School Fees - how worried are you now

[Lifeiseveryday]

So when the VAT came in, I wasn’t too worried about school fees….maybe I had my head in the sand!
However, for next year, a number of schools near us have hiked both the fees recently, alongside the VAT.
I’m feeling much more nervous now about where the fees are going to end up and the impact this will have on children. School is affordable for us but I am not sure if it is ‘value for money’ anymore.
I know there have been lots of threads on VAT but I am more worried now, than when the policy came out. So as a temperature check, how is everyone else feeling? I have 8 more years of fees…

I’m not sure if this makes you feel any better but two of my children are in Russell group universities and they went to the local comprehensive.

State schools aren’t awful. State educated children aren’t feral.
I’m genuinely sorry you’re under this stress.

Feeling anxious. I paid for my eldest from year 8-11 in advance so saved the VAT. But for example when my eldest was in year 5 3 years ago the fees were £12,500 now for my next daughter in Year 5 we are paying £19k that’s a £6k rise in 3 years. We can manage as we’ve paid up to year 11 for my eldest but when she this year 12 and youngest is in year 9 it’ll get hard. We don’t know how we will pay it and have our heads in the sand tbh!

Not great at all. I also had my head in the sand but having received a bill for next term with VAT added to all the ‘extras’ I’m panicking. I know someone will come along & say this is a massive privilege (with I agree with) & I should just use state schools (not where we currently live) but I have one of the many DCs with SEN who would really struggle in mainstream but don’t reach the threshold for an EHCP. I’ve got a second job to try & keep DC at current school but I’m exhausted & not sure how sustainable it is (we have 6 years left excluding sixth form).

I don’t think OP is saying that but talking about the challenges of private school fees.

I should say I went to an inner city comp, my parents were immigrants and illiterate. I too went to a Russell Group university and run my own very successful business. I’m also of ‘colour’ and a woman! My parents worked in mills and foundries.

It’s not a State vs Private thread but for those who are finding that PS is not such good value for money any more.

I'm also worried. My DS school fees have almost doubled in the 6 years he has been there and that's before the VAT came along. I was pressured into sending him by my now XH and would not have agreed to it if I could see into the future. Our school has held the fees for next year but passed on the full 20% immediately so that's small comfort. I already don't go on holiday and drive a 15 year old car, and shop/cook very frugally. There's not much left to give up but I really don't want to disrupt DS schooling as he's settled there and has additional needs.

Our school passed on 14% and although it is steep, we can manage it. I’m more worried about the general economy. It’s going to get much much worse by the looks of things.

But it’s necessary. We didn’t get a state school that DD1 (SEN) could mange and the school she is at is definitely the right one for her. She’s flying so I’ll keep paying. She might return to state for sixth form if she wishes to.

DD2 is more than likely going to stay in state (different SEN), but with her issues it should be more likely that we get a school that meets her needs. But you never know - last I heard Labour’s plans for state are not going to be a good thing. So maybe I’ll have to pay for her too.

I’m not worried, irritated more than anything. I mean if you can’t afford it just take your kids out ffs

@firenzeflower Completely take your point. I went to the local comp & then on to a Russel Group uni. And of course state educated children aren’t feral! However some of us chose private schools over state for better SEN support (not to try & get our children into better universities). We’re not buying them a better chance at life, we’re just trying to get them through the school years with the best support for their diagnosis and for my DC the local comp just can’t offer this.

People are allowed to be worried @FannyBawz

Literally the year before we started fees were going go by inflation. Now fees have risen by 8% a year plus out school did 15% VAT. The wealthy paid in advance, we used much of our savings to do this for years 8-11 for our eldest.

But like PPs I have children with SEN, my youngest has Autism, ADHD and PDA and also various processing issues only being picked up now. Both my kids have been in State school before we moved them as their needs were not being met.

Our ‘normal’ rise this year is just under 6%. The letter explained that it’s in part due to the NI increase which has added 250k to costs. The school has reduced its savings ‘buffer’ so as not to have to pass it all along. When you add VAT the result - it’s a hefty sum.

I would like to pay private school fees and could afford to do so, but I can't find an independent school that will meet my DSs needs. He had to stop going to mainstream school last year.

We looked at a school yesterday that charged £30k a year but their teaching material had wrong science in them, bad punctuation and ridiculous things like getting the kids to sing poetry in a silly voice.

I wish I could find a school that would just teach academic subjects competently and calmly and then send the kids home. He doesn't need a million trips.

At the moment I’m feeling ok or at least in control. We knew VAT was on the horizon before DS started last year (age 10) so I budgeted ahead for that and hoping DD can move for secondary in 5 years. But my spreadsheet only works if we’re working so I feel vulnerable in that way. Don’t regret making the choice as there seem to more and more incidents at the local high school which isn’t great. DS has excelled in the 10 months he’s been at his new school so it feels like money well spent so far.

My DS is on an academic scholarship, in the lower sixth, I'm a single mum paying 50% fees which is still a huge stretch for me.

I was 'lucky' to be made redundant last autumn when my US employer retreated back to America after the election. They had to pay me off, and that payoff will ensure DS won't have his A'levels disrupted.

In our case it is still good value partly because the teaching is excellent, but also because the local state schools don't offer maths, physics and DT a'!levels.

Helping support him through 4 year engineering degree is the next challenge.

Or join the thousands who have been forced into HomeEd instead. So many of us have bright kids with Sen who are unable to cope in mainstream but thriving in home education.

Same here. However I live in an area with excellent state schools.

What region are you in?

Thanks reading all your responses.
I think private schools really need to think about their cost base. It’s no longer going to attract and retain students if they don’t make some more meaningful cost changes.

Regarding sending my child to state school, that’s of course always an option, I am more worried about where they will end up in the next few years, not just for me but for others too.

The fees are painful but we can just about manage.

VAT on the extras is annoying. We are reducing those to pay for the main fees.

We only have 2 years left so it’s not too bad.

We tried state and it was disastrous, unfortunately in an area with failing state schools.

@Meadowfinch Yes I wondered what region you are in too. Maybe start a thread looking for recommendations as there are definitely schools out there that meet your description.

Sorry I meant to tag @VeryNiceDay

OP isn't saying state schools are awful!

FYI not ALL state schools are great and it is a postcode lottery

@Meadowfinch and @Fandangofarago would it be okay if I pm you? It's hard to explain in a public thread as it involves a lot of private information about DS, but I'd be really grateful for your thoughts. Thanks!

But the cost of running a school has risen exponentially: falling rolls due to birthrate + VAT, emploter NI increase, Business rate tax increasing, teacher pensions, wages, utility bills etc.
70-75% of costs of running a school are wages for the many more teachers + staff than you find in state. So where do you want your school to make cuts,

This is exactly why some of us have been fighting so hard against VAT!

There does seem to be a gap in the market here for no frills, affordable private schools similar to ones in the US.

Very much not a lottery.