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Original poster

VAT and Bursary impact

288 replies

tam255 · 02/08/2024 13:49

For some parents in London on a reasonable income who can’t afford to buy in the catchment of a good/ outstanding school, sending to a private school with partial fee assistance/ bursary is the next best option.

Often these big private schools in London in fact often support the state sector, local schools in their area with use of facilities, pools, drama studios etc and are very generous indeed even with teaching staff, Saturday schools etc supporting local schools. This important fact just seems to be forgotten.

As for the student intake, in fact in London most of the private schools have more diversity than the superselective Grammar schools!! Getting a place into a superselective Grammar school for a child in London requires deep pockets. A bright child who cannot afford all the numerous tutors and mock classes etc has no chance of getting through a superselective grammar school and if you can’t afford to live in the catchment area of a good comprehensive will miss out there too.

The reality is that, if a child on a part bursary is in primary school yes, you could have an option to move to a state school at some point. However if a child on a part bursary say is in private secondary school yr 9 onwards ( where subject choices etc have been made) it’s going to be impossible to just change them to the state sector till sixth form.

Yes, there will always be millionaires and billionaires in the private schools but also a lot of parents who are covered partially with bursary’s. With all the vat added it will impact the bursaries which is sad and more importantly the support the private schools offer to the local state schools around in their catchment.

OP posts:
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redskydarknight · 02/08/2024 14:39

ThreeFeetTall · 02/08/2024 14:30

I thought bursaries were for kids from low income households?

Not in London. You can earn six figure salaries and still be eligible.
In fact I'd love to know how many bursaries go to genuinely bright children from very clued up about the application process low income families. In fact I suspect getting a bursary is not that dissimilar to the superselective grammar entry process as described by OP.

redskydarknight · 02/08/2024 14:34

vanana · 02/08/2024 14:08

You are confusing separate issues.

VAT on schools fees is unrelated to parents needing food banks or not affording uniform/heating. VAT on school fees will do nothing to address those issues.

I think the OP explained in her first paragraph that her post relates to people in London who are not (and cannot afford to be) in the catchment of a good/outstanding school. So therefore your suggestion of moving to a state school is not a solution.

Show quote history

There are people all over the country who don't live in the catchment for good or outstanding schools.
OP's post seems to be about parents who can "just about" afford private school. I would suggest that if those parents have DC in Year 10 or Year 11 they will have the contacts and resources to beg, borrow or steal the money to keep their children in private school until sixth form.

I also think OP is overplaying the benefit that private schools provide to the community.

ThreeFeetTall · 02/08/2024 14:30

I thought bursaries were for kids from low income households?

Snugglemonkey · 02/08/2024 14:28

SendMeHomeNow · 02/08/2024 13:52

I thought most bursaries came from endowments left to the school by alumni, not from fees? So surely it won’t affect them much at all. Or is that only at very old schools?

Our school has no such endowments. The bursaries are funded by current parents with a suggested voluntary donation (10%). We did pay, but will not be able to going forward.

DadJoke · 02/08/2024 14:24

93% of the population go to state school. Plenty of kids change schools. Private school is a luxury. Public school "help" to state schools is crumbs on the table. This constant entitled whining is really unedifying.

My guess is that the VAT will have close to zero effect on the number of private school places.

Perhaps they could eat less avocado toast and cut down on take away coffee to pay the additional VAT.

TizerorFizz · 02/08/2024 14:16

@SendMeHomeNow That is absolutely not the case. It’s definitely true that lots of girls schools don’t have huge endowments. They haven’t been around long enough and often rich women had money controlled by their husbands. Where my dc went, bursaries were fee funded.

cansu · 02/08/2024 14:13

There are many children who attend schools not deemed outstanding or good. Many do not have the opportunity to attend private schools on bursaries or otherwise. The terrible deprivation of not being able to live in the catchment of an outstanding state school is really not something that is top priority. Making all state schools better is more important. The contribution of private schools to their community or local schools is minimal for most.

vanana · 02/08/2024 14:08

ThursdayTomorrow · 02/08/2024 13:58

They could always move to a state school - the majority of children in this country attend state school.
I have more sympathy with children whose parents need food banks and can’t afford school uniform or heating.

You are confusing separate issues.

VAT on schools fees is unrelated to parents needing food banks or not affording uniform/heating. VAT on school fees will do nothing to address those issues.

I think the OP explained in her first paragraph that her post relates to people in London who are not (and cannot afford to be) in the catchment of a good/outstanding school. So therefore your suggestion of moving to a state school is not a solution.

ThursdayTomorrow · 02/08/2024 13:58

They could always move to a state school - the majority of children in this country attend state school.
I have more sympathy with children whose parents need food banks and can’t afford school uniform or heating.

FiloPasty · 02/08/2024 13:54

SendMeHomeNow · 02/08/2024 13:52

I thought most bursaries came from endowments left to the school by alumni, not from fees? So surely it won’t affect them much at all. Or is that only at very old schools?

It’s a bit of both, but if you are on a bursary paying minimal feels you’ll still be expected to pay VAT on top.

FiloPasty · 02/08/2024 13:53

It’s a total shit show, I feel so sorry for all the children involved. At least give people more notice.

SendMeHomeNow · 02/08/2024 13:52

I thought most bursaries came from endowments left to the school by alumni, not from fees? So surely it won’t affect them much at all. Or is that only at very old schools?