Election Year or Fear!

[Geoff Parkstone]

Just Googled "average UK wage" and it's 39K. Then looked up Trent college fees, the highest rate for a full time boarder is 42K. Not sure what to make of that.

thats what happens when you compare averages against highests.

[ramAnag]

thats what happens when you compare averages against highests.

But he’s not. Firstly Trent College is cited because it’s local, not because it has the highest fees, it really doesn’t.
Secondly, the only point being made is that the fees for TC are actually higher than the national average wage, and yes, AF can quite reasonably make the point that there may be two average (or above) wages available to a particular family, but equally there may be two or more children in that family.

[Geoff Parkstone]

But he’s not. Firstly Trent College is cited because it’s local, not because it has the highest fees, it really doesn’t.
Secondly, the only point being made is that the fees for TC are actually higher than the national average wage, and yes, AF can quite reasonably make the point that there may be two average (or above) wages available to a particular family, but equally there may be two or more children in that family.

No, I meant they were comparing average wage to highest fees at that college, not highest nationally which would be way more I imagine. The highest fee is a boarding fee not an educational fee which is less than half the cost (but still a lot) Anyway see my post simultaneous to yours

[Andy_Faber]

there may be two or more children in that family.

In the example I'm most familiar with, there was. For various reasons including their own school experience the parents decided their children were going to a fee paying school and they'd 'make it work somehow' (with a sense check on a yearly basis) and make it work they did. I'm aware of a number of stories like that, I really think you (and RP) are coming from an ideological angle rather than a real-world one where (I will admit, reasonably well off but definitely NOT elite) families make a hard choice

[ramAnag]

In the example I'm most familiar with, there was. For various reasons including their own school experience the parents decided their children were going to a fee paying school and they'd 'make it work somehow' (with a sense check on a yearly basis) and make it work they did. I'm aware of a number of stories like that, I really think you (and RP) are coming from an ideological angle rather than a real-world one where (I will admit, reasonably well off but definitely NOT elite) families make a hard choice

Not something I often say, but maybe you should give GP’s figures (5070) a closer look.

[Geoff Parkstone]

Just Googled "average UK wage" and it's 39K. Then looked up Trent college fees, the highest rate for a full time boarder is 42K. Not sure what to make of that.

According to their website, full boarding fees from year 9 onwards are ? 17295 per term ie ? 51885 pa. To put one child through secondary education there costs a shade over 360k. So have three kids and to privately educate them there through secondary education is significantly over ? 1 million.

Now these are of course boarding fees - day fees are less than half that - but you dont have to feed them or take them to school every day so theres a bit of savings there.

Cross checked against the school I went to, where boarding fees are maybe 5% higher, so these are reasonable statistics for a mid tier public school. Its scary to think my parents paid ? 30 a year when I first went there (after a 300 per term scolarship).

So if I had three kids in this school I would need gross income of around ? 270,000 pa JUST TO PAY SCHOOL FEES. Assuming I want to live somewhere, eat, drive and have some semblance of a life, then maybe minium ? 350k pa. AI says thats less than 0.1% of the population. AI also tells me that 0.5% of all children in UK board at private schools. Actually thos numbers do somewhat align.

But 6% attend such schools on a day basis, so lets not get too carried away with boarding numbers or costs.

Looking at these numbers dispassionately it makes no sense that anyone goes to private schools! Bear in minnd that parents of school age children may well be younger and still be lower down the career path it suggests grand parent largesse or generational wealth being dissipated - which isnt sustainable. The key to understanding the dynamics of it must lie in scholarships and bursaries - which are theoretically open to all and should favour the less well to do families.

So what can we conclude? You probably need at least 100k gross pay to put just one child through private boarding, unless you have generational wealth or a scholarship / bursary. If you have more than one child and want to treat them equitably, make sure they are 8 years apart in age!

Just numbers but intriguing ones, well I think so

[Andy_Faber]

Just Googled "average UK wage" and it's 39K. Then looked up Trent college fees, the highest rate for a full time boarder is 42K. Not sure what to make of that.

If you?re just going to quote numbers, multiply the 39 by 2 if both parents work and make the wage 50,000 which is what 30% earn, you?ve got 100,000. Take off the boarding element and you arrive at ?25k fees per annum. My plumber and his wife are going on two cruises this year, being an inquisitive chap I checked the cost - around ?25k

Just another load of numbers

[SithHappens]

On the subject of school placements, Lucy Connolly is reporting her daughter has had a school place recinded because of connollys views.

Surely this isn't right, her daughter is not to blame for her mums racist views surely.

[Andy_Faber]

On the subject of school placements, Lucy Connolly is reporting her daughter has had a school place recinded because of connollys views.

Surely this isn't right, her daughter is not to blame for her mums racist views surely.

Absolutely agree. Maybe litigation beckons?

Also, after seeing the head's comment and relevant to your comments about friends and family a few months ago , I'd like to bet a decent proportion of that school's pupils parents are also 'racist' (or at least fail to call out racist actions)

[Andy_Faber]

I'm not sure where the discussion on fee-paying schools is going or what achievable point is being made - for as long as there is a free market, and assuming the administration in power at any time dont impose further taxes, tarrifs or laws, those with spare cash will exercise free will and invest in their children's education rather than one or more of a limitless list of alternatives.