OrwellianTimes I can't comment as I don't know their financial circumstances. I assume by either making sacrifices on other things, accessing a bursary (if they qualify) or perhaps even help from family. I don't know as that's not me and I don't go asking people how they are funding the cost.

Like I said previously, we are not looking to move our child and can comfortably afford the fees. I just think 19% in one year is a lot and I know of a lot of parents who are looking to take their children out and are struggling to pay fees. It feels like social cleansing just as has been done with residential property in cities.

Hahahahahahaaaaaaaaa. Amazing.

OP, you’ll get crucified on here I hate to say it.

My kids are at a good state school but there are some lovely private schools near me. I don’t doubt many people sacrifice a lot to send their kids to private schools and it’s a shame if that’s what they’ve prioritised and it is now becoming unattainable.

The word is choose @Findingfactsaboutfees , not rely. A whole cohort of people who choose to educate their children privately, a choice available to very few.

Staffing costs, fuel bills, vost of school essentials like paper has increased exponentially....schools are not immune to the cost of living crisis

Why don’t parents who post this kind of thing try being a bit brighter themselves? That would do a hell of a lot more for your kid’s prospects than fancy school facilities. Also, buying yourself shit you can’t afford but could get rid of if you need to is one thing. It’s unutterably selfish to mindlessly destabilise your kid’s education and social life by putting them in a school you can’t actually afford to massage your own ego.

”Social cleansing”? I’ve heard it all now. If you can comfortably afford it, why are you whinging?

£22,710 a year at the moment. That's for years 7/8.

Luckily there are plenty of schools that will educate your children for FREE!! Amazing really.

It’s a large increase. Dd is in sixth form and fees are £15k per year in the south west. Excellent school, brilliant pastoral care and always looking to improve eg fitness suite for sixth form, new performing arts centre etc.
last year’s increase was 5% I think.

🎻 🎻 🎻

They won't really. They cannot afford it.

I thought social cleansing was the whole point of private school? To keep out the riff raff?

But we need doctors?

i have a family member who’s a consultant anaesthetist and his wife is also a consultant. Both work in emergency medical retrieval service (helicopters flying out to bring very sick and injured people to hospital) and it’s very long hours.

their twins are at private school (and they use a nanny although twins are now getting older) because it’s much easier with wrap around care and they can work their shifts more easily.

Last year it was 16% and there were 2 rises in the year! I think you may be right about getting ahead of the curve as that explanation. Historically, fees haven't increased every year and when they have it hasn't been by as much as this.

We are also in the south west and I'm expecting DC's fees to be be in the region of £35k a year at sixth form. I think I need to look at other schools in the area.

We needed to privately educate our son. NEEDED. He was in a good state school, high functioning autistic he spent the first year of high school being assaulted daily by out of control kids. The school had zero power to act against these feral scum (zero exclusion policy). They offered him a place in the neighbouring state school which was worse performing and had the same zero exclusion policy so we went private as we felt it was the only effective means we had to safeguard our child. He is now thriving.

we as high earners so have enough set by to cover the fees for the rest of his schooling even if they double. I do think VAT ought to be added as private school is on the whole a luxury. Our younger daughters will hopefully fare better at the state high school when they get there. I don’t agree with private schooling, but it’s good that options are there for those who the state system is failing - even if few can afford to take the options when needed.

for us, we started with a private education as I was studying and felt guilty for spending time away from my child. Knowing the school had a ratio of 1:2 in the nursery and a maximum of 8 children in total made me feel less guilty about it.

And you want those of us who study or work and STILL can’t afford to send our kids private to feel sorry for you? Is this a wind up?

Always baffled by the fact that private schools can (and frequently do) employ unqualified teachers, and, due to the extra long holidays, kids get less time in the classroom than in state schools..
Feels a bit "Emperor's New Clothes"