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 find it strange you don't seem to get that it's numerically impossible for someone on the UK average salary to send a child to a private school and that parents of private school children tend to be in the top 10% of earners in the country, and therefore are clearly far wealthier than the vast majority of people.

Let's look at some actual hard facts and figures instead of subjective comments on sacrifices and consumption choices and anecdotes about friends.

Let's take the school you mentioned that costs £24,000.
The average salary in the UK is just under £35,000 before tax.
The average rent alone is £1,223 per month - and that's before bills or food.
If paying the average rent, that's £14,676 a year

Even if they didn't pay any tax:
£35000-£14676 = £20,324, so not enough money for fees.

If your friends have £450 'to live off' that clearly can't include rent or mortgage repayments.

I have a friend, her and her hisband are both band 5 nurses. So on around 75k a year combined. They send their only DC to our local private school. I think it's around 12-14k a year, depending on year group. I wouldn't class them are rich or wealthy.

We need the wealthy to pay more tax. The vast majority of parents who can afford to pay £20k per year can also afford to pay £24k per year. There will be some marginal cases but despite the bluster not many people are going to change over 20% cost.

I don't pay for Private Education though so you've not really proven anything...

I wouldn't class £75k a year as poor though!

You saved 35% of your house price as a deposit? That is a very hefty deposit.

So there's a very good chance we're about to see families who suddenly have £15k more pa in their pockets and nowhere to send their children.

And none of them will live in areas that already have decent state options? That’s unusual ime.

Dhs boss (£350+bonus) wangs on about saving money by going on the ferry and staying in his holiday homes instead of flying and staying in hotels. It's almost comical.

So what you're actually saying OP is that if you have next to no mortgage to pay and earn about 10 grand over the average wage - then you can just about afford to send your child to private school.

I'm sure that's really helpful for people to know. Your private school must be so proud.

The average wage in the UK is 28K pre-tax. 😂

Because most people don’t have anywhere near £2k a month available after they’ve paid their bills.

so the vast vast majority of people will get paid. Then their bills go out as direct debits. Then they will be left with very little (far far less than £2k) which has to last for food clothes transport and anything else they need.

Its not a question of priorities. Far from it.

But your figures are taking only one salary into account.

So you’ve proven that with little outgoings like your brother has(small mortgage) yes it is possible.

Most of us aren’t in that fortunate position, especially recently with rising interest rates in the past year and cost of living.

Do your children go to private school?

I think you were maybe replying to my comment although you've not tagged or quoted me. I didn't say 75k was poor. However the OP said enormously wealthy which it isn't.

ghostyslovesheets · Today 18:22
I wouldn't class £75k a year as poor though!

Quite! On this income sacrifices could be made to pay for one of the less expensive schools, but we are talking about 2 incomes, here.

The one that's likely to shut is in a small village. The only other option is a tiny church school which has a annual intake of around 10 children, and only 3 classes for the entire school. They only have 3 rooms. Of course, there are people in the village sending their child to schools further afield, but these are mostly heavily oversubscribed and their only chance of getting their first choice will be to move closer.

I also think the point made above - when people bang on about 'sacrifices' is bull as well - the idea that 93% of the population don't send their kids to a private school because they are spunking all their money on foreign holidays, take aways, wine and posh cars - yeah right. I have families that can't even afford to but fucking school shoes after buying food and heating - such an odd argument.

Oh, I know! As I understand, it is massively subsidised by a historic endowment which generates enough to support keeping fees low. It is not the only one in that position.

I only provided the link because you didn't seem to think they exist. They are out there, and some people may well think this is normal.

@ItsFuckingBoringFeedingEveryoneUntilYouDie thanks. I know our two local private schools are not in that fortunate position.

Is that you Rishi?

I don't pay for Private Education though so you've not really proven anything...

And yet you keep saying that you could afford PE although you’ve never paid for it….

The local Muslim private school is pretty cheap as it is heavily subsidised by donations. But it also teaches a lot of Islam, demands girls wear Hijab, and only really devout Muslims send their kids here.

No, 25% of the 15% deposit we paid was the govt. top-up from the HTB ISA scheme, which I think is closed now sadly. We saved up £18k between us (£9k each, £150pm each for 5 years) and the govt topped it up by £6k, so we had £24k to pay towards a £160k house.

But many people on here would because they earn slightly more than the median wage.

I would class them as well off.