AIBU to question rising private school fees amid declining GCSE results

[Sidedoors]

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/

But I just don't feel duped?

My kid gets more extra curricular, a class of 15 and extra attention. He gets to learn an instrument, play sports competitively, his school has a pottery studio and a theatre, he gets to do LAMDA exams. None of these things are available in any of our local state schools where the classes are 32 and the teachers are very stretched with all sorts of challenges including social challenges and issues from children not speaking English as a primary language.

I would love to see the comprehensive sector better funded to be able to tackle these challenges head-on and I'm happy to pay more taxes towards that goal.

Yes, some of the extra stuff my fees cover is annoying, but it's also annoying that my taxes go to pay Nigel Farage's expense bill so it's not a perfect world.

I don’t have a child at private school and when my child is old enough I most DEFINITELY will not be attached to any of the above! I don’t live in London and all regional are Fee funded as revenue. I’d rather my hard earned money was spend or shared within my own family!

Different experiences. My kids have attended a few top private schools between them and at any one point between 30 and 50% of the class members were children of staff members.

I’m going 50%

Dodgy before VAT many raised eyebrows but now it’s the daily rant on WhatsApp

@MyKindHikerthe OP has an issue with private education because they’re currently paying for their child to attend private school without a guarantee that their child will do better than their peers in state education, therefore it is a “waste of money”

I have no idea what you’re talking about!!!!!!!

They say they aren't... oh who cares. This whole thing is a weird attempt to 'expose' things we all know about anyway.

This is your advice to fitness about their children, while refusing to remove your child from the private school they attend? Do as I say but not as I do, right?

Your behaviour is laughable

So long as there’s transparency it is entirely personal choice.

What I disagree with is the lack of transparency especially in annual financial accounting.

My child is 2.

I don’t believe you are not the same OP as the A level thread, as your comments are exactly the same as theirs, as is your repetitive reply style.
Just keep banging on about the “one third”…

i commented at the end of that thread once it reached capacity.

One third is just fact. There for all to see.

On behalf of the CEO of Independent schools.

I'm intrigued that OP is on all sort of whatsapp groups with complaining parents at tons of provincial private schools and her child is 2....

You keep on bringing up this point 'its exceptionally important to do due diligence' and this whole thread is 'people need to know'... hate to break it to you OP - most people here DID do their due diligence and are happy with their choice of private for their child, whether scrimping or not scrimping at all. What it sounds like is that YOU didnt do YOUR due diligence and now can't get over it nor do you want to do anything actionable about it for your child.

There was also a similarly obsessed poster who had a bee in her bonnet about staff receiving discounts and their children taking all the best parts in the school plays and so on and so on. If they are different posters (which I doubt), I would recommend all of them having the courage to leave the private education sector and to enjoy the state system. Spend your money how you choose: handbags, holidays or education. It’s your money - but don’t try to make yourself feel better by tearing others down so their choices match yours and you don’t feel like you’re missing out.

I am perfectly happy for staff to receive discounts- some of our best teachers have children in school and it is probably a big part of why we have them. It is also probably a lot cheaper than raising salaries - especially if classes or at full capacity so it doesn’t really affect fees as much a you imply.

i am fine with bursaries in general and have no interest in second guessing the school’s decisions- it is a bit distasteful to speculate on other people’s financial hardship. I take the view that my cost/benefit analysis is mine alone and has nothing to do with others at the school weighing up cost/benefit under different parameters. My children are thriving at their private and were really struggling at state, so we will happily pay even if it means working a few more years than I might have otherwise.

Schools have always sent out ‘begging letters’ as do universities. It is also why they make an effort to stay in touch with alumni and invite them to reunions. It is these efforts that help pay for new science blocks, drama studios etc as well a the endowments that pay for burserys/scholarships/prizes. I am surprised you don’t know that.

@Sidedoors I don’t think you know much about private schools. This is all hearsay.

In case you didn’t know, schools research the wealth of parents and invite them to join “inner circle” type events to relieve them of more money. The Arnold Foundation at Rugby is an example. It’s quite normal to have alumni associations and ask for money from them.

We used schools where we were not continually targeted for money but others most certainly gave huge amounts. Well in three of them. Possibly not in the other one as too many without substantial funds.

I now wonder if OPs has a child at a private school at all. She seems incredibly passive about doing anything despite being so cross with the school. Is asking people to provide examples of ‘begging letters’ without providing examples of any she claims to gave been inundated with. Seems terribly uninformed about how the finances of private schools work, especially endowments, despite being so cross about it. Doesn’t seem to get the idea of people judging themselves whether it is value for money for their own child. Seems keen to try and drum up resentment amongst others even once their kids get to university...

Plus of course the idea that private schools outside London don’t have wealthy pupils/parents - that would include schools like Oundle, Fettes College, Gordonstoun, Winchester College, Cheltenham Ladies College…

I plan to do this for DS’s school, they’ve basically saved his life and they’re a very small school with small fees and I would like to either leave them something in or Will or donate when we can.

We were asked to donate much more when they were in state primary!

Same! Never had a ‘begging letter’ from our Indy, no requests for contributions at all. There is an alumni organisation so presume they will hit the kids up down the line.

state school on the other hand was relentless with requests for cash.

@Labraradabrador Most independent schools have a fund for something or another. Bursaries, a sponsored brick for a new building, or they just charge you for every extra going! The price you see is rarely what you pay!

Yes, our state schools beg for money all the time, including for regular donations if you are able to. You can claim gift aid back on it. It is probably partly why the Labour Government want more affluent families in state, they want you to donate. They cannot balance the books.
I used to give the head teacher at primary a bottle of bubbly and a large box of 43g Pritt glue sticks for Christmas every year.