AIBU to discuss A level success without private school spending?

[Absorbthecost]

Parents/carers who have not spent a penny on Educating their children and they have just received great A level results.

The sacrifices made all the struggle,

I’m interested to discuss families where the child has succeeded without need for private school

https://www.gbnews.com/money/private-school-fees-soar-vat

https://www.ft.com/content/091b214d-231b-414a-8f3e-9ef9fc021926?syn-25a6b1a6=1

Those who did pay,

presumably to secure great results at A level

The same kids off to Uni, placements easier to secure as less international competition. Uni the playing field evens.

And now time to pay for Uni,

https://inews.co.uk/news/education/university-tuition-fees-11000-2030-4705197?srsltid=AfmBOorss52PSHD6xJzisWMdeNxcXDen3IrCGS49nnGH1ZyDnmvTOh_k

A child who did outstanding (without spending a penny) the same result as a family who spent £250k + The above article is a low estimation for a selective U.K. day/ boarding.

The kids holding the same result off to the same Uni, How are families feeling!?…. Did you save to help towards the Uni Fees/accomodation.

Please please do not think this. You must live in rubbish part of the UK then? Such a ridiculous generalisation. On grades alone (as it’s the only thing I can compare as my children are young and I’ve not looked ahead), our decent states, out perform our private schools.

My feral state school educated children are doing very well in life. It can happen, despite what many Mumsnetters think.

Think you might have quoted the wrong person. I just said that such generalisations were terrible and being snobby either way showed people lacked understanding and nuance. This goes both ways.

😂 you sound unhinged OP. Where are you getting this information from?

your posts make no sense.

as others have said I’m not sending my kids to private schools to guarantee top grades.

Please don’t think like that!

it is all smoke and mirrors.

1 in 3 cannot afford it. Period.

The ones who can are paying and subsidising everyone else.

How long do you think this will continue when families gain more knowledge on school finance and bursary allocation and realise they are going without to line the pockets of others. Better to save their money for their own children. The only way for independent school to survive is to remove all tiered fee structure and everyone to contribute equal fees to the pot.

Ensuring plenty of revenue coming in and no drop in standards or cutting corners with provision.

They won’t ever do that far too many of the administration/friends/family/staff all in receipt of the discounts payments which are subsidised directly from full fee payers. This is why so many merge or close and this is happening in every independent school.

Annual financial accounts lump figures together to disguise ‘discounts’ and ‘bursary’ giving the external impression this allocation is going to disadvantaged deserving candidates from the wider community. In reality the funds are going as discounts and “hardship” support to non means tested middle class families to help pay their kids fees.

Labour understand this they knew this spotlight on private school finance would uncover sheer internal greed and whether families not affording and leaving or families saying what am I paying for and leaving it would be brought to light.

The great defenders of private school and aggressors towards what Labour have done tend to be those in receipt of large school bursary or discounts (it doesn’t take a “private” school educated “superiority complex” to figure out motive).

My point is most trying to make anyone at state feel small, cannot afford to be in private school. 1-3 be thankful your children excel and are happy with what they’ve got without having to elbow or dip toes in such a murky financial pond to “appear” to be something they’re not. 1 in 3.

Yes. That was my point.

OP’s generalisations on every one of their threads are really quite bizarre. Not every private school is the same. Not every private school student, or parent, is the same. And that goes for state schools too.

Tell your children

1 in 3 cannot afford to be there.

1 in 3 home life on the breadline all for show they cannot afford it. Cap in hand to the bursars for financial hardship fund paid as a “charity” directly from full fee payers.

This is the reality of independent school. Any kids not suffering this (whether in a family going without to hold onto the “uniform” at all cost, unaffordable or families burdened with annual fee hikes unsustainable) should enjoy their happy childhood, right to education and freedom from weight of financial difficulties for something they are intelligent enough to access for free. Thats the current reality.

Reality. By the CEO OF ISC

You don’t like private school. We get it. I’m not sure what you are hoping to gain by ranting though.

Your 1 in 3 figure includes staff discounts and scholarships which attract fee remission. Far fewer are on means tested bursaries (which are often funded by endowments rather than the general school finances anyway). The staff discounts exist in order to make the compensation package more attractive and to attract the best teachers. There isn’t a general “friends and family” discount at any school I know; you are being ridiculous. Schools generally only offer staff discounts to teaching staff, not support staff.

As many of us are trying to tell you, all schools are different. The picture you are trying to paint simply isn’t true of most successful private schools.

I for one am not mourning the death of private schools, as one by one these businesses price out their customers.

Wouldn’t it be lovely if state schools could meet the needs of all students. Truly I wish they could - maybe and hopefully in the future they will.

I think a lot of people overestimate the value added by any type of school in an education system like England, where there is a national curriculum and regulation so a basic standard in place universally with national exams (as opposed to some developing countries).
The most value added is always home environment, and I don’t just mean academics, I mean mental and physical well being and creativity etc as well and opportunity and networking. Any kid needs to work out their true talent and skill and pursue that to be successful: it’s a journey towards picking the right A levels and degree and then job that makes an individual fulfilled and happy. And for some it’s simply just learning to live independently and get a job at all which can be a huge feat from a low starting point.

Also there are lots of connected people who send their kids to state schools. If you are a professional with a big network you don’t need private school. Both my DH and I have thousands of contacts on LinkedIn. I don’t mean nepotism really. Your DC even being able to regularly chat to other adult professionals doctors lawyers musicians business men academics actors minor politicians etc etc makes a huge difference. So does travel and lots of cultural experiences.

I think it also needs to be remembered that in this climate apprenticeships and degree apprenticeships are so much more valuable than many degrees and even Alevels. These are the domain of the state sector not the private sector.

True impact not yet felt,

Many families stuck in transition years.

Independent school mismanagement was their downfall. Labour VAT was the knock out blow.

Up to now 1/3 cannot afford to be there.

How many of the 2/3 in transition years?

Aspirational, smart people hate waste.

With the remainder on discounts or the few just there for the uniform the model is unsustainable.

This is Labours chance

If they divert the billions and sort out UK state education, they win. Will they?…. I hope so too.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/08/15/sedbergh-private-independent-schools-tax-sompting/

The tone of some “independent school” families, hilarious!

Turning their noses up at state school, families, children. Not wanting their children to mix with those on free school meals or benefits ….

The irony is (for many 1/3) at “private school” their children, are too, in receipt of free school meals and benefits.

The idea that those in private school uniform are “superior” or better than your children at state is absolutely hilarious. Many of these children are living in financial “hardship” 1/3.

Likewise, the idea that all state school children are 'down to earth' while all private school children are 'spoilt' doesn't do anyone any good. All these generalisations are nonsense. One size doesn't fit all.

I agree.

Bar a very very small dwindling percentage at private school in UK still paying full fees.

There is absolutely no social difference between state and independent bar facilities they are struggling to maintain.

At least you weren’t quoting your own post this time, though easily could have.

It’s intentional.

I like to really drive home important information (which I’m sure many on discounts would prefer remained buried)

1/3 on benefits at Private school.

Just under 90% of students at our school are full fee payers.

It undermines your posts though as it looks like you are arguing with yourself and don’t hold a coherent position.

You must be an anomaly to these official figures from the CEO of Independent schools in UK.

Or, your school being an independent and infamous for “hiding” discounts and fiddling accounts under vague reporting is just better than most.

My intention is

we need to get real.

Why keep painting that independent school is rosy when it’s not! The above is the reality.

For full fee payers we must hope that Labour level up otherwise rather than government funding education and benefits we full fee payers at independent school do the funding!!