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Original poster

On what income can you afford to send DD to private school?

30 replies

missjy123 · 23/12/2011 16:48

I always had the image that you had to earn lots to send your child to private school. But have been playin around with figures and seeing if I can afford it. Have my heart set on a school for DD which is about £2000 per term 8am to 6pm. Starting new job which pays £18500. Mortgage is £450. Usual bills to pay. Am single mum with one child. Don't really have major outgoings as I detest shopping!
Do others think it's possible on my salary or am I crazy?!

OP posts:

MrsCampbellBlack · 23/12/2011 16:49

No really not possibly on that salary - I mean whats your take home pay a month?

Original poster

missjy123 · 23/12/2011 16:54

Haven't started the job yet but should be in the region of £1200 per month

OP posts:

corlan · 23/12/2011 16:55

Ironically, you may be able to send your DD private because you are on such a low income! An income under £20,000 per year may qualify you for a bursary which would pay most or all of your daughter's fees.

It's definitely worth phoning the school to find out if you would qualify.

RandomMess · 23/12/2011 16:58

Depends completely on your outgoings.

How much are the fees further up the school. Secondary school is usually far more expensive...

How much would you be paying for childcare if she wasn't at indie etc etc etc

Think of the extras you need to pay for too.

Lunches, uniform, books, materials etc etc etc

Worth asking about a bursary.

BoulevardOfBrokenSleep · 23/12/2011 17:00

Is this primary or secondary school?

planetpotty · 23/12/2011 17:05

Don't know a great deal on the subject but a few things to consider that sprang to mind:

Special uniforms/sports kits
School trips
Her friends will be mainly from very wealthy families and would you be able to cope with saying no a lot to activities.

Original poster

missjy123 · 23/12/2011 17:06

She is only 3 at the moment and I want her to go to a pre-school near my new workplace so I can quickly get to her. However the area is full of private schools. The school I've seen for her would suit her in so many ways and I know she would excel. I am thinking of sending her until she is at least 5 and if I don't get a job paying lots then I'll send her to the local state school near our house. Hopefully even two years at the school will give her the right start in life. Would that be feasible?

OP posts:

planetpotty · 23/12/2011 17:07

Oooh doom and gloom post there sorry
Definitely find out about a bursary. My friends 2 DC are at private school and they get the uniforms from a second hand shop at the school.

RandomMess · 23/12/2011 17:09

Well pre-school at indie is def comparable in cost to a nursery, however who is going to do the childcare in the holidays...

TracyK · 23/12/2011 17:11

Ask for the full fee schedule ie primary right through to secondary. They increase quite substantially over the years. how would you feel about having to take her out if you found you couldn't afford it later down the line.
also the school trips are far flung and v pricey. You have to pay for each exam etc.
But worth asking about bursary's though. ESP if you can find one that is a registered charity. Afaik they have to maintain a certain level of scholarship students to retain their charity status.

LynetteScavo · 23/12/2011 17:12

So take home pay would be £14,400, and the cheapest school fees around here are £9,000. Your mortgage is £5,400 pa. Which leaves you with a bout £1000 to spend on everything else for the rest of the year.

TracyK · 23/12/2011 17:14

That's what I did with my ds though. Took him out of day care nursery at 4.5yo and sent him to the local private school pre school. then sent him to local normal school for P1. Worked out well.

MrsCampbellBlack · 23/12/2011 17:14

Nursery fees are low and you get the Early Years funding so its quite deceptive I think as to affordability.

But once they move to reception and then into prep and then senior school the fees rack up a lot.

I'm in the south west and most snr schools are £12k pa before uniform/kit etc.

EdithWeston · 23/12/2011 17:22

Check if the school is registered to provide the ELG as that knocks the costs down a bit, and also if it will accept vouchers in EYFS (ditto).

Also check exactly what the school's costs cover (lunch? trips?). And work out what you'd do in the holidays, and how much that will cost.

Then check against your local cost of other types of childcare.

Which looks best vfm?

Original poster

missjy123 · 24/12/2011 00:12

The nursery she is in at the moment charges £210 per week which is higher than the local independent schools! It is Ofsted registered and my new wm

OP posts:

Original poster

missjy123 · 24/12/2011 00:24

The nursery she is in at the moment charges £210 per week which is higher than the local independent schools! The Early Years setting of the independent I've seen is Ofsted registered and my new employer offers childcare vouchers. They have a club during the Easter and summer holidays. The rest I am hoping to share between myself, my parents and her dad.

I used to work as a teacher before I had DD and was earning £26k - but my heart really wasn't in teaching at all :/ I've considered going back into teaching but want to do so only for the right reasons.

If I wanted to send her to a nursery near work then they are all pretty much in the same price bracket, whereas a nursery near home wouldn't be practically feasible. The new job is in a very busy part of the city and if I finish work at 5 I want to be able to pick her up and be with her in a short space of time. This is right oppsite my new workplace and gives me peace of mind. The headteacher assured me that they only had one trip a year plus all other activities such as swimming, ballet etc take place on site and are included in the price. Parents can sell second hand uniforms to the Parents Association who then resell them to new parents.

OP posts:

Dozer · 24/12/2011 09:59

Be aware that if she starts in the nursery, you may well feel "sucked in", want to keep her there, in the lovely place, with her new friends, great teaching etc. we're going through this at the moment.

Also, some pre-preps ask parents to commit financially to continuing for reception before state primary allocations are made, or risk not having a place. It's quite ruthless!

Since you're a teacher, would an option be to seek a job in an independent school and (at some stage) get a discount?

Dozer · 24/12/2011 10:01

In your shoes, would go back to teaching, as you get reasnable pay and would save a fortune one childcare in the holidays, and could maybe wangle reduced-fee private education for your dd.

As for "the right reasons", I am in a career I don't enjoy v much but I enjoy earning the money and suppoprting the family, everyone's right reason's are different!

LIZS · 24/12/2011 10:12

Really depends on your other outgoings - accommodation , bills, car/transport, food expenditure and so on - but it will be very tight. £25 -30k more comfortable but still difficult as fees rise (often well above inflation). You would n't automatically qualify for a bursary later on either, especially if you have any assets like a property.

JustAnother · 25/12/2011 16:47

it depends on your outgoings, of course and the type of school. My DS is at private school. When he joined, half way through Y3, I expected to have to pay for lots of extras. However, I soon found out the school sells second hand uniforms for close to nothing, the school trips are mostly financed by the PAA and other activities are generally paid via fund raising. So, yes, the fees are high, but so far I have not had any shocks. However, some friends who had children at this school's nursery, did mention that the prices go up a lot once you go into pre-prep.

happyAvocado · 25/12/2011 16:50

Would you get the Nursery vouchers to subsidize the cost of her place?

happyAvocado · 25/12/2011 16:52

also - my kids went to private school instead of the nursery as I saw them needing the school type of activities, the downside is they don't get to nap early afternoon and you will have her exhausted by 5 pm, she is going to be falling asleep on your lap if you are to use public tansport

BabyGiraffes · 26/12/2011 09:42

I haven't found the extras to be too much. All non-residential trips are included in the fees, as are school dinners. The school uniform shop always has second hand uniforms for next to nothing and I picked up a tunic for £4 (new price £45) and winter coat for £5 (new price £40). I've also found the uniform to be very tough and made to last, so won't need to replace anything until my dd grows out of things.

lljkk · 26/12/2011 11:47

Are you on tax credits, is that helping to subsidise her nursery place at the moment? You won't get them when she starts school.

£6k/yr fees means £500/month, no? That leaves £250/month for the rest of life, after your mortgage. I presume you have free childcare in the holidays? Most people I know couldn't stretch to it; those that could do it would be wearing very scruffy clothes, ferretting thru bargain bins for food, etc.

Perhaps your salary will go up over time? I thought bursaries rarely covered more than 20% of fees, and were not so widely available at primary age, so you'd still have to find £400/month on fees, probably still too much?

Happygardening · 26/12/2011 11:49

Having spent 10 years paying school fees its the unexpected that causes the most problem new tyres, dentist bill, an appliance suddenly breaking. We're always talking about putting money but of course never do. You need to think carefully about this.

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