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Secondary education

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Original poster

Anyone reconsidering independent school due to the current economic situation?

35 replies

Pollypocket81 · 19/10/2022 16:55

Just that really.
Is anyone reconsidering applying for / sending DC to an independent school given the state of the economy/increasingly rising cost of living?

OP posts:
TeenDivided · 06/12/2022 08:53

@Pollypocket81 What's your situation and take on this?

LondonMum20222 · 06/12/2022 08:48

Luredbyapomegranate · 05/12/2022 23:52

He won’t. It wouldn’t play well.

Show quote history

It's in the Labour manifesto, so if (when) Labour get into government, they will definitely put VAT on private school fees. It's hard to see that that won't have an impact on the numbers applying to private schools from 2025 onwards.

Luredbyapomegranate · 05/12/2022 23:52

EastLondonObserver · 05/12/2022 21:55

Hopefully Starmer will remove the charitable status tax dodge and put a whole load more parents off when the fees go up!

He won’t. It wouldn’t play well.

RNBrie · 05/12/2022 23:48

I'm a governor at a state school and we're seeing a higher than normal number of children leave for private schools, not many but definitely noticeable.

Testina · 05/12/2022 22:21

Not really because of current downturn, but when mine was Y5/6, I decided that because you never know what will happen, I would never send them unless I knew I had the money for all the future years. I couldn’t afford it on my salary, easily - but always feel you’re one bit of bad luck away from losing that. Sickness, redundancy, Covid, war, economic downturn…
It’s one thing to buy a nice expensive car and then have to give it up - but how do you tell a child that what is being given up is all their friends a school they love?
I’m actually surprised how many I know assume it’ll be OK… but that’s just really personally driven - I am quite risk averse!

EastLondonObserver · 05/12/2022 21:55

Hopefully Starmer will remove the charitable status tax dodge and put a whole load more parents off when the fees go up!

Original poster
Pollypocket81 · 20/10/2022 13:34

Thanks.
@diar and @NCFT0922 I hadn't thought about the downturn in the economy attracting extra parents to independent schools but it makes sense.

OP posts:
NCFT0922 · 19/10/2022 19:05

I agree with @diar and think those not affected will now consider private education. My 3 are in private and they’ve been doing lots of visits this term with potential parents and these are in year transfers. I think the lack of money available to state schools and what that will mean going forwards is very concerning.

Firenze12 · 19/10/2022 19:03

Yes! Had always planned for private at 11+ but now seriously considering our state options. Biggest concern is mortgage rates.

diar · 19/10/2022 18:57

We have kids already in independent and are lucky not to be very affected by the current financial situation, so no plans to change anything. I'm sure some people will have to change their plans, though. Equally, however, there might be others who are worried about the effect of austerity and budget cuts on state education, so will try to afford private if possible. Iirc previous recessions have not necessarily led to a big downturn in private education numbers.