To think only the super rich will be able to afford private schools?

[donniedarko89]

I live in a fairly affluent area, full of private schools. We are comfortable, not wealthy, and considered private for secondary eventually (and who knows, with the cost of living crisis), while enriching the state primary's offer with lots of extra clubs and activities. Noticing that more and more families are doing the same, even high-earners who would in the past have gone private by default. Are private schools going to become only for the ultra rich, especially if the fees spike up with a Labour government?

No, I didn't say that. But a family with 12k a year spare, is super-rich, in my opinion. It doesn't mean that a family without 12k a year spare is struggling, does it.

I am sorry but £12k is what I (and thousands of other parents) used to spend on nursery fees. Not ultra rich territory. Some of the schools around here charge £50k a year or so - completely different game.

There are lots of these posts atm.

I didn't go to private school and my DH didn't either. I didn't my DD to go to private school but she had a horrendous time in a outstanding primary school. She couldn't cope with the number of children and noise, so much so she was suffering. She was 7 and I was scared for her mental health.

We"re lucky in that we are both well paid and we can afford for her to go to a school with a much smaller class and better support. Her state school was amazing for 99% of children but just not her. My point being there are lots of threads bashing parents of children who go to private school but, a good number of the children are there because state wasn't suitable and their parents were able to just about afford private. To those of you who are vehemently against private school - what would you do? Tell your child to stick with it? Watch them self harm?

That is completely different; that is for about two years, and can be covered by a loan. It isn't making the choice to pay when free places are available, and continuing to choose to pay 12k year after year after year.

"there are plenty of parents — such as Rishi Sunak’s — who make enormous sacrifices to ensure their children can attend these schools"

Lol at rishi making sacrifices,from his family's billions !!

I’m paying more in nursery fees annually for my two children than one of the very well established and popular private schools in my city costs during the primary years. It’s only marginally more expensive for highschool years.

The cost of private schools across the country are so variable that I don’t think it’s fair to suggest only the super rich can afford it. For some schools, yes certainly. Regardless, it is a very privileged position to be in.

I know loads of people who send their kids to private school. Some are on scholarships as the kids are extremely clever, some are military etc and board, some go to "no frills" private schools that are less expensive.

I agree with the pp that if someone can afford full time nursery or have a SAHP who then returns to work, they can probably afford a private school.

I know a lot of children who's parents have stretched themselves for private school due to their child's SEN needs. They are anxious, quiet, dyslexic etc.

Labour's fee changes will push these kids out of specialist support and they're going to be totally brutalised in the state system. Our county doesn't even test for dyslexia let alone support it.

There’re so many threads about private schools. The way I see it is that private school is a waste of money for some children and great for others. Make the decision based on your child and don’t judge others for their choice. I wouldn’t send a child to private without trying state school first (could save you a fortune) unless mega rich of course.

I agree, private schools near us are struggling. They’re always advertising for new pupils and have constant opens days. We contacted one for our daughter but realised for us it would have been a waste of money as she’s doing great at a good state school. They kept ringing me and emailing me. They told us they had lost a lot of pupils due to cost of living / covid.

I know non super rich families who send their children to private school. I’m not really sure how they do it. Although our private schools aren’t London private school prices!

My problem isn't necessarily private school. My problem is these threads all seen to have the same theme. Outrage that private school may no longer be affordable but being perfectly happy for it to always have been unaffordable for most people.

I am sorry for what your daughter went through and maybe I would have done the same as you. The fact is though there will be loads of kids who are just like your daughter who will never in a million years be able to go to private school. My issue is with the people who may now find themselves in the position to no longer be able to afford it thinking its unfair that their children may no longer have the advantage that they had previously bought.

It’s his wife’s family that are the billionaires. His parents were a GP and a pharmacist, they probably did make sacrifices to afford the school he went to.

I think the people who use private schools haven't been affected by the rise in food prices and energy etc .

I'm in NI and the only private schools are prepatorys of the grammar schools. They are about £5k per year and whilst they are probably the wealthier demograph I wouldn't say they were all rich by any means. I know someone on benefits who sends her DD as her grandfather pays the fees. Quite a number also have SEN and their parents are very ordinary but really sacrifice for the sake of smaller class sizes.

This is fairly well known but what you get from parents who go private is 'but my child is sensitive/special/anxious and couldn't cope with a state school'. It's driven by fear of the great unwashed. My DN was told by a public school boy in her college at Cambridge that 'you're not how I imagined a state school pupil'. She went to a state school in North London and has professional parents.

I don't think private schools should be banned, people can spend their money as they like, I think they are foolish for spending it on schools with only pretty buildings to recommend them but there are far more destructive ways to throw away your money.

They may well have. They may have forgone a holiday or replacing their car or a hundred other things ti keep their dc at the school

@cestlavielife Lol at rishi making sacrifices,from his family's billions !!
Huh? You think his future in laws paid for young Rishi's schooling?

This thread puts to bed the misconception that MN is full of nothing other than middle class yummy mummies driving around in massive 4x4s and holidaying in the Maldives at least

Fair i guess it was referring to his own parents

There aren’t that many true super rich. Their children would fill one school, max.

The (middle class) problem is that professionals’ income has gone down in real terms. So a doctor now can’t do the things a doctor of our parents generation could.

Quite possibly

Because we live in a country that believes that doesn't believe in social equality. Watch the coronation next week for proof that we applaud unearned privilege.

I'm not against private schools, but just to say that having a daughter who couldn't cope in mainstream secondary, there is always the option to home educate and is what most parents of similar children end up doing. Most can't afford private and independent special school places are very hard to get.
If you are struggling to pay the fees for private with a normal child, you would probably be better going to state as you could get contextual offers for attending a poor performing school, so easier to get into a good university.

@WesterChick my child has an EHCP which details their special educational needs and the provisions to meet these. The LA mainstream schools said they would not have my child in their school and the local authority agreed to fund a school place at a local mainstream independent school with smaller classes. They also fund a 1:1 TA for the lessons which cause the most stress. This is not a specialist school and has children of all abilities and offers and broad and balanced curriculum with a focus on wellbeing and inclusion alongside academics. It's an amazing place.

The state system is so corrupted by zero tolerance ridiculous policies that won't even allow a kid to forget a pen without punishment that they can't and won't meet the needs of many children who just need some adjustments made, and have the power to refuse to offer a place. It sounds unbelievable but sadly it's true.

It's a long more common than you think!

@batsandeggs exactly - politicians can’t on the one hand say that paying school fees is only for the elite, whereas paying nursery fees is entirely reasonable and affordable for all working parents

You are incredibly lucky. So many SEN parents would kill for this