CF
"and where did this stuff about charging more as you have less students come from. the instructor rate is £40 per hour more or less regardless of number of students"
I think it comes from some FIs above saying the hourly rate has to be around £40
pr hr to make a decent income spread out over a month/year because FIs don't fly 40 hours a week. What Hoverman and Bronx are saying is that's counter productive because demand would go up/there'd be more students if the cost was lower.
I suppose (I'm guessing) they'd argue that the £40
pr hr to make a 'living wage' argument doesn't apply at a busy school where FIs fly more hours so could charge less and still make a living wage.
I don't think anyone's saying there shouldn't be fair pay. The difference of opinion is whether £40
pr hr for PPL instructing is fair or too much.
BTW, no self employed people get sick pay, holiday pay, pensions, benefits etc whether they're instructors or not.
NB: I'm not taking sides, just trying to help you follow the opposing argument.