Private Education on average income? Anyone else?

Jewel_2

Person_one wrote: »

I'm afraid I've 'got to disagree' with you too!

I went to a bog standard comp but with the right support from my parents, a few decent teachers and a desire to do well I managed fine. Not the best years of my life but I got As at GCSE and ended up at a good uni.

However, the holidays and trips my parents took us on were formative, positive experiences, seeing a bit of the world, trying new things, meeting people from all over, bonding with my family. I wouldn't have changed them for all the caps, blazers, A*s or Oxbridge degrees in the world.

You can do that the other way around too. You can send them to a private school (as I do with my daughter) and they can have a perfectly 'normal' world - depends on how you deal with it. In our experience cheaper private schools are almost full of 'normal' parents too - they all struggle rather than it being just a way of life. There are always a few wealthy ones, but my daughters school has a second hand shop and the uniform is cheap.

Its all about how you mix it up. Loads of kids aren't at private school to get fabulous grades, they are there for a learning environment where it's a good thing to learn.

You just have to be happy with your choices I think - if you use a private school to its best potential, with your feet firmly on the ground, I think its a good thing.

The majority of private schools are now open to more people than they used to be - sometimes its purely a choice between a house with an extra bedroom or a private school.

Jewel_2

Lunar_Eclipse wrote: »

My hypothetical point about the 100k, was exactly as you interpreted it. Many people would associate it with wealth, when in fact, someone earning that with (I mentioned) four kids in private school, is effectively living a frugal lifestyle similar to those of below average income.

My point about that family is that they are not wealthy and yet the children are educated privately, in response to your comment about private schools being for the rich, or words to that effect. It's not true; they are for people who put education at the very top of their priorities as a family.

I absolutely agree with you here. For those who have perhaps choices about how they spend their hard earned income, some choose to use it on education (just as others choose differently). The majority of parents at my daughter's private school are not wealthy at all.

JC9297

Lunar_Eclipse wrote: »

My hypothetical point about the 100k, was exactly as you interpreted it. Many people would associate it with wealth, when in fact, someone earning that with (I mentioned) four kids in private school, is effectively living a frugal lifestyle similar to those of below average income.

My point about that family is that they are not wealthy and yet the children are educated privately, in response to your comment about private schools being for the rich, or words to that effect. It's not true; they are for people who put education at the very top of their priorities as a family.

But surely your hypothetical family is wealthy, it's just their decision to pay school fees for four children means they are left with a greatly reduced disposable income after paying the fees. Their income is much higher than the average family's, what they choose to spend it on is irrelevant, if they chose to spend it on holidays and designer handbags rather than school fees would not change that.

Jewel_2

vouchersrme wrote: »

As retired Head of challenging inner city school, and close friend to folks who sent children to private school, I personally would plump for state school. Friends who had children in private school, had bullying, no input to education , and continuos calls for extra money. Go to your nearest school and ask what provision they have for your child's problem. Give them all your evidence, so they can plan to support your daughter as soon as possible.
She will not be alone and the school will have experience of her problem. Hope this helps.

I have never experienced this as a parent of a child who is privately educated. I have found that I could have access to the Head and teachers at any time, that I know exactly how my child is doing, there is absolutely no bullying tolerated, and my daughter is happy and rounded.

I think its horses for courses - suits some, doesn't suit others. I went to a rough comprehensive (the reason we decided to pay for private education) and its worked well for us.

I work with very challenging individuals and they have had awful experiences at state schools.

Jewel_2

kegg wrote: »

Ok lets go on personal experience
My younger son goes to a faith school, not because we fake religion but because we practise that faith. It is not the best school in the area but he is doing fine. Two of his friends go to private schools, one of his friends is home schooled after not getting on well at the local comp and the rest of his friends go to a mix of the local schools and his own school. They are all pefectly normal children, some more able than others in different areas. The two who go private are not in the millionaire bracket but their parents do have well above average incomes.
Who is to say how any of them will turn out once they reach adulthood but at it stands you wouldn't be able to tell which of his friends are the privatly educated ones.

On a seperate issue my older son is in a special needs school that if i had to pay for it would cost a lot more than the average private school.

Excellent post.

do_it_today!

Hi :hello: all
This is a great thread that Im following with much interest private schooling is something we'd like to consider, but on an average income at what cost in terms of the whole family? and could we really afford to do it twice?
Both DH and I were state educated in a faith school; I was in the top set and did well he was in the bottom and didnt.

In my other state school we were put in sets of mixed ability if I had stayed there Im not sure I would have done as well.

My take on the different experiences
state comp - learning disrupted by 'challenging' pupils at times, I didnt feel fully pushed to my potential.
state faith - definitely disciplined and pushed to achieve my potential although I cant say I really enjoyed it but my time there delieverd the results through my exam results.

DH is not interested in the faith and would not pretend to be so secure places for our children so not an option - maybe state plus top up with tutoring is the way. Although I am concerned about the mentatlity of some of the people where we live who seem to be abit backward, prejudice and closed minded. (whether this is a representation of the majority or just a small minority Im not sure yet...)

stumpycat

Op - sorry if I've missed this in this thread, but are there any extra costs for a learning support assistant at this private school? i know some private schools charge extra.

MrsE_2

Lunar_Eclipse wrote: »

My hypothetical point about the 100k, was exactly as you interpreted it. Many people would associate it with wealth, when in fact, someone earning that with (I mentioned) four kids in private school, is effectively living a frugal lifestyle similar to those of below average income..

They may live a frugal lifestyle because they have high outgoings, but they are still wealthy they do have a high income, how they choose to spend it is their choice, you cannot say they not wealthy on 100k per annum because they have 4 children at fee paying schools.

Lunar_Eclipse wrote: »

My point about that family is that they are not wealthy and yet the children are educated privately, in response to your comment about private schools being for the rich, or words to that effect. It's not true; they are for people who put education at the very top of their priorities as a family.

I hardly think they very few who get free private education are "people who put education at the very top of their priorities as a family".
Would you say people who get free motibility cars on disability/sick benefits are "people who put the latests in new car safety at the very top of their priorities as a family"?
No, they are (like the family in free private-public school education) taking advantage of a freebie.

Spendless

do_it_today! wrote: »

Hi :hello: all
This is a great thread that Im following with much interest private schooling is something we'd like to consider, but on an average income at what cost in terms of the whole family? and could we really afford to do it twice?
Both DH and I were state educated in a faith school; I was in the top set and did well he was in the bottom and didnt.

In my other state school we were put in sets of mixed ability if I had stayed there Im not sure I would have done as well.

My take on the different experiences
state comp - learning disrupted by 'challenging' pupils at times, I didnt feel fully pushed to my potential.
state faith - definitely disciplined and pushed to achieve my potential although I cant say I really enjoyed it but my time there delieverd the results through my exam results.

DH is not interested in the faith and would not pretend to be so secure places for our children so not an option - maybe state plus top up with tutoring is the way. Although I am concerned about the mentatlity of some of the people where we live who seem to be abit backward, prejudice and closed minded. (whether this is a representation of the majority or just a small minority Im not sure yet...)

Quite possibly not, unless you have a big gap between children. Of all the threads I've seen on MSE about independant schools the vast majority have 1 or more combos of the following: an only child; a 7year+ gap between children, a dual income household plus maintainance from a former partner, a subsidy in costs due to special needs or profession (usually for those who board).

In general. This is the admissions policy from my local independant



Admission to XXXX School is based on the following criteria:

• A prospective parent visit and a successful interview/meeting between the Principal, or delegated person, and the prospective student).
• The successful completion of a day visit by all prospective students in Reception to Year 10. (The School does not normally expect Nursery children to undertake a day visit but a home visit by a member of staff may be carried out.)
• A satisfactory report from the prospective student's previous school, playgroup or day-care centre covering academic and behavioural standards.
• Clarification that due notice has been observed in the case of a child joining from another independent school.
• The successful completion of entry assessments, carried out during the day visit, for all students from Reception to Year 10. Entry assessments will, wherever possible, be carried out on the basis of normal school work done during the day visit.
• September entry to Year 7 will be carried out by means of formal testing on an annual date each January.

To me it's not a co-incidence that private school *usually* get the grades they do. They are taking pupils from a small band, where parents can not only manage the fees but are likely to be pro-active as they have selected that school, and then only take pupils within that they deem satisfactory behaviour and academic wise.

emsywoo123

Spendless wrote: »

Quite possibly not, unless you have a big gap between children. Of all the threads I've seen on MSE about independant schools the vast majority have 1 or more combos of the following: an only child; this was my situ for a long time a 7year+ gap between children, then this became my situ :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

There have been alot of threads re private education on this board, perhaps one every 3 months or so.