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Original poster

Would private schools accept twins for price of one?

53 replies

Snowybird · 25/09/2008 13:59

I have considered private school for my 6-year-old twins but I just can't manage the fees for two.
A teacher friend suggested I ask the schools about scholarships, so I telephoned three prep schools today with that question. All mentioned bursuries and "great flexibility", but immediately offered me a meeting with the headmaster to discuss.
I have heard on the grapevine over the past few days that some local parents who have lost their jobs have been forced to withdraw their children from these schools.
Under the circumstances, would it be too cheeky to ask whether they would accept both my boys for the price of one?
Advice appreciated
Snowybird

OP posts:
MerlinsBeard · 25/09/2008 16:09

so, theya re already in school? you want to put them in private education but you only want to pay for one?

(just trying to get it clear)

MerlinsBeard · 25/09/2008 16:10

or to put it another way- when you buy 2 cars do you only pay for one lot of insurance/tax/petrol....?

PoorOldEnid · 25/09/2008 16:11

A friend of mine with twins wangled a 15% discount plus a scholarship for the brainy one. But she has another child in the wings waiting to go too.

mummypoppins · 25/09/2008 16:13

As a private school governor I would say your chances are absolutely NIL.

We dont even give sibling discounts until you get to 3 or more.

Try working at the school the biggest area of cost to a private school is staff discounts which are non means tested.

At our school they account for one ninth of the fees that every full fee paying child contributes ie £1,000 per child per year.

No wonder our headmaster can afford to have 4 children at private school and a SAHW.

mummypoppins · 25/09/2008 16:15

And before you all ask.....no the governors do not qualify for a discount

PoorOldEnid · 25/09/2008 16:20

most private schools round here give a sibling discount (south west), not much though. and lots of negotiation is possible too.

LadyMuck · 25/09/2008 16:26

Actually some private schools would be up for this. The problem is though that they would do so because they are desperate for bums on seats and if you drop numbers so class sizes are say below 8 then you start putting off other would-be customers. So if you did get such an offer then you're probably payinf for the privilege of sending them to a failing school.

Anchovy · 25/09/2008 16:34

OOh, I'm pissed off that everyone else is getting a sibling discount. We don't get a sausage.

Mind you there is an extremely high sibling rate at the DCs school. I understand that in the nursery this year every place is filled by siblings and some sibs have been turned away.

Agree with what LadyMuck says. Its purely a commercial thing. But then if they will agree to it they may be desparate.

Worth a shot but I wouldn't hold out much hope.

Swedes · 25/09/2008 17:16

My sons' school is a Herts boys' day school (11-18) and it's very oversubscribed. I thought it was the norm to offer sibling discounts at high school age?

NappiesGalore · 25/09/2008 17:23

i think we get 10% discount for second and third siblings.

am amused that i understand mamaG's post in its entirety and also wished i had been jessica. sadly i was more neither. i didnt even live in the valley. i was from the next valley along; pongy valley
i too am jealous at the3 having a twin thing... i really want a twin. how are the scientists coming along with that cloning stuff anyway?

Blandmum · 25/09/2008 19:12

You can ask, but the answer is likely to be no.

Bursaries seldom run to 50%

The school that mine go to does run an automatic sibling discount of 5%

you could always put them in for scholarships

lulumama · 25/09/2008 19:54

i am indeed ruby;s twin,mamag, but i am the older and cooler one !

twinness not always all it is crakced up to be !

ruby threw an ironing board at me once

she missed !

RustyBear · 25/09/2008 20:02

You & ironing really don't mix, do you lulu?

lulumama · 25/09/2008 20:08

that is very true rusty !

NappiesGalore · 25/09/2008 21:12

lulu, your profile pics make me wanna come and live with you. id be a feckin nightmare; the eternal teenager who doesnt clean up after themselves, but to be mummied by you would just be heaven.

Hulababy · 25/09/2008 21:17

At DD's school there is a 5% discount for siblings.

Original poster
Snowybird · 25/09/2008 22:06

Thanks everyone for your opinions; I see I have really incited some outrage here.

Let's wait and see: today's satire is tomorrow's reality, after all.

OP posts:
MamaG · 25/09/2008 22:14

fab pic lulu, what a pair of glamourpusses!

Quattrocento · 25/09/2008 22:17

envious of those parents where such a loverly thing as sibling discounts exist ...

I'm guessing that your twins are not at private school now, OP. Have you checked out the fees at secondary? They are much more expensive than at primary. Also you need to think about all those extras ... mega expensive uniforms, school trips, music lessons, blah

lulumama · 26/09/2008 07:05

thank you mamag, and nappies. you know there is always a spare room at lulu towers !

pgwithnumber3 · 26/09/2008 07:25

hijack - lulumama I knew you were posh, private school hey?! Nearly as posh a my Whistles bell jingling shirt.

DD2 all better now so are we on for next week?

HIJACK OVER - SORRY!

babyboo78 · 23/10/2008 16:40

Message withdrawn

chipmunkswhereareyou · 23/10/2008 19:54

Glad that got deleted - as very blatantly an ad.

campion · 24/10/2008 19:30

Some schools do a clergy discount of 50%. You could try getting ordained!

clam · 25/10/2008 12:22

My sister decided to move her twin boys from their private school to a state grammar for the sixth form as they could no longer manage the fees. She wrote to give notice, expressing her regret and saying why. The bursar was straight on the phone on receipt of her letter offering one boy's fees for free!
So, it can happen, but I would guess that it was partly a reflection on how highly the school regarded the boys.