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!

mamatomany and fsmail that's exactly the situation with the Colchester grammars.

That is ridiculous and a sure fire way to make your kid grow up with a big chip on their shoulders or drop out completely. Why on Earth do people put such pressure on kids. My parents never even asked if we had done our homeword, we just took responsibility for ourselves and all ended up being high achieving and the folks tried to talk us out of uni as it was just for posh kids and we would not fit in! I cannot believe that parents would actually do something like that. I will let you know in 10 years time if the more laidback approach works!

I think there has to be a balance, depends on the kid really, my eldest would rather die than let her teacher down by not doing homework so we can leave her to it but the little one aged 6 needs bribing to read a blooming book, spellings are a night mare.
We're in another grammar school area now but it seems less frantic somehow.
I still want DD to pass but it'll not be the end of the world if she doesn't.

"Not all kids want to be doctors and lawyers! My DS wants to run his own business and therefore needs to mix with kids from all different backgrounds."

As opposed to only meeting them as patients or defendants, you mean!

Have grammars changed over the years? I went to Langton Boys (long story) in Canterbury for my A-Levels as the results were better than the independent I was at and thought it to be a great school, but I did leave 10 yrs ago!

To some extent I agree with sue 52 but if you give your children a positive experience of education through prep school, the chances are that even if they don't get into a grammar school they will be in the higher streams of a comprehensive where behaviour tends to be better. My children had three years of private education at a day prep and then joined a big comprehensive. They've both done really well and. with the money saved, we can afford to take them skiing. The eldest has now left school with straight A's at A levels despite having failed to get into the Grammar School. (I think she may have been the only child taking the exam who wasn't coached.)

Celiam are all comprehensives streamed now? If thats so and all comps have a grammar stream, that does away with the argument in favour of grammars.

no they're not - there's a mixed ability comp near here - the kids are only streamed for maths and science - hence they're the only two lessons in which anything gets done ...

somehow it got 'outstanding' in its latest ofsted ... let's just say the ofsted inspectors' definition of 'outstanding' is rather different from the accepted definition ...

I do understand the reasons for aboloshing grammars, but I can't believe that some state schools don't stream. In my sixth form we didn't stream (classes were too small) and even with classes of 10 it was a nightmare. I was once upon a time, very bright (don't know what happened there!!) and would sit their bored, frustrated and pissing off the teacher and the least able kid would be doing exactly the same. In the end me and the least able kid took ourselves out of the lessons for me to teach her!!

Thanks celiam - that's a really interesting perspective. I have often wondered how much my experience at a very old fashioned prep school set me up for life - I'm sure it had more of an influence on me than secondary school. I don't live in an area with grammar system, and my job is too specialised to move far, so we're probably stuck where we are. Some of my concerns about state education very much revolve round the national curriculum, so I'll be interested to see how the new plan for acadamies work out.

Talk to the bursar at your chosen private school. I was VERY pleasantly suprised to find how much you can earn and still be eligable for a bursary of some sorts. It will certainly give you a starting point to work from. They can only say 'no', and might just say 'yes'. You never know until you ask.

We educate 6 children privately (well 5, now that DS1 is off to uni). We have a very modest house, old car, and simple holidays.

All schools offer burseries as they have to maintain a charitable status. Speak to the schools you like and see if you would be eligable.