[shell]

My link

"Just over 7.2% of pupils in England attend private schools but make up over a quarter of the intake at the 25 most selective universities, and 46.6% at Oxford . . . However, research carried out for the government has shown that pupils from comprehensives are likely to do better at university than private or grammar school pupils with similar A-level results."

But there are lots of talented kids whose parents can't / won't pay who will be pipped to the top places by richer thickies.

Friend the other day: 'Lots of people can afford private school. It's as little as only six grand a year for one child, and even if it's more, people are prepared to go without just so their child gets the best education blah etc . . .'

I'm getting sick of it of hearing this. But even sicker of myself to clinging on to my experience of private school being seemingly unaffordable to even the middle classes in the late 70's and 80's.

Is it just low interest rates keeping these places going?

[Lepista]

I guess if you'[ve paid off your house, then you will have a significant discretionary income.

If you've been MEWing too...

[douggggy]

shell, on 10 January 2011 - 12:12 PM, said:

My link

"Just over 7.2% of pupils in England attend private schools but make up over a quarter of the intake at the 25 most selective universities, and 46.6% at Oxford . . . However, research carried out for the government has shown that pupils from comprehensives are likely to do better at university than private or grammar school pupils with similar A-level results."

But there are lots of talented kids whose parents can't / won't pay who will be pipped to the top places by richer thickies.

Friend the other day: 'Lots of people can afford private school. It's as little as only six grand a year for one child, and even if it's more, people are prepared to go without just so their child gets the best education blah etc . . .'

I'm getting sick of it of hearing this. But even sicker of myself to clinging on to my experience of private school being seemingly unaffordable to even the middle classes in the late 70's and 80's.

Is it just low interest rates keeping these places going?

if you went to a private school then you can only go to a private university... oh, thats already happened!

This post has been edited by douggggy: 10 January 2011 - 12:17 PM

[shell]

douggggy, on 10 January 2011 - 12:16 PM, said:

if you went to a private school then to can only go to a private university... oh, thats already happened!

Oh yeah

[shell]

Lepista, on 10 January 2011 - 12:15 PM, said:

I guess if you'[ve paid off your house, then you will have a significant discretionary income.

If you've been MEWing too...

Oh yeah. So maybe this private school affordability mystery is merely a generational blip based on housing boom / mewing / mortgage paid off scenario.

[Lepista]

shell, on 10 January 2011 - 12:19 PM, said:

Oh yeah. So maybe this private school affordability mystery is merely a generational blip based on housing boom / mewing / mortgage paid off scenario.

Yes, but the blip has lasted the duration of the housing boom... about 50 years.

[Kazuya]

Lepista, on 10 January 2011 - 12:20 PM, said:

Yes, but the blip has lasted the duration of the housing boom... about 50 years.

And the credit expansion has ended...or has it

[longtomsilver]

A professional couple earning a combined net monthly income of £4,500 who prioritise their childrens education over all else is not beyond the realms of possibility. There are millions of 'professionals'. We looked at sending one private, sending two would be far too much of a stretch and found some of the preparatory schools offered very little more than a good state primary could provide (our primary school takes in 9 pupils a year, not typical and is rated outstanding by Ofstead). A friend of mine facilitates Russians sending their sprogs to our private schools and it is not uncommon for them to pay him the fees upfront (£20k+) and he typically gets discounts in the order of £3-4k to pay up front.

[Britney's Piers]

Quote

Take my girls out of private school? I'd rather starve, says desperate mum

Read more: http://www.dailymail...l#ixzz1AdQ8MTR3

Quote

We owned a house — once.

But in the eight years we lived there we were forced to remortgage three times to keep ­paying the school fees. When we finally sold up in 2008, just before the market fell through the floor, we came out with so little equity that we now have to rent and somehow - in our 40s - save up for a deposit all over again.

[shell]

Lepista, on 10 January 2011 - 12:20 PM, said:

Yes, but the blip has lasted the duration of the housing boom... about 50 years.

Sorry Lepista, I was agreeing with you, not being sarky (for a change).

[ShedDweller]

shell, on 10 January 2011 - 12:12 PM, said:

Friend the other day: 'Lots of people can afford private school. It's as little as only six grand a year for one child, and even if it's more, people are prepared to go without just so their child gets the best education blah etc . . .'

I don't know if there is anywhere that's six grand a year now .. My old school was one of the worst independents and in the mid 80's it was £5000 a year .. Private schools (especially boarding schools) were subsidised by the fact that they did not have to employ qualified teachers (and thus could pay them nothing) and they did not have to (and still don't) have to comply with the same regulations as state run institutions. Add into this the huge subsidy given to them due to the number of students paid for by the state (children of civil sevants, Army Kids etc ).

My guess is the number who PAY is closer to 3-4%. The main argument for keeping these schools feepaying is that the state would have to educate the pupils if they were closed .. whereas for every private paying pupil there is one the state is paying for, without that subsidy most independeny schools would close ..

[Guest_Bosworth_*]

Grandparents can pay school fees very tax efficiently.

[Zanu Bob]

when I attended boarding school in the late eighties,it was £8000 per annum.currently clarendon nine place now costs circa £27,000 per annum.even minor boarding schools are charging something similar.

we've discussed this before and the general conclusion was that the fee inflation has been largely down to asset spending in the schools.when i was there we had an outdoor pool,and one astro turf.now they have three/four astro turfs and a gorgeous indoor pool.

I hated it.lot of arrogance and a lot of the kids leave with an inflated sense of superiority.would I send mine?no way.yeah they may get some good results but you have to balance that with the life skills and friends they'll make in the real world with real people.

when I was there,it was possible for a middle class couple to scrimp and save to get their kids through.not so now.reality is that a lot of the froth in the banking sector paid those fees,sooner or later,it's going to end.

as for an excess of kids getting into top uni's,I have to agree,it's boll@cks and not conducive to having a functioning meritocracy.I'd advise anyone to check the number of public schoolies in parliament........surprising stuff,even on the labour benches.

[shell]

tomposh101, on 10 January 2011 - 12:31 PM, said:

A professional couple earning a combined net monthly income of £4,500 who prioritise their childrens education over all else is not beyond the realms of possibility. There are millions of 'professionals'. We looked at sending one private, sending two would be far too much of a stretch and found some of the preparatory schools offered very little more than a good state primary could provide (our primary school takes in 9 pupils a year, not typical and is rated outstanding by Ofstead). A friend of mine facilitates Russians sending their sprogs to our private schools and it is not uncommon for them to pay him the fees upfront (£20k+) and he typically gets discounts in the order of £3-4k to pay up front.

Oh my god! That's it. I'm starting a new business, 'The Harry Potter School for divvy rich foreigners' kids', £30k p.a. per child.

[winkie]

Many can't afford to continue sending their children to private school, a good state school is better than a poor private school...if your kids are bright they will make it to what they want to be whatever, private school is a more of who you meet than what you learn.

A couple of mothers I know are working full time to support their kids in private school, they obviously think it is important and therefore make sacrifices for their children's future....