school fees - huge increase next year

[helenmc]

I feel very mean moaning about this as we are very fortunate enough to be in the position of paying for school fees. But we have just got next years fees, and the fees have got up 27% again. Since my eldest started the fees have almost doubled!! The governors quote they have gone up in accordance with the Independent SChools Bursars Association, but surely £280 a term is extortiant. Should I be looking else where?

dear all

I am quite frankly ashamed and appalled at the views aired on this particular thread at the moment...

Over the last few months I have skulked around the edges of mumsnet laughing and chortling at the funny stories, gained valuable knowledge and much needed guidance on parenting, and recognised that it takes all sorts of people... but quite frankly this about takes the biscuit....

You all seem very intelligent people, wanting the best for your children, clued up and of course wanting the very best for your children... but after reading the first couple of threads... reading how much some of you are paying for education.. I am flabbergasted...

There are good and bad schools everywhere... state or private... I am fed up of hearing about parents who purposefully move just so they can get into an area where the 'good schools' are!

Are people so lacking confidence in their parenting skills that all that will turn their children 'bad' is a school that is not in the top five of the league tables (don't get me started on them!)

Will your children come home not being able to read and write purely because of the reputation of the school?

The people who think like this should just get off their backsides and do something about it!

Are parents support and help completely absent from the educating equation!?

It sounds like some of you leave the education of your children solely to schools and if they aren't doing well... hmmm must be the fault of the school!?
Do parents not have a hand in educating and the moral upbringing of their children AS WELL AS schools?

Do you think your school is lacking something? what should you do... move to another school with a better reputation? - or get onto the board of governors and try to make things better... voice your opinions to the head, talk to teachers and other parents, start a PTA and work together in making your bad school into THE good school! not only for your children but for all the children who are coming to the school in the future... instead of dismissing the school and leaving it forever the 'bad' school!

No wonder the 'good schools' are over subscribed with the house prices around the area sky high! they remain the 'good schools' because people make beelines for these schools therefore perpetuating the myth of the 'good school'

If only a few parents who care enough and have enough nouse, stick with their struggling school, make their opinions heard, talk to teachers, band together... get some community spirit going... then all schools would be decent schools and the need for the mass exodus, and sky high fees would be a thing of the past!

Everyone has a right to choose what education they would like for their children but I think as parents we should all take a little bit more responsibility and get involved!

(sorry if some of this is intelligible and waffley but I?m cross and tired!!)

Chick, my children may go to private school. but I spend a lot of time devoted to being a school governor of state schools. I have been a governor for 10 years (and for several schools) and it wasn't at my children's school either. It was at an inner city school, struggling. with a poor headwho had no focus and couldn't cope with the demands of Ofsted looming and anunsupportive staff. - It was nearly a failing school.
With the support of dedicated governors, like myself, we have pushed for all sorts of grants, funding, facilities, ESL teachers, SEN support etc. Now after 7 years that school is a Beacon school. I am proud of my contribution, we don't get paid for it, or any thing for expenses, we don't expect to, we do it because we care about those kids and their future, their right to a good education and start in life.

And YES, there were children in that school who couldn't read and write at 11, so there is that fear for some parents, and this is in a very affluent area.

I am still a governor of another primary school and about to become one for the local state nursery - my children are 14 &15, why the interest in nursery provision? I do it because I care, and I send my kids to private school because at the end of the day that is my choice.

alibubbles... i can only commend you on your efforts along with your fellow governers!

i think if we had more governers who were determined to bring their school forward and progress than we maybe winning this battle... however... would you have sent your children to this school whilst you were bringing it to beacon status...?

Chick, I couldn't have done, it's not my local school, the criteria round here is very strict, you even have to apply for the junior school, although you may have attended the infants, and siblings don't have pririty - the aprents are fighting that one at the moment!

Both of my kids go to state schools, and out of area for the moment (this changes in September 2002, we will then be in area after a review of school catchment areas).

DD who is now in Year 3 at the Junior school has the option to join 'clubs' which are run at lunch time and after school. Since September 2001 she has joined the following clubs;
Magazine
Skittle Ball
Football
Animal Art
Art & Crafts
Drama
Choir

What's wrong with wanting the best for your kids, including sending them to a 'good' school. Sending them to a good school does NOT mean that we blame the school if the kids aren't doing well.

Yes we parents do have a hand in educating our children along with schools. From personal experience sending my kids to a 'good' school makes my job easier.

Thanks ks - I'd hoped that was the case!
Yes I agree Chick - BUT!!!
As I said- whilst there is a choice ( ie whilst private provision exists) parents will always use it if they can afford it and they perceive it to be the 'best' for their child ( What about all those Labour politicians - and there must have been a lot of pressure there to use the local state comp) AND RIGHTLY SO - it is our 'job' to do the very best for our child as we perceive it (IMHO!)
I think Alibubbles has done what is the 'best' anyone can reasonably expect by getting involved in improving state schools even tho she isn't using them.( and I hope I'm doing the same in a small way by refusing to countenance teaching in a private school - as I consider myself to be a good teacher- and the state system needs good teachers!)
You can't reasonably expect people to send children to schools which aren't as good as others on offer if they have a choice....You CAN hope that despite using the alternatives they will do EVERTHING else in their power to improve provision ( voting/govenor work/pressure groups/whatever)rather than taking the attitude ''I'm outta there so who cares'' ( not that I'm implicitly accusing anyone here of having that attitude!

I'm afraid that even if I could afford it I would never send my children to private school. I just couldn't do it. Luckily the situation hasn't arisen, but I would homeschool before I would go private.

I have a few years until ds goes to school but I have heard good reports of our local infants school. But of course I will be there behind him every step of his school years.

Regarding schools as a whole, surely most of it comes down to the teachers and their attitude. You can get the same teachers in private or state school. Is sometimes the feeling that private schools are better is a state of mind because you are paying all this money so they must be better? I think as long as you do your homework regarding schools children can do well regardless with the backup of the parents. BTW dh would send ds to private school if we have the money at the time but not until he is older, not sure how I feel about that, I suppose it depends on how the schools locally are performing compared to the local private at the time.

I went through the private system, and dh through the state, so we have some idea of the pros and cons of both are. Ds will start school in September and we are trying to decide which route to go with him.

We are into outdoor pursuits not sport, and we are scientists not artists - however, ds's grandparents were/are variously gifted artistically, musically, and at team sports, so ds could go in any direction. We want him to have an education that provides opportunities for him in areas where we, his parents, are not strong. In this respect the private school we are considering is streets ahead of the state school. However, if he goes state then he goes with several good friends, and his friendships are very important to him. So what do we do?

One thing that is influencing me strongly at the moment is that the private school have been very happy indeed for me to go and look around and find out all about them, whereas the state school don't seem to want to know. How can I choose what is best for my son if I haven't had a chance to examine both options thoroughly for myself? All I have to go on is what other mums have said about the school, which is very varied. Does anyone out there know if I have a right to go and look at my local state school? Or am I just going to get a reputation as a difficult mother which will make life harder for ds if he does go there?

I'm so glad this thread was started - I seem to spend so much time thinking about this at the moment.

My own background is that I initially went to a secondary school with very poor academic results (and I loved every minute of it.) When we moved to a new area I then went to a very very good state school with excellent results. (Again loved it).

The primary schools in our area are lovely and I haven't even considered sending my children to private preps.

However, the local state schools have awful reputations. As much as I hate to admit it I can't bear the thought of my children going there.

In my ideal 'dream world' we would live in an area with strong state senior schools and I am very envious of anyone who does. In reality I am thinking about how on earth my husband and I are going to be able to afford school fees for 2 on our salaries.

My dad's view is : 'Well - you did all right.' and it's true I did. But I also know first hand the difference between a good state school and a bad one - and I also know that if I had stayed at the first school I would not have the career I've got now.

One last thing - sorry I know I'm going on a bit but I just think this is such an important issue.

My friends at the first school were no less able / bright etc than those at the second school. Yet the difference in academic results was astounding.
At the first only one person went on to university from the whole year and most people achieved a maximum of 5 o'levels. The majority didn't get anywhere near this. At the second school many students got 9 -10 o'levels plus 3 A levels before going onto University. It also had a very successful Special Needs department for children with Learning Difficulties.
I am absolutely convinced that if the two different sets of children had been interviewed / tested at 11 - there would have been no significant differences bewteen their average abilities.

This subject always seems to provoke strong reactions. I'm pro State education as a matter of principle, but it's impossible to generalise too much in this area, since there are so many other factors involved - the suitability of the schools in your catchment area, individual personality of your child and any special needs etc. Living in London, as I do, the problem is exacerbated, and although I'm going to be lucky enough to send my kids to State primary, I have plenty of local friends who are having to opt for private education - against their wishes - because the State schools on offer to them are so poor. I agree that League Tables aren't the be all and end all where a rounded education is concerned, but when schools are only achieving 47 per cent in English, like some of the ones near me, you have to start to consider other options.
What I object to is the people who automatically assume that private education is somehow 'better' and don't even consider what's available in the way of State provision in their neighbourhood. They really can't entertain the possibility that a State school could provide a decent schooling for their kids so automatically go the private route. That means because of a lack of local support, many State schools never have the opportunity to improve, and the problem becomes compunded.
Can't believe no one has yet picked up Rhiannon on her comments. Why the other children in her son's class being 'well spoken' should be of importance is beyond me. Aren't regional accents desirable in the private sector? Also, I can't see myself needing to know what my child eats during the day once he reaches the age of 7. I think I could trust myself to make up any potential shortfall casued by him having eating pizza a couple of lunchtimes a week. And if some of the other children's parents seem to be 'struggling' to send them to this feee paying school, isn't there a chance that the money might be better spent in providing a home environment less overshadowed by the consequential money worries, which always cause stress?

Opting for private education isn't necessarily about choosing a "better" option it is about choosing a "different one",of course I accept that I am very lucky to be able to afford the choice but dh and I have worked and do work very hard to be able to make that choice.
You will never be able to measure the results because you will never know what your child would have been like in an alternative system,in short opting for any sort of education is a leap of faith.
I am not choosing private schooling because it offers one extra point at A level but primarily because the ethos at their school I think will give them the best opportunety to achieve what they want in life whatever that is and to experience all the extras which are increasingly not avaliable in all but the best state schools.One example of this is that this year in yr3 all the children get to learn a string instrument as part of the normal timetable ,they also have proper sports coaching in rugby football cricket etc.
These things and more should be avaliable in the state sector but to a lrge extent they are not,if they were I would gladly opt for state education,BUT for one thing; I know that my children will not be political footballs,at the whim of various gov.directives sensible or not and I also know that their teachers will not be going on strike,for me the schools independence from the party poltical bunfight is a major factor and in my opinion education for all should be removed from this general slanging match.

SueW ... because 'well spoken' relates to how things are said, not what's said. Besides, the words used are '...articulate, well spoken...', so I can only assume it's not for the sake of saying 'articulate' twice.

I'm following this with huge interest. The only comment that I wish to add is that the quality of teaching received by my peers who went to the local state secondary (we were all together at the local state primary) was as good as in my private secondary but the subject choice and the resources available for learning were greater at my private school. However, for me the real difference and benefit (and why I would consider sending ds to a private school) was the range of extra curricular activities offered by teachers who were passionate and willing to give up their time to run them. These were just as important a part of my education as the academic subjects and I would not have had those options had I gone to the local high school. No teachers strikes either.

Grizzler
well-spoken is also about choice of words, eg. not swearing, which I hear children doing on the way to and from my local state school but not the private school where my dd goes. The class size is ultimately what we are paying for, the individual attention and the chance to learn in a caring environment. Also, regarding one point made earlier, I too am very interested in what my child has eaten during the day and know that I will be until she leaves home (and then some....

azzie, phone 3 schools, ask for appts with the head to look round with a view to sending your child there. See all in a short space of time so you can compare all 3. Ask about results, the PTA is it strong? What have they provided recently? This will show the parent's interest in the school. Ask whether they encourage parents to come in and listen to the children read. Ask about computer facilites, sports, music if they class is going at the pace of the slowest child or to meet the national curriculum and then what happens to the slowest child, are they given extra tuition blah blah, hope this is helpful.

Grizzler, don't analyse everything I type, you'll torture yourself. I am a true blue tory voter and read the Daily Mail on occasion. With regard to well spoken I mean I don't want my kids to be extras on Eastenders. R

There's nothing wrong with being an extra in Eastenders - the pay's good for not having any lines .

Grizzler, maybe you should be interested in what your child has eaten, someone I know had their child rushed to hospital in the middle of the night following an allergic reaction to something - and the parents had absolutely no idea what had been eaten that day - due to the fact that they were at school.

Respect is a word that a lot of people don't employ these days and manners! Call me old fashioned girls. R

I'll never forget a few years ago, a young girl (13 ish) spat on the pavement in front of me as I walked into a shop. "Charming, what a lady" I said and didn't wait for a reply!

surely it doesn't matter how you sound but what you say!!