One mother revealed that her child’s school fees had increased by 19 per cent in 12 months – leading to mixed reactions about the cost of private education.
I took to the parenting platform mumsent To share her predicament, she explained that school fees in the north of England had risen to £16,690 a year, which meant that private education would become the preserve of “the super-rich if fees continued to rise at the rate they are”.
Commentators gave mixed responses, with several saying they weren’t sympathetic to the situation, and one suggesting she “read the room” given the cost of living crisis.
Others, however, were more understanding, and some gave advice, suggesting she remove her child from the expensive private school, although she said she had not yet considered such a move.
An anonymous mother revealed on Mumsnet that her child’s private school fees have increased by 19 per cent over the past 12 months (Stock Image)
In a post titled School Fees Increased 19% in 12 Months, the woman wrote: “Am I unreasonable to think this is outrageous?! The fees are steep anyway, and in the last 12 months we’ve seen a 19% increase by two increases in a 12-month period.
The annual fee for the secondary school is £16,690 per annum and does not include state of the art facilities as other local schools do.
“Prep school fees aren’t much lower either! This is a school in the North of England. If you pay for tuition, where do you stay and how much do you pay? I wonder if they are comparable.
Private education will only be for the wealthy if fees continue to rise at the rate they are.
“It’s not sustainable for most working professionals who are comfortable but not super rich!” Parents locally have tried to get their kids out but can’t because there are no public school places within a 12-mile radius.
“The only other option is home schooling which is not possible when both parents work full time.”
She concluded, ‘We are not yet at the point where we would consider taking our child out of school but hearing about the plight of those who are trying is disturbing.
“I’ve always been a Labor voter, but if they continue to implement VAT, I’m afraid it will only get worse.”
On the move to parenting platform Mumsnet, the British woman explained her child’s school rose to £16,690 a year.
Some people have suggested that women take their child from private education and put them into public education.
One wrote, ‘I’ll transfer to a no-fee school if you can’t afford it. Put the money spent into a savings account for their future needs.
Another said: Read the room. You won’t get sympathy here. Honestly though moving to state. Save yourself thousands.
Another person said, “Government school is free.”
Others had great sympathy for the label, and some agreed that the raise was excessive and unfair.
One of those posters read: “It’s a huge uptick. A lot of costs have gone up for schools like energy, food, contracts, etc.
Is the school playing catch-up after not parenting in covid? Or perhaps going forward thinking that VAT might be introduced, so run a series of hikes a little bit higher, so when that 20% comes in, they can absorb some of it?
Discussing the price increase, another wrote: “Employment costs, fuel bills, and the cost of school essentials like paper have all increased dramatically… Schools are not immune from the cost-of-living crisis.”
Some Mumsnet users have suggested that women should take their child out of private schools, and save money using the state education systems
Meanwhile, users of another forum, who agreed with the original poster that the increase seemed too high, said their children’s school had never seen such large price hikes.
So they wrote: It’s a big increase. Dd (Dear Daughter) is in Year 6 and the fee is £15,000 per annum SW.
“Excellent school, great pastoral care and always looking to improve, eg: 6th grade fitness suite, new performing arts center etc. I think last year’s increase was 5%.”
Another agreed that the change was too high, writing: ‘This is a big OP increase, no wonder you’re worried, especially with no state school places if you wanted to go that route instead.
These things are all relative and everyone lives different lives. We all have the right to whine about things. No one should be made to feel guilty for having a higher income.
While some forum users were sympathetic to the school fee increase, others expressed ideological distaste for the private education system
However, many of them had little sympathy for women, and expressed an aversion to private education, based on ideological reasoning.
Among them, one respondent said: ‘The privilege of buying for your children becomes too expensive? My heart bleeds for you…’
Another cried out to say: “I pray for the day everything is broken. It shouldn’t be for anyone.”
Another wrote: “Well this is the price we have to pay for private education.”
Meanwhile, a fourth wrote, “Private school is inherently unfair, so it’s no surprise.”
