Why do people think parents who pay for private education are enormously wealthy?

[SheineOn]

Is this just the stereotype?

I went to a school that cost 18k a year (15 years ago). It’s now 24k a year.

There were wealthy people there. But also many ‘normal’ people. At least 40% fell into that category. People who lived on estates, drove modest cars, skipped holidays and ate cheaply.

They made a choice to spend their money on private education. For context, two of my closest friends have dc in private. They live off 450 a month after paying fees. They are not high earners.

Not everyone has endless wealth. Some are just happy to make the sacrifice. I find it strange people don’t seem to get that and makes me wonder how lacking in knowledge you must be to have that view of the private sector.

I'm not sure I assume they are endlessly wealthy but I can't say I have a huge amount of empathy because they're not if that's what you're gearing towards? It's a matter of priority and choice? I've got friends on a similar income to us who use private education and I think they're nuts committing themselves to that financially, it's just not a choice I'd make unless I myself was very wealthy. Unless I needed the SEN provision which I know is a whole other kettle of fish.

I don’t assume they are “wealthy”. I rightly assume that anyone who can afford £18k a year, after tax, is not on an average wage.

If you can afford £24k a year in school fees, you are wealthy.

If you can't afford £24k in school fees without leaving yourself short, but do so anyway, then you are a bit dim.

HTH.

For the same reason they think people earning more than £100,000 are wealthy, because its vastly more privileged than the majority of people. Even if those at the school don't 'feel' wealthy, they are. Just like those on six figures don't feel wealthy.

I do know what you mean as my parents sent me to private school despite not being wealthy. I'd have to be very pig headed not to recognise my vast privilege compared to other who did not get the same advantage in life. Relatively speaking I'd have to acknowledge my wealthy upbringing. It just wasn't as wealthy as many people.

Plenty of people go without holidays and various other luxuries and still couldn’t afford to pay for private schooling so you are privileged if you can afford it.(And yes they work hard too)

Your friends' mortgage/rent and bills cone to less than £450 a month?

I don't think it's other people that are out of touch here, op.

Well they certainly aren't the squeezed middle as many like to portray themselves as.

I'm going to say ops education didn't pay off eh?

I just don't like the repeated comments that private school parents make sacrifices to send their children to private school.
The underlying tones that we could all do the same if we just made different choices about how we spend.

@LizzieSiddal you are wrong though. People on less than average pay can and do pay for these fees because they choose to make the sacrifice.

What is it, something like 7% of people go to private schools?
And yet there are dozens of tone-deaf posters telling us it's not the preserve of better off people.
Why can't you understand that there is a serious degree of privilege associated even with the ability to make these choices?
People struggling to feed house and clothe their kids don't have a choice to send them to a fee paying school, they simply don't have the cash.

Oooh this is going to be fun 😂

It's not lacking in knowledge to realise that some families live off €24k pa in total, so to spend that on schooling is a luxury most can't afford.

How ridiculous. Having £24k spare every year is not 'normal'.

I live on less than £24,000 a year...wealth is subjective.

Because to afford £24K in school fees, plus the compulsory bought lunches, uniform and trips you need to bringing in at least £30k before tax. Thats more than the average wage where I live.

@Singlemumtoadog @SapphireSlippers this passive aggressive rhetoric is exactly what I am referring to.

yes, it is possible on less than an average wage. If you want to make choices to pay for it.

I hate to tell you that if you have a spare 18k a year you aren't normal.

Exactly.

@Wisterical it doesn’t have to be spare but people do make sacrifices to make it work

Anyone has a spare £15k a year, per child for at least five years isn't poor.

They're not stinking rich, but they are massively comfortable.

So what exactly are the sacrifices? A holiday, house renovations, car? Because to many, many people these are already a luxury & something they already 'sacrifice'.

I don’t imagine they are enormously wealthy but I do wonder why they sacrifice their family’s quality of life rather than use the state system, especially in areas where the state schools are all ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’. I went to a state school and earn £120k, I just don’t think it’s necessary.

Because they stereotype people. Of course some are wealthy and the VAT will make no difference but that’s few and far between. And some of the people who comment seem uneducated on the topic and overall unfortunately! Jealousy also comes in?

It’s seen as a good thing to bash people about- how dare they spend money on private schools ! But equally those saying that might spend their money on big houses holidays and cars or they may not buy it’s not anyone’s business but there’s same as schools or private healthcare.