Private School -how much does it REALLY cost ?

[DefNotYummyMummy]

I know you have prices per term, but how much are uniforms, school trips & other activities ? Then the cost of forking out for extra help during their extended holidays ? I am starting my late august born son to a nursery attached to a private school. The fees of the nursery are slightly cheaper than day care and we thought it may give him the best start as he will be the youngest in year when he starts school. Yje grounds look wonderful, but I doubt we'll send him to the main school unless we don't get into our preferred choice, in which case we may send him for reception and hope we get a place elsewhere as closest schools are dire. I was just wondering...how much does it really cost. The term fees we could manage for a year or two, but I was thinking but I wonder how much all the other crap costs that goes with it. Sorry so long.

But those costs (music, dance etc) are still there even if one used the state sector.

They have leaflets in our reception about paying monthly. Baiscally, they pay the fees in advance for you and charge you over the 12 months - they do cost more of course!

We pay monthly over 9 months (then get respite for June,July & August which is nice). It doesn't cost any more to do it like that.

This is with a very large high st bank which is in big deby just now. Maybe they need the money!

We pay over 9 months too (respite April, May and June) and get a £60 per term discount for doing so.

EachPeachPearMum ds's uniform is completely grey apart from the sweatshirt and blazer. Girls school uniforms around here are lovely, two of them have kilts and nice patterned dresses in the summer. In the summer ds gets to wear a green polo shirt.

I wonder if Scrooged's £1k a term for transport/trips includes getting the child to school in the first place? DD is at a private school and the most we have ever had to pay for a trip is £16.50, I'd say trips cost us less than £20 per term for DD as a primary age child. The really expensive trips don't start until secondary level and are optional anyway, e.g. 30/300 pupils went on the ski trip (numbers limited).

I suppose it is for the school bus too. They can be very expensive. Get a bike, walk, scooter...

All we have had to pay for so far is £12.50 once a year for a visit to the theatre.

Our uniform is grey pinafore/trousers, r3ed school jumper etc. The pinafore is a specified style but freely available. The only unique item is the summer dress which retails at £25

If you need to go to a specific shop to get the uniform it can be more expensive. I won't say which one but I get a twitch in my eye when I have to go!

actually Lemon DS1 is going to Barbados start of 2010. Cricket tour.

( perfect excuse for us to take the other two out there at the same time.Hooray )

now that sounds more reasonable, islandofsodor! I pay much more than that for trips a year for my two who are not in private ed. I naively thought that apart from the uniform extras would work out same or even cheaper: mine pay a sports contribution per term as they do not have sports facilities so need to pay for a coach and local sports centre costs, we pay extra for extra tuition as the school provides poor/little in the way of certain areas etc etc - thought those things would be incl. in the fees and so more inclusive fees IYSWIM as the facilities and education would be better/wider.

pagwatch - sounds fantastic Wow! What a great trip. I was fortunate at school to go on skiing trips, across to Washington DC in secondary school and Iceland on a geog trip. School trips can be some of the best experiences and memory making, life changing events around. Just the thought of 1k per term seemed wild. Guess if it includes costly daily transport then it makes more sense, didn?t notice the transport element in the quote.

In answer how much do schools cost a fortune! But having attended state school and now having had a career that would have benefited from private education I would say it's well worth the money. Also most state schools are dire and what it exposes your child to even worst! There was a knifing at my old school not too long ago child of 12 stabbed by 15yr old and drugs were everywhere even the results of the so call best state schools are no where near those if private schools. That said I have a friend how made it to Cambridge from my year but she was an exception 13 As I would say that you need a child who is focused to learn and has talents that can excel at private school which you will know early on as they watch for these signs in state schools classes are often 30 plus not 5-15 pupils so that's what you pay for and the facilities, but I think as in all things you get what you pay for

We have 2930 per term, 360 was initial outlay for 1Ds, they try really hard to keep costs down. All afterschool activities are free and trips are generally absorbed bybthe school as well bar y5 and 6 residential trips. So generally no extras per term. This is prep.

Zombie thread. 6 years out of date!
There is a similar, current one running.

Its only worth it if you child passes the test if you have to pay without them getting in the ones that did pass the test get stuck with a child that holds the class back. Special need are not including with what i said above like dyslexia

Zombie thread.