GCSE exam fees £750

[MrsHGWells]

GCSEs are upon us in the coming weeks - do all pupils need to pay £750 for exam fees . Is this standard practice or negotiable by school? how do parents cover this fee ?

Yeah, you’re right. Such “inequality” 🤣

Did you choose the school?

I guess people make that choice when they choose to send their kids to private school. You make the choice to pay to give your children privilege and advantage, and this is the flip side 🤷🏻‍♀️

Curriculum is a 2yr course, apparently very different content, exam requirement, across different boards,

11+/SATs is the first disparity in education, followed by GCSEs segmented decisions and the government recent VAT raid left a lot of people stuck in the system of 2 yr commitment- the same cohort that completed SATs and 11+ online.. children have had enough disruption.

Oh gosh, another private school parent moaning about how unfair their choice to pay for private education is. Anyone can choose the system that covers your child's educational costs. You chose the one that doesn't so you pay the costs.

Interesting Is this state or independent?

I recently discovered that some independent schools charge for exam fees (GCSE's & A-Levels).

My son was fortunately awarded a scholarship and bursary at an independent school (one that was the right fit for him), it did note in the terms and conditions that exam fees weren't covered in the very generous offer that had been awarded (in terms of fee assistance). The cost of exams against getting in virtually for free is no match in terms of cost though but if one is paying fees (with VAT), all of the extras: trips, uniform and lunches etc. I can imagine that this can be an additional 'weight' financially if it's not included in the fees.

In the state school sector, having been educated in the state school and currently working in the state school sector, parents / pupils are not required to pay for exams, these are typically covered by the school or the relevant local education authority.

You're right, there is inequality between state and private school education.

I'm not sure how anyone could come to the conclusion that the private school children are disadvantaged though.

A private school has to cover the cost of exam entries somehow - they can either set the level of fees accordingly or charge separately. Either way, ultimately the parents need to pay for it.

I'm surprised that you seem to be surprised by this.

11+/SATs is the first disparity in education, followed by GCSEs segmented decisions

@MrsHGWells what do you mean by this? I work in education and I'm puzzled by what you're getting at here. What's the disparity?

Yes, but the OP clearly thinks the system is unfair, so suggesting exams are ‘free’ in state schools might fuel that, when in fact, the schools all pay the same amount to exam boards.

Not when I posted she didn’t.

OP if a school chooses to use a particular exam board they have to pay per pupil per exam paper. The price is the same for state and independent schools. Exam boards are private businesses, not government or state funded. As a subject lead in a state school I had to choose which exam board to use/pay for.

In state schools families don’t often pay for books, text books or exam fees. In an independent school it is entirely usual that families pay for all of those things.

Post year 6 til year 8 is a precursor to cementing a child’s education and if they are siloed into state or independent schooling and exam boards which cover same yet different exam board coursework.

there is a bridge of no return between the two due to course curriculum. Having a well educated next generation should be viewed by government an investment - external exams should be a socially sponsored cost not one borne by a few parents simply for an alternative education route. Notwithstanding the fact independent educational choices benefit everyone by reducing state school roll pressure. Many decisions by independent families arise as there are fundamental deficits of state education, school hours (vs work hours), location, child SEND support, limited subjects etc.

covering exam fees would be a small token of help neutralise a “them and us mentality”.

Yes, you have to pay the exam fees in private schools and you will also have to pay if you want any papers remarked. Although if the grade goes up after a remark, the private school will typically give you the money back for the remark.
In state schools, you do not pay out of your own pocket for GCSE exams.

I assume you have applied for state Sixth Forms and this will be your last term of forking out? I would focus on that.

Is it time to get our tiny violins out yet?

Only 7% of children go to private schools, I think the pressure being eased on the state school roll is negligible.

You get a free option, if you don't choose to take it, that's on you!

It’s generally what happens at Independent schools but not state.

It’s not the school that gives you the money back, it’s the exam board. It’s also a retire of marking these days not a re-mark.

I just paid £596 for my daughter’s 10 exams at an independent 😢

I agree with you OP, but clearly we’re in the minority. VAT was brought in when my daughter was already in Y10, so we were completely stuck. I would never ever go down the private school route again.

It’s costing us £260 for DD to sit an extra GCSE through an exam centre so £750 for 9/10/11 exams sounds like a bargain to me!

Were you not aware of this when you decided to enrol your dc in private education?

Perhaps not, as it’s not mandatory to take GCSEs, or any other external exams.

Surely it’s in the information about additional costs? The fees pretty much only cover the bog standard lessons ime. Anything else - transport, lunch, trips, music lessons, support for additional needs, uniform (different ones for the time of year, and multiple PE kits) and exams are on top of the fees. Would you like all of these extras to be covered too to even things out? If so, it sounds like you’re after a state school!

Cry me a fucking river. You can afford private schooling then pay for the damn exams and stop bitching about it.

Must be nice to have enough money to make that choice to give your child the better education in that private school!

Inde school fees in my area are around £12k per term. I can understand why someone might be annoyed to discover that this didn’t include exam fees. But surely the disagreement is between OP and the school, and has nothing to do with the gift or other schools, state or inde

It’s perfectly possible to swap between state and private up to the end of year 9 for most schools unless the new school does 3 year GCSEs.

It’s generally quite obvious on private schools fee schedules that exam fees aren’t included and paid separately.

It has nothing to do with VAT and FGS don’t start that again (both children in private so also paying VAT)

It will have been clear - OP hasn’t been paying attention