Killiks & Co research indicate private school (at curent prices) reflect poor invetment.

[topsy777]

"The research, published by investment advisers Killik & Co, says the £236,000 paid by parents of a day pupil would, if invested, return nearly £800,000 over the child’s lifetime – enough to pay for university, put down a substantial deposit on a house and leave £500,000 for retirement."

www.theguardian.com/education/2015/jul/15/private-school-education-could-be-poor-investment-research-shows

All views welcome :-)

That really is a worthwhile investment, Sovery. Try explaining that to the likes of Killiks!

I started a long thread about various private schools a little while ago. When I started it, it was from the perspective of wanting to be able to access the local private secondaries / not having to go to the local state secondaries (which, while much improved, don't thrill me just yet). Neither of my kids are at school yet.

Looking round different schools (private and state) has changed my mindset somewhat. Although I'm still interested in the "return", it's made me far more focused on what their experience of school would be. I'm not convinced that a good experience can be quantified satisfactorily.

I don't believe the experience can be quantified at all as a general figure but I think most people can do it on an individual level. Whether that's someone with vast disposable income deciding £15k a year for the experience of well maintained sports fields for their average sports ability child is good value for their circumstances, or someone who decides an extremely low disposable income is worth it for the results of the whole experience.
Although I have already made the decision that personally the experience is worth it, if dd had a personality that would lead to social misery ( rather than just social limits) at the state alternative then I'd place an even higher value on the experience gained by the cost.

Middle class "glass floor"

"Commission chairman Alan Milburn said nobody should criticise parents for doing their best for their children, but it was not right that the less able do better in life than the more able."

www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-33655791

I'm not sure what to say. As the article says, there are a "finite number of top jobs". What am I supposed to do - step back and politely say "no, after you".

I absolutely will not accept criticism for doing the best for my children, especially when you hear about the outcomes for children in care (eg recent Aylesbury case). It's a bit rich for The System to be telling us off for getting it right (or, at least, attempting to get it right).