Anyone reconsidering independent school due to the current economic situation?

No.

DS is in year 10 at independent, so has started his GCSEs. The local state school is in special measures because Ofsted admits it isn't safe.

Labour won't get in before DS has taken his GCSEs. Then it'll take them a while to get the law through. At the worst, we'll have 2 years (A'levels) with VAT added, and probably only one, because they'll have to unravel all the different types of educational institutions. That is not going to be a simple process.

Whatever happens, we're committed for the duration. It will be worth it.

There will definately be people going state who would be stretched to go private. But wealthy state parents may be heading other way

Agree on this point. Two independent schools we took exam this year claimed record applications this year.

Many of those prep school families would tour good state schools as a 'back ups, to back ups, we did it for state primaries too, knowing we were set on the private school that DC attends now.

I agree with you though the CoL crisis has persuaded some families to switch from private schools, its going to be hard to measure until next year.

The CoL , I've felt it in food prices and higher fuel bills, but it hasn't really made a big impact on my family YET if I'm honest, we switched to variable direct debit for energy as my energy company were taking the P with their estimated bills, and put our boiler down a notch , and our heating bills aren't too bad, YET. Our mortgage was locked for 5 years at a tiny rate last year, so interest rates don't impact us. YET. Job market (in our fields) looks steady, may change so a big YET on that too.

The CoL , its impact on people with food banks, heat banks, it makes me think surely it makes more sense to send DC to a good state school and save our money. 30K sees you a long way in a year at Uni for example. My gut tells me everything will get a lot more worse before it becomes better , its the boom and bust nature of a market led economy.

Can I ask which ones? Or even rough locations (so as not to be too outing maybe).

It seems like a greater number than ever are ready to make the jump from state to private at secondary.

Private schools don’t charge vat whether they are charities or not. Plenty are not.

Our son is in year 6 and for the two private secondary schools he did exams for for both schools it was the largest number of applicants they have ever had in their history.

We're trawling round secondary school open days this year - there were a significant number of prep school pupils at the open days for the more desirable state secondaries ( they were all still in their uniforms, hence we knew where they were from). Even some of the teachers commented on it.

I think the CoL situation is tipping some of those families from "could afford it with a bit of a squeeze" to "actually, this is really not viable".

Our school just had a 20% rise in sixth form applications. It’s already massively over subscribed and selective. So it seems to be having the opposite effect.

We have about 30% of fees spent on bursaries. If the school loses charitable status then it will no longer be obliged to offer this and the school will be the preserve of the rich. It’s a very short sighted policy from Labour.

Because private nurseries don’t tend to provide free access to swimming pools, tennis, hockey, pitches, fully equipped theatres, concert halls, sound studios , golf facilities. Nor do they provide free places to means tested families. Once charitable status goes the community access to all of the above will go. It costs the schools money to run these facilities and to supervise the use of them to ensure set up and lock up etc. why should parents paying fees ultimately pay for others to benefit when those same people are desperate to undermine the existence of private education?

None of the independent schools where I live are charities anyway so Labour's idea wouldn't make any difference to them. We've seen a big exodus to independent, I think you actually get more for your money now as the gap has widened between independent and state due to chronic underfunding.

I don’t think they are a waste of money but I have wondered why private schools get charity status but private nurseries generally don’t?

also, my understanding is the charity status provides a VAT rebate on some supplies. Could this not be extended to state schools?

www.gov.uk/vat-charities/what-qualifies-for-relief

@bluejelly I wouldn't consider my kids private school as a massive waste of money. The education they continued to receive during lockdown cemented to me that we made the right decision.

Personally I think private schools are a massive waste of money. And i'm with Starmer - they are business not charities.

They should try to level up the state schools not drag everyone down! If the state schools were good enough people wouldn't use private schools. I'd like to see see Labour talk about how much more funding state schools will get. Talk to me about smaller class sizes, facilities, enrichment and making it less brutal for teachers. It's disappointing to see him go for the easy emotive win that benefits no one really. This country is already in a race to the bottom and this won't help. We have to be globally competitive.

on the other hand, with the current economic situation as it is, I would think it obvious that there are going to be massive shortfalls and failings in the state system over the next 5-10 years due to prolonged chronic underfunding. obviously if your own employment is insecure then it might be that you can't commit to the fees but I would say this is a really bad time to put your trust in state provision being anywhere near adequate.

Similar circumstance here; the once good academy for our catchment area is dire. Provided nothing by way of home working during lockdowns; appears not to care for truancy, homework, lack of engagement.

Those wishing for charitable status to be withdrawn need to think about wider impacts. Those who can afford private schools today may well be able to move to desirable state school catchment areas, putting pressure on those schools and local house prices.
Those additional pupils are already funded by their parents taxes into state schools, but by using those spaces, there is less money in education overall.

The idea that taxing people out of paying for education is more ‘fair’ is just ignoring the fact that the disadvantaged will slide further down the pile .

And none of the above will affect the Uber-wealthy, upper middle classes who are apparently so despised.

Well this is so interesting. The usual chorus is that people will bleed away from private schools because of increased costs. But in fact we're hearing here that that movement is being balanced by more flowing towards the sector. Presumably because of chronic underfunding in the state sector.
Would be interesting to see data on this on top of these anecdotes

Our local comprehensive and primary are losing pupils to the private schools. Out of 75 pupils at the primary 5 left at the end of last term to join private schools. We know 3 families who left the local comprehensive to join private schools. Our local state schools are dire. Both have poor leadership.

Private schools have many of the same costs as state schools, though- e.g. energy bills, staffing costs etc. Obviously some private schools have large reserves (but tbf so do some academy trusts etc.). With a state school, for all this talk of going bust, the LA has a duty to ensure the children get an education- the school wouldn't actually be allowed to fail. But some smaller private schools will face a choice between putting up fees or going under?

I get why financially comfortable parents would want to transfer away from state, but the financial health of the private school would also be a big concern for me.

Also, issues around teacher recruitment/retention are starting to impact some private schools- I'm not sure it's a problem you can buy your way out of completely.

But what exactly? Devil in the detail.

I don't think they could have made it much clearer that it's going to be in the manifesto!

Is there a Labour manifesto for an election with no date? I don’t think so, @LondonMum20222 . It’s not written yet so time to be watered down.

I think if he does, it will affect mainly those on bursaries as schools then no longer have to provide those, and they will have to cut spending to limit fees to keep those who are paying full fees and just about manage to. Private schools will also then be able to charge market rates for hire of their pools, tennis courts etc, so state schools either have to pay more or can no longer use these facilities for their pupils. All the children on bursaries will then swamp already overstretched state schools - at my dc's school, over 100 are on bursaries, there is only 1 state secondary in town, so that's 20 extra pupils per year group, almost 1 additional class. The state school couldn't cope with that. I really hope Labour is going to reconsider. If we really couldn't afford private anymore, we would probably do an online academy from home and supplement with real life music, drama and sports clubs.

Do you have any thoughts why that might be?