If you paid school fees, how do uni costs compare?

[Heatherbell1978]

Currently planning/budgeting for school fees for 2 DC. Both in state primary just now so this would be for secondary. Where I am fees currently around £14k a year. Yes, I've planned in annual fee rises which would look more like £26k a year by the time DD6 is in her final school year.
Assuming both go to Uni, we'll have paid off our mortgage before DD goes (she's only 6 atm) so that will make life easier but DS would be at Uni while still paying school fees for DD. So just wondering whether the amount you provided for Uni maintenance was less/same/more than school? Not talking Uni fees here, just rent etc

I couldn't afford to pay school fees if VAT was added. But on balance, another term of the Tories would destroy the country so I'd vote for the greater good and hope that Labour have second thoughts to be honest. I'm a big believer in voting for what benefits society rather than me individually.

Better start looking for new schools then. Labour won’t give up on this. It’s the new fi hunting. The left will demand it.

Realistically what will happen is that, as the cost of living/inflation reduces, many private schools will increase class sizes slightly, delay capital asset purchases / renovations until after the general election (Eton is rumoured to be doing this) and lower fees & add VAT to keep fees the same as they are currently. This will then mean (as purchases can be offset against fees) most schools won’t need to increase fees annually.

Also, if VAT will be charged, then it can also be claimed. So the fees might even become cheaper for the super rich. Which I suspect is the real reason for Labour to do this, to make tax increases more palatable.

Should also add my school is exploring ending the school day earlier and rebadging 3-4 hours as ‘aftercare’ so it can be claimed back using the child tax free account. They are also considering setting up a private nursery for under 3s to fund the rest of the school.

There is an assumption that there is a simple choice between state and private.

We live in an educational black hole. Slightly better now than when we started but still very challenging. We saw the writing on the wall early. A mum in playgroup told me that she was so desperate for a place that she had delivered leaflets for favourite in the local elections in the hope that he would help ensure she got a place. Our local secondary was 93% FSM and (at the time) failing.

We thought about it quite carefully. Move to somewhere with better schools, pay in additional mortgage, train fares, and commuting time. (The majority approach - seven out of 10 from my NCT group went before school started, all but us were gone before secondary.) Plan to rent in a different catchment in the run up to secondary. (Second favourite approach - including the person who crows on Fb about her moral high ground in choosing state even though the in-laws offered to pay.) Tutor, get religion, identify weird entry provisions. (Again popular though the grammars are a long commute and tutoring starts early.)

Or just pay.
Which we did. Albeit leaving us watching others enjoy a higher standard of living. Luckily we made it through. We did not have much margin, and VAT might have made it impossible.

Was it worth it. Yes. DS was naturally studious and was a good fit for the nearest private school. DD turned out to be pretty dyslexic and received super support. She was bright so was good at compensating, so might well have bobbed along in the middle of a larger state school.

Us using state would have had impacts. We would have moved, adding to pressure on house prices in the catchments of good schools and ultimately would have squeezed someone out. It would also have reduced the social capital in the area where we live, in that we have always donated time, money and experience to the neighbourhood.

After which paying University fees was straightforward. Upthread I think Tizer suggests that repaying loans if you are on a low salary does not matter as you then only pay small amounts. Our view is the opposite. If you are needing every last penny to pay mortgage, and in our case fees, every last penny matters. It is marginal income, having something spare to spend on non-essentials, that gives you a sense of affluence. If DC want to return to London we don't want them saddled with loan repayments.

I'm exploring all options. I could put off private until secondary for eldest (2026 entry) which gives time to see what happens with Labour but yes, very aware that the choice might be made for me.

@Heatherbell1978 Its rather sad really and class warfare against some people who save and work hard to pay fees. They should have their choice maintained.

Indeed. We're in the 'could afford it with compromises' category rather than being wealthy and it would be very tight. I've got spreadsheets coming out of my ears trying to scenario plan things but the VAT addition would be a step too far for us I think.

I think for a lot of people. Not sure which state schools will be able to take these Dc when the time comes?

The school age population is falling a lot over the next 10 years, which might free up spaces! Maybe Labour is banking on this.

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2022/jul/14/pupil-numbers-in-england-set-to-shrink-by-near-1m-in-10-years

It depends where it falls! Where there’s no pressure on places - might not be helpful at all.

Its under half for us, with minimum maintenance loan as, of course, we dont qualify for more than the minimum. Bargain!

School fees >£18k London day school plus travel, and phone and allowance etc

Uni top up £5.4k pa on top of her maintenance loan - though she's at Cambridge so costs are lower than other unis plus I pay for phone, take her on holidays. Food bills much less while she's away. She works in summer to earn some extra, and also teaches on some courses that her college run for applicants which is paid too.

So overall much lower cost at uni