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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

Who can afford private schools in the UK?

999 replies

wjchoihk · 12/02/2013 17:18

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....

OP posts:

seeker · 14/02/2013 22:19

So you didn't read my post. I didn't think you would,

maisiejoe123 · 14/02/2013 22:21

Seeker claims she has been 'forced' to use the system and also cannot move. Its all nonsense.

Grammar schools for the right child are fantastic and will provide a great education and Seeker knows this. Her 2nd child didnt get into it hence her complaining about the unfairness...

pugsandseals · 14/02/2013 22:23

You don't need to move to opt out Seeker! Just don't apply to the grammar if you don't believe in it. That's it. I fail to see how I don't understand!

maisiejoe123 · 14/02/2013 22:25

Your making yourself sound daft. You dont believe in something and have been 'forced' to use it for DC1. In fact you were going to be' forced' to use it for DC2.... Poor me! I dont believe in selective education at all and for all sorts of reasons need to stay where I am so therefore I am stuck in the grammar school system and dont want to be. I will then knock everyone else and tell them to use the non selective system because I am different...I am an exception.

You could have turned down your place. Many others would have jumped at it (including you!)

maisiejoe123 · 14/02/2013 22:26

Seeker is going to come on in a minute and say she couldnt turn down her grammar school place. She has been forced into please remember...

seeker · 14/02/2013 22:28

Which bit is nonsense? I would be really grateful if you would stop disbelieving me about whether or not I can move. I can't.

And I have been opposing selective education for 20 years. A secondary modern is just as much a selective school as a grammar school- just not the selective school the pro grammar school people imagine they will ever have to go near!

morethanpotatoprints · 14/02/2013 22:29

Has anybody answered the OP yet or was that done 600 posts ago?

There are many different types of school offering different types of education. There are good and bad schools in most areas and sectors.

If you like Grammar and 11+ and it suits you fine.
If you can afford it and it suits you Private is fine.
If your dc are particularly bright or have a talent, it suits you, super selective is fine
Home education can be very rewarding, if it suits your family.

A private education can cost nothing, well a tiny amount or whichever has the highest fees.

Shouldn't it be about what suits the child? Where their interests lie. Many children know from a young age what type of job or career they want, they just don't know how to get there yet.

socareless · 14/02/2013 22:31

Give up pugs and Maisie you will never understand the injustices that seeker and her docs have endured, she has tried on several posts to explain herself and all I see is a woman who is unhappy with the hand fate has dealt her Ds, but pleased that her dd is in the right school.

And of course anyone who pays for the right school is cold hearted and evil.

pugsandseals · 14/02/2013 22:33

So careless

pugsandseals · 14/02/2013 22:36

'cup half full?' or 'cup half empty?'

Yellowtip · 14/02/2013 22:38

maisie how silly. You have hearsay (from your friends) which by definition is of less evidential value than direct evidence (mine). Your friends' grammar may be significantly less good than our own or your friends might be moaners or overly uptight and vicariously stressed. No point getting babyish and hurrumphy with 'I'm obviously misinformed'.

And as for educational gulf within a family: grammar v private is one thing. Top of the pops super selective massively well endowed historical big name indie v comp is another. It's very interesting which is why I'd like to know the reasoning behind such a potentially contentious family decision.

seeker · 14/02/2013 22:38

I use the state options that are available to me. My position on selective education has been consistent. It has not changed for 20 odd years. Either on here or in real life.

maisiejoe123 · 14/02/2013 22:39

Seeker has an education for her 1st child that some can just dream about and she should be grateful for that. You wanted it for your 2nd child quite naturally.

What really annoys you is that you didnt get it and you dont have the option of paying for it. Well, I dont live near my parents, I dont spend as much time supporting the schools as I should do and attending school matches. That is the price I pay. I am not moaning about it. Its my choice and consequences. The fees are not easy for us. For some they are easy, lucky them.

But coming on with that MASSIVE chip on your shoulder is nonsense. If you were suddenly given some money you would be knocking at the door of the nearest private school all along claiming that you have no choice ' you have been forced to do it' just like your argument about the grammar school for your older child.

seeker · 14/02/2013 22:41

Maisie- I hate to tell you this, but we could afford private.

Does that really screw up your preconceptions?

maisiejoe123 · 14/02/2013 22:43

It wasnt contentious to them. The grammar is very good. And please dont dismiss all friends are misinforming me. Are you seriously suggesting that ALL of them are making it up and you who I dont know at all are right.

And I went to a grammat myself to look around. One of the teachers themselves spoke about this being an issue. Maybe they were fibbing too....

TheOriginalSteamingNit · 14/02/2013 22:45

Some people are bloody dim.

I'll pick up the baton as someone who doesn't have to live with the 11+ and has the princely household income of £68k a year and opposes private education: wanna chat?

maisiejoe123 · 14/02/2013 22:45

I think that anyone who doesnt believe in selective education and then uses it for their children is full of hot air....

pugsandseals · 14/02/2013 22:51

Are you willing not to criticize those of us who choose private yet seeker? As somebody born & bred in a selective system, the one thing which you won't have witnessed is how much more competitive the whole state system is in a selective area. All schools are competing for pupils & looking for your business. In non-selective areas, there is no competition. You are allocated your local secondary school & that is that! No competition for places at any level means schools just don't bother to try to be competitive & will amble along only ever bothering to pull their socks up when Mr Ofsted comes to visit.
In a selective system you have a choice of schools, you fill in your applications & hope you get one of your top 3 schools. In my area, you are allocated a school as soon as you enter nursery & stuck with that school whether you like it or not!
Maybe now you might have a small chance of understanding what the majority are 'choosing' when they apply to private school - it is the only way out!!!!
Still against selective?

TotallyBS · 14/02/2013 22:53

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet for breaking our Talk Guidelines. Replies may also be deleted.

TheOriginalSteamingNit · 14/02/2013 22:56

Having children in a state school in a non selective area ad having worked in another, I can confirm that pugs post is a pile of crap. Schools know full well who else is doing what and with whom they are in competition.

BS (as someone else said: apt name!) you are beneath contempt. Lower than a common baked bean.

TotallyBS · 14/02/2013 22:57

Cross post with seeker. Admit it seeker. You are impressed that I remembered your post about being able to afford going private.

BooksandaCuppa · 14/02/2013 22:57

Alright, leave it now. This is getting really nasty. You have no idea what is going on in people's personal lives and have no right to know that part either, regardless of their views on a thread like this.

JenaiMorris · 14/02/2013 22:57

I think someone who wilfully fails to understand why another person might try to make the best of their situation is probably a bit dense...

pugsandseals · 14/02/2013 22:58

'SteamingNit' - not one child in our village has EVER successfully managed to get into a school other than the catchment one. How is that talking crap?

TheOriginalSteamingNit · 14/02/2013 22:59

Lord, can we not report or ban this unstoppable fool?

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