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AIBU to question rising private school fees amid declining GCSE results

386 replies

Sidedoors · 23/08/2026 16:09

Private school GCSE decline.

What happened? Is this an example of what’s to come?

Fees are rising well beyond inflation annually yet, results are in decline.

State schools prioritising, ‘reserving seats’ in house for 6th Form. Risky investment?

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/gcse-results-day-2026-6-key-trends-from-this-years-data/

AIBU to question rising private school fees amid declining GCSE results
AIBU to question rising private school fees amid declining GCSE results
AIBU to question rising private school fees amid declining GCSE results
AIBU to question rising private school fees amid declining GCSE results
OP posts:
Thread gallery
34
Backtoschooloncemore · 28/08/2026 14:18

Araminta1004 · 28/08/2026 14:16

it is a bot with multiple user names that is being trained in the supposed art of ahem non nuanced female debate and is also being used to suss out online user engagement. It has been on multiple threads but the lingo it uses can be spotted a mile off.

Training not going well then

Pinkissmart · 28/08/2026 14:18

So, hang in. If you pay more, your child should get higher grades?

Socialcircles · 28/08/2026 15:11

Sidedoors · 23/08/2026 16:09

Private school GCSE decline.

What happened? Is this an example of what’s to come?

Fees are rising well beyond inflation annually yet, results are in decline.

State schools prioritising, ‘reserving seats’ in house for 6th Form. Risky investment?

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/gcse-results-day-2026-6-key-trends-from-this-years-data/

These threads are hilarious.
There is no way OP is a bot. OP is either

  1. Very wealthy and sick of subsidising “the poor at private schools aka The UK Middle class. Or,
  2. They’re politically motivated to promote equality and state education.

When I read all these posts it looks like an antagonist who has played the thread perfectly.

The outraged Middle class up in arms.
How dare That Bot!

It seems those Pro Inde report user and delete user so they just make new accounts making a mockery of the situation. The OP threads remain for all to join and read. Internet foot print.

Mumsnet cannot remove factual information that would be censorship. Basically, the OP is laughing at you and you’re falling for it 🤖😄 I can’t wait to read the next thread…..

Araminta1004 · 28/08/2026 15:18

A few … emojis and spelling errors fool nobody!

I mean come on, a cup back emoji - hehe.

MN is a private company and can do what it likes

Socialcircles · 28/08/2026 15:18

Sidedoors · 26/08/2026 10:38

There’s a paradox here let me explain,

Most know academia doesn’t pay,

Those who dedicate their lives to teaching know it’s not well paid whether school or uni. The pursuit of higher education comes, often with great student debt.

Often teachers, professors even can be working whilst still paying off student loans.

It’s the “academics” or those who believe they’re of superior education who will often correct on mumsnet. They can be entitled and obnoxious. The problem is more often than not these “academics” have chosen to teach not do. They often lack the funds or the finance to pay for these institutions.

More often than not a humble business owner perhaps with basic education will be financially superior as they chose to DO, not teach.

Theres a society of old school “academics” holding onto these independent institutions with a vice like grip yet, They cannot afford them.

We’re moving into a technological era where education is open to all for low cost. Education is increasingly not only for high society, it’s accessible, universal.

There is poverty within independent education just as there is wealth within state school.

Your own independent articles and data are testament to that Fact. The world has changed and it is private school being left behind, drowning in debt and financial burden.

Poverty 😄

Araminta1004 · 28/08/2026 15:20

What does the bot think about the Peckham MP? And their rise to cabinet in just over 2 years?

Socialcircles · 28/08/2026 15:25

bedtimeaudible · 28/08/2026 09:37

The mums in local circles have used UV permanent markers for items this year. So it’s going to be interesting.

This.

I’m dead.

If this doesn’t deserve its own thread on Mumsnet I don’t know what does.

Wealthy UK private school kids sent to school wearing UV labeled uniform and accessories (sporting black light UV sensitive keyring torches on their school bags) in order to catch those pesky Middle class from stealing their property.

[You just know this will actually be a thing. 💰🔦]

Socialcircles · 28/08/2026 15:27

Araminta1004 · 28/08/2026 15:18

A few … emojis and spelling errors fool nobody!

I mean come on, a cup back emoji - hehe.

MN is a private company and can do what it likes

A tad like those private school (businesses) stealing all the bursary funds 😱

Socialcircles · 28/08/2026 15:28

Araminta1004 · 28/08/2026 15:20

What does the bot think about the Peckham MP? And their rise to cabinet in just over 2 years?

Stop the boats.

Araminta1004 · 28/08/2026 15:29

That is racist.

Socialcircles · 28/08/2026 15:30

Araminta1004 · 28/08/2026 15:29

That is racist.

No it’s UK policy we must stop the invasion of UK.

Araminta1004 · 28/08/2026 15:33

Yes we must stop the invasion of MN by bots.

Araminta1004 · 28/08/2026 15:36

You can spout and mimic and quote but you have zero understanding of nuance, inference and virtually zero EI.

Socialcircles · 28/08/2026 15:37

Araminta1004 · 28/08/2026 15:36

You can spout and mimic and quote but you have zero understanding of nuance, inference and virtually zero EI.

And you have no money to pay your private school fees. 🤖💰✌️

Araminta1004 · 28/08/2026 15:38

Also no appreciation of cultural depth. You cannot even tell when we deliberately provoke you. You do not know how to react.

Like I said, spot a mile off

Longtimelurker1980 · 28/08/2026 15:40

38thparallel · 28/08/2026 14:00

however, they are also around friends who are advantaged and snobby and have what I would call ‘small world’ views and have learned to challenge that too

@Longtimelurker1980 Where do they meet these ‘advantaged and snobby’ people? What are their small world views that your morally superior children challenge?

In their state school. Children of people who think they are better than everyone else and teach that to their kids. Small world views like racism, homophobia etc but also classist, snobbish views that stem from the kind of superiority that can surround the advantaged, regardless of how they are schooled.

Araminta1004 · 28/08/2026 15:41

I don’t have to pay robotshik, my kids go state.

Socialcircles · 28/08/2026 15:43

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

38thparallel · 28/08/2026 15:47

Small world views like racism, homophobia etc but also classist, snobbish views that stem from the kind of superiority that can surround the advantaged, regardless of how they are schooled.

@Longtimelurker1980 thank you for answering my question.
I’m surprised these advantaged children dare espouse views like that. Do they voice such opinions to the teachers?
Are they ever reported for hate speech?

Socialcircles · 28/08/2026 15:49

Let’s all get behind the Labour government,

They’ve inherited a financial black hole after 14 years of conservative greed and overspend.

We want to see Labour level up state education for the masses! as priority in these coming years,

We need more content to debate with the Hyacinth Buckets that all live amongst us!

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music that you love, upload original content and share it all with friends, family and the world on YouTube.

https://youtu.be/G9A_5frplog?is=CAgYckstCf6EA0xF

Backtoschooloncemore · 28/08/2026 15:54

Longtimelurker1980 · 28/08/2026 15:40

In their state school. Children of people who think they are better than everyone else and teach that to their kids. Small world views like racism, homophobia etc but also classist, snobbish views that stem from the kind of superiority that can surround the advantaged, regardless of how they are schooled.

Racist and homophobic views are not limited to ‘that advantages’ in any way. Neither is snobbery in the sense of feeling better than others. ‘Reverse’ snobbery quite commonly presents itself on threads about private schools in derogatory terms and accusations about those who attend them.

PancakeCloud · 28/08/2026 15:58

Dooferer · 23/08/2026 16:32

Parents don’t aways send kids to private schools for grades. You know that don’t you? It’s a much more enriching experience. They come out of it much happier and more confident. That probably helps them more in future life than being a few grades higher in a few subjects.

Of course it’s not just for grades. It’s mainly to keep them away from povvos no?

Backtoschooloncemore · 28/08/2026 16:05

Longtimelurker1980 · 28/08/2026 15:40

In their state school. Children of people who think they are better than everyone else and teach that to their kids. Small world views like racism, homophobia etc but also classist, snobbish views that stem from the kind of superiority that can surround the advantaged, regardless of how they are schooled.

This is really an ironic post - obviously trying to position themselves as having a kind of superiority over the very people they are accusing of having a kind of superiority whilst also denigrating them.

Labraradabrador · 28/08/2026 17:00

PancakeCloud · 28/08/2026 15:58

Of course it’s not just for grades. It’s mainly to keep them away from povvos no?

According to the bots OP, private schools are full (ONE THIRD!) of hardship cases so there really is no respite

Longtimelurker1980 · 28/08/2026 17:44

38thparallel · 28/08/2026 15:47

Small world views like racism, homophobia etc but also classist, snobbish views that stem from the kind of superiority that can surround the advantaged, regardless of how they are schooled.

@Longtimelurker1980 thank you for answering my question.
I’m surprised these advantaged children dare espouse views like that. Do they voice such opinions to the teachers?
Are they ever reported for hate speech?

i know that the PHSE programme addresses Andrew Tate stuff as well as normal education on equality, discrimination etc. Yet some kids still use the word ‘bent’. Luckily there are plenty of other kids who are willing to call them out. But it’s still there, from the children of professional middle class families among others.

if teachers heard it I have no doubt they would take it ultra seriously. Several year 11 children were excluded last year for making a fake porn video of a female peer. Police called and children only allowed to come in and do their exams without being able to mix/talk with peers.

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