Affordable Private Education

[WhatWillSantaBring]

I don't want to get into a debate on the merits of state v private education, but does anyone have any idea on how on earth a normal, middle-class, professional couple can afford to educate their children privately?

Me and DH both work in well paid jobs as professionals. If you factor in the cost of servicing a mortgage and other essential living costs (but not including holidays, clothes and socialising) we probably have disposable income each year of about £20k (though this figure is based on our lives pre-children).

Now, maths is not my strong point, but are there any ways that we could educate three children privately for that less than that amount (as we do have to clothe them and ourselves!)? Remember, its not just the basic fees, its the extras that are part and parcel of private education - music lessons, uniforms, school trips etc.

I can't believe that private education has become soley the preserve of the super-wealthy but I struggle to see how else it can be afforded.

PS we have no rich grandparents that we can call on!

Have read this thread with interest, I live in Edinburgh where 25% of children go private (easy to google), the norm is around 9-10k for senior school but this can go go much higher depending on what school you choose those for example those that offer boarding etc however the majority do not.

My sister and I went to private day school, the fees were around £5k per term. I'm not sure what boarding fees were. My dad worked (very unusual professional career) and my mum stayed at home (qualified as a nurse but didn't work while we were around). We led a fairly normal 'privileged' lifestyle...nice house by the sea, bog standard cars etc. We didn't go on expensive holidays, mainly cause we lived on the beach and my dad had a yacht so we would play around on boats all summer. There were a real variety of levels of wealth at our school, but I guess in hindsight it was a pretty wealthy one.

I guess obviously the main difference between spending this amount on moving into the catchment of a great school and school fees is that at the end of the school years you would still have the house!

I suspect we won't be able to afford to privately educate our children (barring family inheritances! ) but to be honest it can be a trap to assume all private schools are better than all state. Certainly not the case in our area. We want a large family, and I don't think I would necessarily sacrifice that for a private school. I loved my school career, but equally I believe that we would have done equally well at any of the perfectly good schools where we were given the famikly support we had. I would seriously consider home edding as well.

WOW am shocked by H charges - for boarding surely? DS was there for Athletics a few weeks ago and I had it marked for a visit. Thought it would be a slightly cheaper alternative to Kings or Tonbridge.
MrsC2010 - a word of warning, an old school friend of mine moved to a better catchment - head then retired, school crashed dramatically - as did house prices!
Also we are looking at a grammer school that takes at 13. DH went there and loved it. But DS1 is not exactly self motivated and as such I think their class sizes of 20-26 would be detrimental. As the boarding fees for this grammer are £3k plus I think we may be better topping up to pay day fees - just got to work out how the hell we get him to the schools as we are too blooming rural!

stopping, yes, as said above, that figure is for full boarding in senior school.

Hi, Ex husband and I send both our ds and dd to prep school. We own our own business and I teach. I have no mortgage any longer (post divorce) and he has one on his flat. Even with our decent wages we could not afford to send both dc to private. I am lucky that both of my parents worked hard all their lives and are willing to help pay for my childrens education.
State education where I live (and those who know me, know where I am, will agree!) is dire in my area at the moment! (all schools change!)In relation to school fees my wages are way behind!

And buying a house in catchment is not the same as waving a magic wand.
I have a freind who lives in the same road as an 'outstanding' school but still didn't get a place.

And if you live in a selective school area you can live in the school bike shed and not get a place if you don't do well enough in the 11+.

Folks use private school for many reasons but choice is one of the main ones ime.

Thanks Phoenix. I am more put off by the fact that H raised fees by 11% than by the actual cost, if that makes any sense. DD will be starting year 10 in september so I have some time to make my choice. Will be looking at Sevenoaks and Kings Canterbury, I'm sure someone will have her.
I agree Litchick some admissions policies seem barking mad. Did your friend live in a selection by lottery area by any chance.

Sue, I think one of their reasons was that they were making some activities/extras all inclusive instead of being billed separately. Problem was, my DC didn't do any of the extras so we were affected by fee increase a lot more than others.
I would again reiterate it is fabulous, particularly the support they get with UCAS applications in 6th form. Worth thinking about scholarships as they do have quite a few scholars. I remember being quite shocked when I realised how many there were in L6 and there was me thinking my DC was special

The £9.5k for day pupils at Winchester is true but it is only another £500 per year to board. Shcools such as this, Charterhouse, Wellington etc all do this effectively to deter pupils from entering as a day pupil. They are largely boarding and I must say I agree. I like a school that is either day or boarding. Imho trying to do both doesnt really work...

£9.5 for day pupils!! Eyepopping amount of money. I will look at H again phoenix, you are obviously very happy with your DCs education there despite that rather savage price hike.

Sue, yes, I am very very happy with the school. I have a DC at a different boarding school which is half the price and itsn't a patch on H. I work away a lot and it is peace of mind knowing that DC is there and gets all the support and assistance needed for UCAS application in October. They have already done a lot of the work for their Personal statements and get excellent careers guidance there.

Scholarship exams are the November before entry so worth you looking into that if you feel it is a possibility for your DD

And spending that amount of money when you live in an area with grammar schools strikes me as being even more bizarre!

Sadly no grammar schools near us

Be grateful - grammar schools screw up the education of the majority in favour of the majority. I was just reminded of my constant amazement that anyone would think of paying Kings fees when the Langtons are available.

majority in favour of the minority, obviously!

I use state schools for my dd but would gladly pay to keep her out of the grammar system.

Why?

I hate the grammar system myself - even though we aew caught up in it, but I thought that everyone who believed in private education also believed in grammar schools for the unnaturaly bright lower orders, because, of course, they have no idea how the system woeks, and how divisive and horrid it is,

I don't like the grammar system anyway and would refuse to coach my daughter, so I suspect that despite being very clever she may not get in.

But specifically in my area the grammars are crap. Dull ineffective teachers with poor subject knowledge, poor facilities and rife with bullying.

I am a state person and I a
m not someone talking from the luxury of having a child in an outstanding school . But put a gun to my head and locally I would choose independent over grammar. At least dd would get great facilities and pastoral care.

And here bestaman. Narrow curriculum, not interested in the lower achievers, relentlessly pushing effort grades to the point of obsession.... I could go on. Various 'statuses' they don't deserve (i.e. tech status without doing food tech or textile tech - how do they do that??).

God knows how they got outstanding in their Ofsted.

Well I suppose a grammar is not going to be the that interested in a low achieving pupil as they are the customer.

I have worked in a grammar before and was shocked by what I saw, I have met on INSETS a number of very poor teachers who work in grammars. I now live and work in a different area that has grammar schools and witness/ hear of similar.

My dd will probably go to a comp rated satisfactory, I will not be encouraging her to apply to the grammar.

I mean low achievers within the grammar school! i.e. those who are going to get B and C grades.

|I realised that is what you meant as soon as I clicked send.

I hate the grammar school system with a passion - but dd is thriving - I dont recognize any of the characterizations of grammar schools on here. If you can overcome your political ans socioligical distaste, thye are brilliant.