To think parents of private education school children will be fine

[Bluewhitered]

I’ve seen lots of threads on this topic recently. It would be great to have it’s own section so those who want to chat about it with fellow parents , can without an argument.

But private school parents and their children!! We will be just fine. There’s so much smugness and bitterness and hate coming from people who think it’s great the VAT will be added and force some out. In fact I don’t disagree - add VAT on ! Great, and then we can take either our state places up … win win we have more money to spend on holidays, deposits for houses for our kids, private tutors, extra cirricular activities etc and we can probably move to better areas with the outstanding state schools or OR we pay it it we can afford to keep our children there.

On some of the independent school committees they are working out how to charge the fees differently so the actual fees we will pay 20% on are low and the rest of the money is on stuff that’s exempt from VAT. They are also looking at changing the nature of the schools so the children get their state education allowance and then pay extras on top- like you would nursery extras.

The chance of labour implementing it is low. There are solicitors looking at it now and whether they can change the law to allow it.

So either way we’re not in a bad position - as most of the threads argue we are the wealthiest in The UK- some can’t afford food bills etc so we are incredibly lucky to have choice and it is true we must have money to
even contemplate spending £25k on each child in school.

Why though - I’m voting labour - I agree with you! I think we shouldn’t spend our money on private schools! I’ve completely said that! We won’t have enough for £8k x 3 so & £24k after tax so we will move to state schools. I am not voting Tory either I like the idea of labour - it’s making us personally better off now so it’s a good thing?

Exactly! We’re in the private schools- we are chatting with parents, reading the governors emails seeing it first hand. And we are an example first hand. Where do they think people will magic money from? Of course the extremely wealthy can but most at ours earn monthly to pay and use their salary- it’s not magic money tree! And I don’t get why people are getting upset- this is the consequence and it’s not a problem it’s just what it is! But interesting to see what the consequences are and seeing it play out already

And you’ve witnessed this with your crystal ball have you?

Seriously, do you not read?! I said earlier that I know this first hand from our close group of friends - we all earn the same amounts roughly - some send children to PS, the others state educate with very heavy private tutoring on the side.

The parents have said that they get called by the school on countless occasions because dc’s are disruptive and complaining at home that they are bored. I don’t agree with the roundabout way they have chosen to educate their children but this is fact and not made up!

And these friends of yours then disclose to you that their children are then so advanced due to their parents arranging tutoring for them that they disrupt the class. What absolute nonsense.

Totally

Yes they do!! But clearly you don’t believe me and that is perfectly fine :)

@Bluewhitered OP how have you found the idea of moving schools? We are in a similar position so will be doing the same. In September (we knew the GE was coming to knew to prepare as it’s been a labour policy for a long time) we put our kids on the list so our first is moving to year 7 state school (half the class are doing the same as they didn’t want to lose their automatic places and knew they’d have to move if the increase comes in) so that’s fine and her friends are there and she’s guaranteed a high school place and we’ve accepted it in the state school , and younger kids will follow through .

I wonder if you are in Yorkshire as a school there has announced it merging in our newsletter?

I feel sorry for our school - lots of chat about what’s going to happen and parents taking their children out after next term. Guess it’s inevitable as some can’t afford , me included..

I think you’re talking about half of the parents at our school! We will be leaving - have handed notices in ready and got the state places lined up- but we’re doing it when the kids are in year 6 to get their guaranteed space so they can’t say the school is full etc as we’re in the catchment and kids will get in automatically. Mixed thoughts on it really- we’ve loved the school where the children are at, but equally know other schools will be just as good so it saves us money - we thought of ISAs and more pension contributions so not to spend it frivolously. I guess it’s not a bad idea- the children get taught, and then when they’re older they have security- maybe that’s what labour are wanting to do, let the parents rethink there priorities maybe and put it towards children’s future houses etc private pensions?

@Thepinkyponkc
You know it’s been ok now we’ve got our head around it. We had planned that the children went all the way through , but this increase is too much and it made us re consider. Why are we paying- I see people on mums net arguing that private schools shouldn’t exist and they must have a reason to? The schools must be good - our children will do fine wherever they are , we’ve set them up well, and they’ve loved their school life so far . Re schools - we’ve found a house to move to and can put our children in the schools there. Others at our current schools are doing the same so there friends will be there.

The school they are in now is brilliant but we’ve said we’ll get tutors, carry on with all extra curriculum activities and go on some nice holidays and take them travelling- so they’ll have a broad range of skills and experiences.

Ah yes to Yorkshire so I’m guessing you’ll know the village/ town we are moving to with the grammar school! It’s beautiful and where we have wanted to live but couldn’t afford so it’s a positive to us.

We’re just seeing it differently now - I have loved the children’s school life so far and thinking they are moving to the school with their friends is great as well. It’s been a bit like why fight the 20% , we can’t afford it but it’s pushed us into a different lifestyle. It’s made private schools more elite though when it comes in. Only the real wealthy will continue and the rest will move . I was listening to LBC the other day - Thursday morning, and the labour education secretary came on, she had no idea how many are in private schools and wouldn’t give a percentage to Nick Ferrari when pushed what percentage the government are working on to the amount leaving to state schools. She thought it would be negligible. It’s far from it- it’s considerable from our schools. 75% reduces intake into reception and 30% leaving rate so far. That’s huge! I

And to add, these are generally the children disrupting the class because they are bored senseless …. Having already covered the curriculum with their tutors

There are certain parents who see their own children through a rather distorted lens. They are unable to see their behaviour for what it is. It reminds me of a dad I knew years ago who was proudly telling me about how his reception age dd was in trouble for kicking and punching other children. And it was all because she was so intelligent. Hmmm.

You're talking utter rot.

You couldn't have afforded this village if the kids didn't go private but you are keeping your current house as a rental? Yes, you could have afforded it, you appear to forget what you have posted from one point to another.

Also, you are really hedging your bets on the grammar, they might not get in, and you've missed admissions for next year in both primary and secondary.

You'll be fine, making up stories on the internet to try to make a point.

And failing badly.

I love this post. It's all true, my kids have left private school now and are earning big money, nearly killed us working 7 days a week 12 + hours a day with sleepless nights, but now the "entitled" kids are paying back into society, we've a million pound house, nice cars and private healthcare. Not everyone has the chance or ability to live this way but thankfully we do. The extra 20% will be a nice feeling for the socialists but won't really change anything for us lot at the upper end of society.

U'm a bit confused. Di you mean your kids have bought you a million pound house and private health care, or that you can afford those things because you are no longer paying the fees? I don't think parents can bank on their kids earning big money just because they went to a fee paying school.

Lots of I’m all right Jack - screw you. I find the lack of social cohesion very sad these days. I’ll call it V society: me Vs you and whatever you do however you do it. Personally I think private education should be made more affordable along with pvt health care to help off load the public services.

Good for you. My dear Sibs and I are WC, went to state schools and also are very successful career wise and are high earners. Which means we can look after our parents, who ‘strives’ and scrimped - not to send us to private schools but to heat the house, pay the rent, clothe and feed us… my Ddad also worked 12-14 hours as day, weekends
as a tradesman. DMum worked 3 PT jobs to fit around us kids.

It always astonishes me that private parents seem to believe they are the only people who work hard - when in fact I find that the opposite is often true- and are the only ones who want to do well for their children.
Dfriend was telling me about how her multimillionaire father worked so hard to build his business, her hardly saw the kids for most of their childhood, and how if he could do it etc.
At 19 he was handed the reigns to the family business which already had a £1m+
tunrover - so sure he turned that £1m into more millions but do t tell me that he, or anyone else born into privilege, worked any harder than my 19 year old dad
working 14 hrs as a mechanic or my Dmum who worked, had kids and put herself through night school.