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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to expect my local cancel to pay for transport to a private school

458 replies

tootyflooty · 13/12/2008 12:23

My dd has been offered a place at a theatre school, it is fee paying but not local and they do not have scholerships. I asked the council if they would provide the cost of a train pass, but were told no, because it is not our local state school.My argument is that by funding my dd education for the next 5 years (not easily affordable for us)I am saving the local education authority vast sums of money as they will not be paying for her place at the local state school, it seems unfair that we are penalised for our decision, She would get a free pass if our local school was over 3 miles away.Sorry to ramble but we have never had handouts from anyone and this seems grossly unfair.

OP posts:
theramones · 14/12/2008 18:34

Tooty, if you live in Kent you can buy all 11 - 16 year olds (senior school only) a freedom pass which costs £50 a year and enables them to travel the whole of Kent, any time any where (ie Dover to Maidstone all day every day) on the bus. It is so well used/liked that I am sure at some point it will be rolled out Country wide.
BTW this is govt funded

Jux · 14/12/2008 18:36

Well said pagwatch.

needmorecoffee · 14/12/2008 18:38

you have to work on a sunday? Thats terrible. I'd rather be enjoying time with my kids than chasing even more money.

And Xenia, your comment about benefits. Fuck off.

noonki · 14/12/2008 18:38

Xenia - the problem is that this country is and has been run by predominantly public school boys for so long, who have got to where they are on the fact that they speak 'properly'and fit into the system that was laid down for centuries by the elite in this country. The have connections that mean they get into high powered postions through nepotism rather than merit.

They then run the country based on a very limited understanding of how the majority of people live their lives. Thus making poor decisions on how they think we should live our lives.

Jux - is your cousin married to my cousin ?!

who went to eton, is a real tim nice but dim, and only has ever got a job through some old boy network!

Judy1234 · 14/12/2008 18:38

I'm only playing and the argument that we already pay isn't a good one anyway as loads of people choose not to have nasty, noisy, bad for the environment children and those childfree people still have to stump up for the 94% little horrors in state schools.

You used to get a child tax allowance when I was a very little girl rather than child benefit and France rewards the rich who have large families in the same way. We want more people like I am to have children and fewer on benefits so the logical way to do that would be to give me tax relief at what will be my upper rate of 45% rather than tax credits and benefits. Anyway that's not going to happen because it's all about what wins votes not what helps the country at the end of the day.

In London children travel free on public transport which is just as well as it's the most expensive public transport of a capital city I think anywhere in the world.

We paid for our older children to take coaches provided by the schools to their own schools which worked quite well and also enables parents to work full time particularly if the children have after school activities and get a late coach home at 5.30pm.

needmorecoffee · 14/12/2008 18:41

London public transport is pretty cheap compared to Bristol buses.

noonki · 14/12/2008 18:41

xenia what tosh - if you are as rich as you say you are, would a tax incentive made you go ' oh I think I'll have another kid, so I can add some more to the coffers? I think not.'

TheProvincialLady · 14/12/2008 18:45

"We want more people like I am" Xenia - please - no

SantasNuttySTaff · 14/12/2008 18:47

NMC -aint that the truth its cheaper to drive than take the bus in bristol

needmorecoffee · 14/12/2008 18:52

you sure you can ski with your head up your arse?

MoccaMint · 14/12/2008 18:52

I thought that if you decide to take your kids out of the school system it's your responsibility to get them there.

Totally agree with pagwatch. If you're saving money it should be put back into the system, so that other parents are not "forced" to make the decision you did.

As for ppl claiming they never took anything out of the system: unless you're living a completely self-sufficient lifestyle and have no or very few dealings with society in general you're talking rubbish. And even then you would have needed roads and all the other basics that make your lifestyle possible.

needmorecoffee · 14/12/2008 18:54

well said Mocca. The system is all inter connected and relies on everything else.

needmorecoffee · 14/12/2008 18:55

someone like Xenia would not be able to live her lifestyle without the state school system and without the rest of us.

TheFalconInThePearTree · 14/12/2008 18:56

No more like you please Xenia. One of you is more than is desirable.

needmorecoffee · 14/12/2008 18:58

too late. There's 5 Xenia's in training all ready to look down on our kids and sneer.
I think I'll bow out. Once Xenia starts with her ill-educated snobbery there's no point.

Judy1234 · 14/12/2008 19:06

I don't think I or any of the children look down on anyone. I was just having fun on the thread and making the valid point that most private school children do pretty well and give a lot back and the state should be grateful for that just as it ought to be grateful to parents who bring up their children to be polite or able to function with other people without hitting them over the head etc.

Of course I take some things out of the system just like all tax payers and none tax payers. I use the NHS although we aren't really very often ill and I paid for my care when I had the twins and I certainly contribute to the roads as I pay for four cars! I should get priority lane rights on motorways for doing that.....

goldilocksandmylittlebear · 14/12/2008 19:07

It was a long time ago - my dancing days are long gone, but I won an award from my local council to attend The Royal Ballet School. I think it was called a Gifted and Talented fund?? I think there is a difference between a private school which is specialist Dance, Music, Sport etc than a general private school. I think some posts are a little harsh, but I fully understand and shocked that SEN children are not better supported in terms of travel, thats mad.

SparklyGothKat · 14/12/2008 19:08

OMG!!! Xenia actually pays my benifits!!!!!!! here I was thinking it was the government!!!??? why, thank you oh wonderful Xenia!!!

SparklyGothKat · 14/12/2008 19:10

and yes i know about the 'taxpayer'

piscesmoon · 14/12/2008 19:10

I can't follow an argument that say 'I don't want the education you are offering but I will take the money instead'! The funding wasn't part of the choice.

pagwatch · 14/12/2008 19:12

at pisces

I am with you.

If you get to choose could I have a nice holiday instead.

needmorecoffee · 14/12/2008 19:18

why do you pay for four polluting cars? They say the rich pollute more....

bronze · 14/12/2008 19:26

"loads of people choose not to have nasty, noisy, bad for the environment children"

I'm assuming your children are the nasty noiy bad for the environment ones. Mine probably have a smaller footprint combined than you do singlehandedly. I also know that mine are not nasty and though they can be noisy have managed to learn at a fairly early age there are times and places.

needmorecoffee · 14/12/2008 19:28

those people who bang on about 'we don't have children so why do we pay blah de blah' were kids who had their education paid for. they seem to forget this.

Jux · 14/12/2008 19:29

Noonki that would a thing wouldn't it?!

Cousin's dh is right out of the top drawer, 'titles' among his mates etc. He is constantly aware of his responsibilities - nay, duties - towards society as payback for the huge privileges he has had/does have. Modest and unassuming. Most of his mates are like that too. They would be shocked if they heard someone talking like Xenia - even if you're doing it in fun, old girl.[chortle chortle pass the port what?]