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Original poster

Private school fees up 43%

474 replies

UnquietDad · 12/07/2008 10:40

story here

Deliberate, do you think?...

So if only "18 professions" can now afford them, and they don't include teachers, architects or police officers, what are they? Any offers?

OP posts:
Tortington · 15/07/2008 14:20

i think you should send your kids to a proper school. with a PROPER uniform

some of those uniforms are tantamount to child abuse

scaryteacher · 15/07/2008 14:21

I don't see why people get so het up about what others spend their money on. We chose to spend it on an education for ds - it was net income - honestly earned - what we do with it is down to us. Others chose to spend it on other things that are important to them.

Private school for ds meant that I could leave him at school for a long day, and that he would be educated, exercised, fed, and supervised all in one place whilst I did my job. As dh was either at sea/on exercise/working up country/ in another country and couldn't do the school run, this was invaluable!

It also meant that he had a broader education than he would have received at the local primary, and that he didn't have to do the bloody SATS.

Original poster
UnquietDad · 15/07/2008 14:21

I'd love our local school to have a "proper uniform". Sheffield city council seem to think it's OK for them all to slob around in baggy sweatshirts. Probably because the councillors all send their kids to other schools, I don't know.

OP posts:
FioFio · 15/07/2008 14:21

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Swedes · 15/07/2008 14:25

UQD - that reporting is flawed.

The survey was done by Halifax and counted only a single wage earner in the family. The reality is that most families have two wage earners in the family (even if the second wage is only part-time).

There is better reporting of it in the Times here

A lot of the families I know use the second wage to fund school fees. Lots of them are both teachers.

DocBunches · 15/07/2008 14:25

Following on from Teslagirl and UQD's earlier posts;

A few weeks ago my DD went to her State secondary induction day and says there were at least half a dozen children there who were coming from local Independent schools (all from schools which either had a Senior Dept. or went up to age 13 - so they didn't necessarily need to leave). This could be an underestimation on actual numbers as this was just ONE induction day out of several as it's a very large comprehensive.

Btw, this isn't any kind of judgement by me, just an interesting observation - I was quite surprised to say the least.

iBundle · 15/07/2008 14:27

er 5candles, what you actually said was:

"It's funny what people consider necessary when it comes to money. I have friends who say they can't afford private school but pay far more each month than I do on school fees on facials, dresses, shoes etc " (and you said you paid £10k for school fees - your words, not mine, you didn't say they spent half of what you spend on your school fees)

just because I choose (yes, actively choose - I wouldn't use a private school even if had money sloshing about in a hedge fund) to send my children to a state school it does not mean that I do not prioritise their education. It certainly does not mean that I care less about them or their achievements. And i suspect that it doesn't mean that for your "friends" either.

FioFio · 15/07/2008 14:28

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fivecandles · 15/07/2008 14:30

I do have to wonder if you're happy with your choice of education for your kids UQD then why the obsession with private schools (and in this instance what they cost).

Really depends what you mean by 'superior' fio.

The main advantages that my dcs' school has over our state alternatives are smaller class sizes, specialist teaching, lots of individual attention, continuity of educatin (3-18), minimul classroom disruption and diversity of ethnicity and faith.

It is my opinion that all schools and all students would benefit from these things.

If my local state school (non-fait) could offer all of these things (except the coninuity which is an advantage but not a necessity) then of course it would be superior to the private school just because it is state.

And really this is part of the problem with some of the arguments on this and other threads. That those who want to have a go at parents choosing private schools or private schools in general often resort to stereotyping and making assumptions about snobbishness and superiority but those who choose private schools are usually quite speciifc about their reasons for their choice and for me it's nothing as vague or stupid as snobbery it's the very specific and clearly measurable advantages like how many kids are there in a class?

fivecandles · 15/07/2008 14:35

No, sorry iBundle. Fees at my dcs' school are about 5 grand a year per student. I have TWO children.

I don't know why you're trying to trip me up about detail TBH.

My point is there are lots of people who say they can't afford private school fees but actually could if they prioritised their money differently. I'm not saying they SHOULD do that or that my way of prioritiisng my money is better than theirs.

I don't care whether other people spend their money on facials or holidays or gardening. I choose to spend my money on my kids' education.

BTW, if you're against private education on principle then why are you interesting in discussing the finances of it??? Really odd.

fivecandles · 15/07/2008 14:37

What I mean is it's either right or it's wrong surely. It makes no difference whether it costs £100 or £10000 surely. Reminds me of that story about Bernard Shaw do you know the one?

Original poster
UnquietDad · 15/07/2008 14:38

This is the first thread I have started about private schools in as long as I can remember. I contribute to the education threads generally, probably more so than to any others. It's just one of many news items I have linked to in the past few months.

I'm not one of these people who has ever gone as far as to say that all private schools should be abolished (it's actually quite difficult to abolish anything in practice), but I've always said I'd be interested to see what would happen if people found they had to use state schooling, including those who would not normally have considered it. And to some extent, it's happening in the current economic climate. Which I thought was an interesting point. And that was why I linked to the report.

OP posts:
Original poster
UnquietDad · 15/07/2008 14:40

I know that story, fivecandles. "we are just haggling over the price," Amusing, but irrelevant here. I've explained above my reasons for finding this an interesting story.

OP posts:
fivecandles · 15/07/2008 14:40

'A friend of mine is about to spend 10 grand on her wedding. She hasn't got kids yet but that 10 grand could pay for at least 2 years school fees for 1 child or much more if she put it in the bank now.'

This is what I said iBundle.

Original poster
UnquietDad · 15/07/2008 14:42

Surely being able to afford a big one-off financial outlay is a bit different from a 12-year financial commitment (which will go up with inflation)?

OP posts:
FioFio · 15/07/2008 14:45

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iBundle · 15/07/2008 14:46

I'm not trying to trip you up about details

you said something and then changed it and said

"no bundle, I said..."blah

you may have said that but you also did say

"It's funny what people consider necessary when it comes to money. I have friends who say they can't afford private school but pay far more each month than I do on school fees on facials, dresses, shoes etc "

how depressing - and indicative of your inability to listen to anyone else - that you say you didn't

The fact that you say I shouldn't even be posting on this thread at all shows your arrogance in full light

fivecandles · 15/07/2008 14:49

Hmmm, wonder why you don't just ask that question then UQD instead perhaps of suggesting that rubbing your hands in glee at the thought of people having to pull their kids out of private school because they can't afford it any more.

If I 'had' to use state schools I'd probably do what everyone else does. Consider a move and if I couldn't just send them to our local non-faith school. Hardly a revelation.

Academically my kids would probably be o.k (as I was when I was sent to my local comp) but they would almost certainly be very neglected and bored amongst other issues.

I'm beginning to wonder UQD whether you would very much like to send your kids to private school if you could affrod it and as you can't you accuse those of us who do of snobbery.

Tortington · 15/07/2008 14:51

i reckon he could afford it - he's well loaded.

he just doesn't like 'tartan' ankle length skirts with orange ties...on boys

fivecandles · 15/07/2008 14:54

iBundle, I fear it is YOU who isn't listening. I haven't changed anything.

1.) My dcs school fees are about 5000 a year EACH.

2.) I have 2 dcs.

3.) I have a friend who is about to spend 10,000 on a wedding.

4.) 10,000 is the equivalent of 2 years fees for 1 child at my dcs school or 1 year for 2 children.

God, why so hung up on the detail UQD and others. If anyone wants to spend 10,000 on a wedding or a facial or anything else that's fine. I don't. I want to spend my money on my kids' education which is my 2nd big financial outlay and financial priority after my mortgage. Is that ok?

Tortington · 15/07/2008 15:02

nope

iBundle · 15/07/2008 15:04

I wasn't quoting the bit about the wedding, I was cutting and pasting something else you'd said.

so

will you admit you said this?

"It's funny what people consider necessary when it comes to money. I have friends who say they can't afford private school but pay far more each month than I do on school fees on facials, dresses, shoes etc "

because THAT'S WHAT I WAS REFERRING TO

scaryteacher · 15/07/2008 15:05

Why nope Custy?

Original poster
UnquietDad · 15/07/2008 15:05

Well, it was my OP which started this whole thing off (without comment), and it hasn't exactly been unpopular as a subject for debate given that we are now at 5 pages of posts. So obviously people are interested, whether I am "rubbing my hands in glee" or not.

I await with interest the first "Oh my god, this year the credit crunch means I've had to send my children to a state school and I had no idea what they were like, is this what people put up with?" article.

I predict:

a) it will appear around September 22nd
b) it will be written by a woman
c) it will appear in the Mail or Express

OP posts:
Tortington · 15/07/2008 15:05

she asked if it was ok