Who can afford private schools in the UK?

[wjchoihk]

Hi. I am not sure if this is an appropriate question to ask here. But I have always wondered how rich you should be to send children to private schools in UK. Fees are anywhere from 3000 up to 10000 per term. Even allowing for wide gaps in income, thinking of 'avearge' UK wage of 26,000 pound, math simply don't add up for a normal life with such high fees. I also know only 7% of children go private though.

How much of private parents live on "inherited" wealth and how much on simply superior current earnings? I have my kids at SW London privates but I wouldn't be able to afford this without current int'l expat package. Some parents at my kids' schools LOOK and ARE very very rich but most of them LOOK quite down to earth. But I can't ask....

Well nit if somehting cataclysmic happened overnight our single biggest expense would be fees (no mortgage).

That's kinda where that particular conundrum comes from.

Well, I've definitely seen that said on the last half-dozen times this subject was discussed. I think people tend to phrase it carefully - not necessarily "if you make cutbacks you can afford private school" but "we go without holidays, drive a rusty car and shop at Lidl to afford the fees." Implication: so could you. Totally goes over their heads that many people do all that anyway just to survive.

I have read posts where posters have claimed that "everyone" (or rather, "most" people) could afford school fees if only they'd camp in Wales instead of going abroad, and shared a 15 year old Skoda and an old pushbike. Not for a loong time though - I don't think anyone would dare

Having said that sometimes it does feel that posters are belabouring the point a little when they talk about the sacrifices they make. I'm sure they don't mean it, but it does feel as if they're suggesting that we could all afford to send our children to private schools if only we were less profligate.

But dad aren't people just saying that that is how they fund it. Singling themselves out from those who can afford it easily.

They're not saying 'oh and anyone could do it', are they?

teacher - I said it wasn't do-able if I had seriously under estimated what HMRC deductions were made but happy doesn't seem to be contesting those figures.

What we seem to be arguing about is whether a family can live off £17k net after mortgage/rent (your figures).

I'm sure seeker will shortly be jumping in to post that we are being insensitive to low income people for discussing whether a family can live off £27k / £17k :)

Couldn;t think of anything more grim, frankly, than going without everything pleasurable in life to pay the school fees. And the pressure on those kids!? Wow.

stealth - your get out clause is that you said 'seem more likely'???

If I said that private school kids are more likely to be well behaved I would get hammered.

Apparently making a gross generalisation is ok as long as you qualify it with a 'more likely'

oh totallyBS (name not entirely inaccurate) give over with the seeker bashing, it's so boring and unnecessary. I am quite sure seeker has broad enough shoulders and doesnt need my defence, but really, just give it a break.

My dad was a Naval officer and mum was SAHM. They put me and Dbro through minor boarding schools on one salary back in the 70s, with some assistance from the Navy in the years they were abroad. Perfectly doable for them, and they also managed to buy a house in the UK at the same time.

Fast forward to now, I very much doubt that would be achievable for a young officer in his 30s.

As for us - 2 DDs at a secondary modern (shock horror!). Both doing well, both being encouraged and pushed as required, both getting the right pastoral care from school as and when required. Nearest indie would involve an hour's commute either way 6 days a week - if we won the lottery would I send them there? would I fuck! Life is for living.

I think some people do imply that anyone could do it. I often wonder why they bother - private education is a luxury item. The whole point of it is that you are buying something which you think makes you, your life or your children "better" in some way. It seems a little daft to imply it's accessible to everyone when its very inaccessibility to everyone is one of its selling points for many.

No - try reading what I said. You have the cause and effect the wrong way round.

Havent read all the responses, however there are an awful lot of people who have a view of private schools without ever having looked around one or had any experience of them.

They talk about privilge and 'buying' your way in.

Well around here people pay inflated prices for houses to get into the catchment areas for grammars. They have money to do this and through choosing to pay over the odds for a house smugly say they are using the 'state' system.

Well yes, you are, however you have effectively brought your way in a catchment area and therefore the school.

Isnt that the same thing?

And realistically I think with 2 children,living in the SE in a house you have owned for say 10 yrs the family income needs to be £80K plus. There is no way a family can do it on £25k.

For those of you who mock private schools and their inability to take SEN's - well it just goes to show that you really dont know enough about them. My DS (at a very well known senior boarding school) has 2 in his year with challenging behaviour. Whilst the parents have to pay for some extra support these children are thriving.

My figure of just shy of £2700 per month (for a couple with one child both earning £20 000 PA each) is pretty a accurate I think you'll find. So again mortgage/life insurance/house insurance/or rent average rent for pleasant three bedrooms here in Smalltownsville £950-1000 but crap public transport ditto hideous localish city leaving £1700 pcm then utilities council tax petrol food clothes shoes etc etc I just dont believe you can do that for less than £1000 pcm whats left approx £700 pcm fees for £9000 PA school £750 doesn't include uniform even 2nd hand uniform/other extras and maybe child care during extra long holidays result not doable!

boschy - well since it irritates you then I better stop it then.

Auntmaud me neither.

I'm spending my new found £££s on Stuff (once I've cleared a few debts).

Of course it all depends on priorities and on how much one values education

This thread has made me think!
We live in the SE. Total household income approx 45k. I only work 1 day a week. We have 1DD. We are currently living in a sought after village and have just paid our mortgage off. House worth c325k. DD is 8 and at ofsted outstanding primary, however the secondary options are not great. I now realise that we can afford private school fees if we move to a less desirable area (7miles away) so DH can still commute and we can get a house for under 250k thus releasing equity to pay fees. Do you put fees in a trust fund specifically to pay for education? Does this sound feasible? We could be that mythical family that doesn't have a huge income but can manage private fees!

Please tell me if I'm missing something obvious? It is so incredibly nice to think this may be an option for us

The problem about paying or not really only arises when for what ever reason you believe your DC would be better off in an independent school than his state school. Thats when it all comes down to how much money you have/need. If you think your state school is the greatest school in the world then your literally laughing all the way to the bank. But many don't and also don't have the money to do anything about it this must be terribly difficult for them.

Maisie and tough your opinions are not valid. Simply doesn't fit the script written and memorised by the anti private brigade.

Happy -

The net figure that you have after deducting fees, bills etc is what a lot of low income people are actually living on.

So I don't understand why you persist on telling me that it isn't do-able on £40k. No where do I say that you are going to live thr life of Riley. All I am saying is that it is do-able.

Vienna, you might find you dont need to move. Work out how much it will cost you to move. Probably about £12-£15k. Work out the costs of the fees 7 years at say £12k = £84k.

As you have no mortgage (you lucky thing) you might be able to borrow again. Yes, it will involve having a mortgage but for £84k it is not going to be huge....

This way you can stay in your house....

Just what I and others were saying - the SE house prices are allowing us to do this along with the higher wages etc. Some people on this thread dont want to move - their choice of course but look at what you might be able to achieve should you want to. You only had 1 DD so more than affordable unless of course the money you were paying into your mortage is being used for something else.

I would absolutely reconsider my spendthrift ways if I though ds would be better off in private. We're fortunate that the school he is at is a good enough fit for him and I appreciate that not everyone is so lucky.

Having said that, for some parents a "good enough" fit isn't good enough. I had a few converstaions with parents waiting outside of ds's tutors (yes! he had a private tutor for a while) about "progress" and how theirs hadn't made enough that put me in a right old spin.

viennahoneymoon, you don't need a trust fund. You can pay fees upfront for - generally - a sizeable discount.

Vienna - if there is a private option which would work for you, then yes, it sounds eminently plausible. As an alternative to putting money in a fund, you could try negotiating with the school - some will do you a very good deal (current prices, minus a fairly generous discount) for paying several years upfront, which may (or may not) represent a better "return" on your capital than investing it.

vienna - we are paying the fees out of income rather than savings. Savings is plan B and remortgaging is plan C :)

I agree - the script dictated by people who have NO experience of private schools! I have heard it many times on this thread. Well, I didnt have experience before I started looking into the private option. I loved the small classes, the opportunity to be the best you can, the endless list of sports you can undertake. The boundaries that are set to ensure you understand what is expected of you. The confidence your child gains to go for the stars should they wish to.

And no, the most surprising thing is that the school is not full of upper class twits! Sorry anti private brigade...

I could have more sympathy if some had tried private, even looked around at least one school and then decided it wasnt for them as opposed to making sweeping generalisations having no knowledge of the subject!