Employer contributing to private school fees

[SchoolFees]

In a recent discussion with a few other mums regarding the affordability of private school fees, especially if you have more than one DC, I was surprised to find out that there were quite a number of parents whose employers were contributing to their DCs private school fees.
How common is this? If you are fortunate enough to work for such an employer how much is their contribution?

Oh really Bellissima?

Maybe they can go to Royal Latin then, if we come back to Blighty.

bellissima - there is a very big difference between British education and French education that explains why it is so particularly difficult for British children to move around: all secondary schools in England offer different subjects and subject combinations at GCSE and A-level, whereas all French schools offer identical programmes right through to age 18. If you are a French family, and even if your child is at a European school, you can ensure that your child is up to speed on the French curriculum (and this is really easy, through the CNED) and you can join a local school in France at any time and just slot back in, even mid-term.

MrsS - well can't guarantee that (we are in South Bucks but believe RLS very over-subscribed!) but service families certainly get exemptions from timings re taking of 11 plus, end-dates for proving address/residency and I believe more flexibility re coming off any waiting lists - don't quote me though. As for doing the verbal reasoning crossword puzzles (a whole tutoring industry here) that's another matter - although I suppose the advantage of a purely VR test is that it has precious little to do with any national (or otherwise) curriculum!

Bonsoir actually I've been discussing your old alma mater. My Anglo-French friends and ex-INSEAD chums tend to stick their children in bi-lingual schools it's true. Though in fact a family here moved to their children to a normal French school for three years and then back into the English system. They are very bright though.

Nearly 70% DDs class mates fees are paid in full by employers. All bankers in top global banks.
Wish i'd chosen different career

Banks used to frequently pay school fees (I have a friend who had her kids paid that way). However even getting full expat allowances is getting harder (look on the Singapore expat board for example).
When my DH worked for a top bank school fees were not on offer.
Also UK schools tend to spread out the sitting of GCSEs over 2 or 3 years now, so it is very hard to slot back in. DS will sit 3 papers this summer in science, then 3 more science and some maths in November. I'm not sure what is happening about his foreign language either, that could be this year. Then more in March, and June next year, then November, March and June the following year. Then its As s and A levels.