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.

That’s a really high percentage to increase, but pretty low for fees overall if you are in secondary?

I am in sw and fees are £8k (reception) - £22k (6th form). This yesr’s increase was 6%, and last year’s was 3-4% if remember correctly?

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

My heart bleeds...

This ^

Saturday school plus 6pm finishes during the week. They get a lot of teaching time.

If they lose their charitable status the fees will rise even more. Doesn't really bother me tbh. I think to send your children private you need to have suffcient money to cover fees easily even if they go up. Otherwise it's constant stress and struggle.

Most private schools where I live don’t do Saturday school - that’s for the Uber posh who REALLY don’t want to see their kids 😜.

and no, not a boarder.

Well, I am a Lady.

Is tutoring unfair? What about enrichment holidays? Laptops for all at home? Unless you want to live in a communist state, people will have varying amounts of money and they will use that money to give their dc everything they can

Thank you! That's really helpful to know.

And don't get me started on international exams that they often tend to favour, it's easier to get a grade A when you are competing with kids in Uganda. At least the universities seem to be catching on to this swizz.

In what way ‘can’t Labour afford it’? I’m not sure your average Labour voter would be too cheesed off with VAT being added to school fees, and research has indicated that approx 15% of kids would leave private school if vAT was introduced. If educating each child costs £6k approx a year (guessing!) the government would still earn more from the VAT than educating more pupils would cost.

South east, ie Kent
Fees have risen on average 2/3% each yr.
prep school £19000/yr
prep boarding £27000/yr

senior school day£31000 6th form, £28500/yr average all other years
senior school boarding £44,500/yr all years

Ours left last year
Fees have risen 3.5% recently

OP You say this about parents of children at the private school"

"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"

What do you think most mums do nowadays? We all work long hours. You don't need to be hovering around your child to support education, just make them work hard all the time and do their own homework. You really don't need a private school. However, it would be really hard on your child to pull them out of their school unless they actually want to leave.

"Cut your cloth" is the phrase most regularly used in this kind of discussion isn't it? Maybe they could take in ironing.

Bloody hell! Is that what iGCSEs are?

I'm from the Netherlands where private school isn't really a thing. Even the royal family send their kids to state schools. Why on Earth would you want to pay £16K+ a year for your child to end up doing the exact same GCSEs/A-level exams they can do for free? Kids from affluent backgrounds are likely to do well in school anyway, so arguably those whose parents can afford private school need the extra attention the least.

Ps
Day prices include Saturdays

I don’t know anyone “comfortable but not ultra wealthy” who can afford private school, and that’s the majority of my family and friends.

it is a lot but at least you have the option to pull them out and go to a state school and pay for tutors if need be.

How awful.

Could we maybe club together and get a Go Fund Me going?

Thoughts and prayers with you op ❤️

"private school will only be for the ultra rich".......

got news for you, it already is, and always has been

I have only my small violin at hand to offer sympathy over private school fees.

In London fees are well over £20k per year. That's before you add often compulsory extras, such as school dinners.

I can't afford it, so my children go to state schools.

My heart aches for you.

All our teachers were qualified with degrees in their teaching subject.
Degree level teachers in their chosen subjects from prep onwards, that’s age 8yrs teaching. Masters for A level subjects ( not all )
Olympic athletes for sports in most disciplines

19%? Pretty much the same as food price inflation then...