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Original poster

Leaving private school for state 6th form - experiences?

316 replies

WomensRightsRenegade · 20/07/2025 20:47

I did ask this once before but it was quite a while ago now so I was just wondering if this was something more people were doing/ thinking about doing?

Thanks to the VAT increase my son had his bursary halved (from 100pc) and it looks like it’s about to be reduced further or removed. I guess they have no need to rush confirmation seeing as they will know parents will do almost anything to avoid moving schools for year 11. It’s all been quite nasty really. Seeing behind the gloss and the taglines about how they care for the boys like family has been illuminating.

Anyhow DS is utterly heartbroken at having to leave when he is so happy. He is very talented musically and was so looking forward to continuing in the ensembles and taking Music A level there. It’s going to be an agonising last year as he can’t even let anyone know he’s leaving until April. No local sixth forms to us even offer Music A level and the nearest college is a lottery system.

Are other people facing having to remove kids against the child’s will? I am so worried he will always think we could have found a way, even though he’s said nothing to us except that he understands the situation totally. Academically I’m sure he’ll be fine if he works hard, but socially and musically it feels like it could be a very abrupt end. If I could go back in time I would never EVER have accepted the bursary. This was always the risk.

OP posts:
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CurlewKate · 22/07/2025 18:09

Lucyintheskywithdiamonnds · 22/07/2025 18:06

😂 What? I actually quoted you. I’ll do it again.
**
‘Incidentally- the people who move their kids from private to state to try to game the system? Morally questionaable-and Universities are on to you’

Are you unable to answer my question? I’ll repeat it here in case you need a reminder:

And what about, those who move from private to state because they can’t afford private? Are They morally questionaable too? I’m wondering where your threshold is, and how you or anybody else could possibly understand ‘all the people’.

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I said ,very specifically, and you quoted me, that people who move their children from private to state in an attempt to game the system are morally questionable. I said nothing about people who move their children for any other reason. I’m not sure that I can make it any clearer!

Original poster
WomensRightsRenegade · 22/07/2025 18:08

nearlylovemyusername · 22/07/2025 13:23

Well, that's great. OP should be very grateful to you @CurlewKate .

And she might continue hating those private school bubbles who supported her son for several years.

Where the fuck did I mention hating anyone? Not sure where this projection is coming from but It’s really unkind to gloat about a bursary being pulled just before the start of year 11, or to imply I’m ungrateful for worrying about the impact on my son and our whole family. I’ve already said that with hindsight I would have left the private school system well alone. I advise others to do the same unless they can easily afford it now and in the future.

OP posts:
Lucyintheskywithdiamonnds · 22/07/2025 18:06

CurlewKate · 22/07/2025 17:30

I was very specific about who I think is morally indefensible. Maybe read my post again?

Show quote history

😂 What? I actually quoted you. I’ll do it again.
**
‘Incidentally- the people who move their kids from private to state to try to game the system? Morally questionaable-and Universities are on to you’

Are you unable to answer my question? I’ll repeat it here in case you need a reminder:

And what about, those who move from private to state because they can’t afford private? Are They morally questionaable too? I’m wondering where your threshold is, and how you or anybody else could possibly understand ‘all the people’.

Original poster
WomensRightsRenegade · 22/07/2025 18:02

Araminta1003 · 22/07/2025 13:18

Dropping a bursary for a student in Year 10, going into Year 11 is pretty bad though! It is literally the only year when the parent is trapped.
A lot of private schools have staff discounts of 50 plus percent sometimes up to 100 per cent. The staff on the 50% discounts are also being screwed by VAT on their 50% and I reckon a lot of private schools will aim to retain staff above bursary students. And the OP is OK to be peeved. Not about Sixth Form transition, but about Year 11. That is bang out of order!

A ton of kids in London private schools who are on bursaries or big scholarships (excepting the staff discounts) are also the kids who would have gotten into the best grammars or aptitude comps at 11 plus. So they are perfectly entitled to be really annoyed. Perhaps the annoyance should be at both the schools and Labour though.

Thank you for this. Moving for 6th form is a lesser issue than us being trapped into trying to take out a huge and life changing loan for one year that we have no choice but to fund somehow. At any other point we would have been gutted, but moved asap.

OP posts:
twistyizzy · 22/07/2025 18:00

WomensRightsRenegade · 22/07/2025 17:50

Thank you. Of course I appreciate the chance DS was given, and the opportunities he’s had. But to be treated like this at a crucial juncture is baffling and distressing. I don’t expect it to be more than a first world problem for most.

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16K+ other children are in the same boat. Labour initially said they wouldn't bring it in until Autumn 26 to give parents and schools time to prepare but then callously reneged on that to bring it in at the most disruptive time of year eg January.

twistyizzy · 22/07/2025 17:58

WomensRightsRenegade · 22/07/2025 17:54

Removing someone’s whole bursary seems to be on the extreme side. Of course I appreciate the pressures that must be on the school now, but this is a very well-off school that certainly didn’t need to go this far at this point. We would leave for September if we possibly could. But we can’t.

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We are seeing it happen across the sector. It isn't just "cutting their cloth" for VAT, it's the huge rise in business rates, NI and NMW plus rising utility bills. VAT is causing a drop in rolls = drop in income alongside huge increases in outgoings.

We said 18 months ago that bursaries would be the first things to go and sadly we were right. Schools are fighting for survival and this year there has been a 67+% increase in independent schools closing. Unfortunately supporters of VAT all think this is great, even when £0 is going into state schools.

Original poster
WomensRightsRenegade · 22/07/2025 17:54

twistyizzy · 22/07/2025 13:24

VAT is the whole reason OP is in this situation therefore it is entirely appropriate to discuss it, especially as she's apparently ignoring why the school are making cuts

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Removing someone’s whole bursary seems to be on the extreme side. Of course I appreciate the pressures that must be on the school now, but this is a very well-off school that certainly didn’t need to go this far at this point. We would leave for September if we possibly could. But we can’t.

OP posts:
Original poster
WomensRightsRenegade · 22/07/2025 17:50

Araminta1003 · 22/07/2025 16:06

I also recommended state boarding until I realised the OP lives in Outer London. State boarding is actually really expensive now unless you get a bursary there too. So it is much cheaper to use the London oyster 16 plus travel card and access one of the very many selective outstanding state schools in and around London plus Saturday music school and jazz camps etc. as already discussed.
The OP is rightly peeved because the school used her DS’s talents and then stabbed her in the back when she was trapped. Unless the school is almost bust there really is no excuse for this behaviour, going into Year 11. Sixth Form is another matter. I would write to the Governors in OP’s position.

Thank you. Of course I appreciate the chance DS was given, and the opportunities he’s had. But to be treated like this at a crucial juncture is baffling and distressing. I don’t expect it to be more than a first world problem for most.

OP posts:
CurlewKate · 22/07/2025 17:30

Lucyintheskywithdiamonnds · 22/07/2025 15:30

Incidentally - the people who move their kids from private to state to try to game the system? Morally questionaable-and Universities are on to you.

Hmmmm. And what about, lovely @CurlewKate those who move from private to state because they can’t afford private? Are They morally questionaable too? I’m wondering where your threshold is, and how you or anybody else could possibly understand ‘all the people’.

I was very specific about who I think is morally indefensible. Maybe read my post again?

Araminta1003 · 22/07/2025 16:06

I also recommended state boarding until I realised the OP lives in Outer London. State boarding is actually really expensive now unless you get a bursary there too. So it is much cheaper to use the London oyster 16 plus travel card and access one of the very many selective outstanding state schools in and around London plus Saturday music school and jazz camps etc. as already discussed.
The OP is rightly peeved because the school used her DS’s talents and then stabbed her in the back when she was trapped. Unless the school is almost bust there really is no excuse for this behaviour, going into Year 11. Sixth Form is another matter. I would write to the Governors in OP’s position.

Lucyintheskywithdiamonnds · 22/07/2025 15:30

Incidentally - the people who move their kids from private to state to try to game the system? Morally questionaable-and Universities are on to you.

Hmmmm. And what about, lovely @CurlewKate those who move from private to state because they can’t afford private? Are They morally questionaable too? I’m wondering where your threshold is, and how you or anybody else could possibly understand ‘all the people’.

EasternStandard · 22/07/2025 15:07

I’d keep bursaries and avoid the VAT impact on them to start with. The op’s dc wouldn’t be impacted without that.

Hopefully scrapped soon, not in time for dc now though.

Araminta1003 · 22/07/2025 15:00

Bursaries do not tend to go to the most deprived kids or those with severe SEND or real behaviour problems though. They go to talented kids with clued up parents from backgrounds who cannot afford private school fees, but are often otherwise advantaged (innate talent etc). Taking them out of the state system does not necessarily benefit the state system, rather the opposite.

Society is struggling most with properly poor kids and those with really bad parents or severe SEND. All I am saying is that if there is spare cash spend it where it is most needed. One idea would be summer camps for deprived teens - to really offer them a turn around in attitude. Now I know that would come with issues but if the private and state sector worked together these things can happen.
And lots of state schools also play the game of attracting the easiest to teach kids.

The unis are also playing the game of attracting “state school” kids when often they are not the disadvantaged ones at all and so are employers. People just tick box without making their own lives difficult. But that is when the whole of society becomes a mess.
I am all for bursaries for bright kids with dyslexia or highly functioning autistic children who may struggle with noise/class size in the state sector. So all I am saying is that they should go where they make the most difference. DD has a lot of friends on bursaries and none of them really needed private school. They would have done well in the state sector too. Of course it is nice for them to have these extra opportunities, but it is not some massive value added.

Mirabai · 22/07/2025 14:17

Araminta1003 · 22/07/2025 14:00

750k for a bursary is ridiculous though. Imagine what a huge impact that same 750k could have if spent on lots of local schools reaching far more state school students. Instead of spending it on 1 lucky lottery winner kid, spend it on lots of kids on FSM and give them the opportunities they will never get.

750k is the bare minimum. 12% of students are on bursaries.

nearlylovemyusername · 22/07/2025 14:12

CurlewKate · 22/07/2025 13:43

In the OP’s case, the school has decided to target the poorest pupils they have-which they obviously consider the most disposable. Morally bankrupt. And you are now derailing her thread. Go and start your own.

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They don't target poorest pupils. They don't have the money to offer them free places anymore. You advocated for this.

Araminta1003 · 22/07/2025 14:00

750k for a bursary is ridiculous though. Imagine what a huge impact that same 750k could have if spent on lots of local schools reaching far more state school students. Instead of spending it on 1 lucky lottery winner kid, spend it on lots of kids on FSM and give them the opportunities they will never get.

EasternStandard · 22/07/2025 13:59

nearlylovemyusername · 22/07/2025 13:02

You've always been a staunch supporter of VAT policy and argued that causalities like OP are worth it.

Please don't pretend to be empathetic here.

Just to point out that if OP's son is successful in securing a place in a great state six form (and competition will be fierce this year), then down the line another kid from poorer background will be pushed out.

This is exactly what you supported @CurlewKate

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Yep

cadburyegg · 22/07/2025 13:58

I did this, out of choice and it was 20 years ago. Was the best decision ever. Loved my sixth form. I didn’t know anyone so it really was a fresh start. Totally different set of circumstances though.

EasternStandard · 22/07/2025 13:58

twistyizzy · 22/07/2025 13:47

Because the cuts are on bursaries which we said all along would have to be cut. If schools target full fee paying parents who will pay the money to keep them open? The court agreed that this policy would impact the lowest income families ie those on bursaries etc.
It was predicted and predictable. It's 1 of the reasons why Greece u-turned when they tried it.

Remind me though, why you support UK as being only country in the world to now tax education?

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Well exactly. I’m not sure why pp who are pro VAT are now up in arms at anyone who said this would happen.

Of course bursary students would be hit by Labour policy. It’s more they didn’t want to see it.

Mirabai · 22/07/2025 13:50

twistyizzy · 22/07/2025 13:38

You don't care about the impact VAT is having on state schools?

I don't love the way public schools operate, I love the way our local independent operates but we can't afford it now. They have cut bursaries by 50% so that's 50% fewer kids from lower income families getting a place.

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I care very much about the impact of VAT both private and state. But I’ve done my tubthumping on dedicated VAT threads, and this location is not appropriate.

BodenCardiganNot · 22/07/2025 13:47

@twistyizzy
The OP is now seeing the school in a very different light - zero support from them - as she says in her first post It’s all been quite nasty really. Seeing behind the gloss and the taglines about how they care for the boys like family has been illuminating.

twistyizzy · 22/07/2025 13:47

CurlewKate · 22/07/2025 13:43

In the OP’s case, the school has decided to target the poorest pupils they have-which they obviously consider the most disposable. Morally bankrupt. And you are now derailing her thread. Go and start your own.

Show quote history

Because the cuts are on bursaries which we said all along would have to be cut. If schools target full fee paying parents who will pay the money to keep them open? The court agreed that this policy would impact the lowest income families ie those on bursaries etc.
It was predicted and predictable. It's 1 of the reasons why Greece u-turned when they tried it.

Remind me though, why you support UK as being only country in the world to now tax education?

Mirabai · 22/07/2025 13:46

twistyizzy · 22/07/2025 13:39

Because the whole reason she posted this is the effect of VAT.......

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No, the whole reason she posted is what to do with her kid.

She did not ask for a tubthumping about VAT.

Mirabai · 22/07/2025 13:44

Araminta1003 · 22/07/2025 13:31

@Mirabai - even the top public schools with the biggest endowment funds are having to go into their endowments to help existing parents pay the VAT. So there will be less bursaries there too, unless the parents dig deep. But frankly knowing these kind of schools where the demographic is 20% financially assisted, 10-20 staff children and only 60-70% full fee paying rich people you can easily see how they too will be impacted.
Do not be surprised if the top public schools have to bring back substantial scholarships for middle class parents as well, rather than just bursaries.

My old school has recently been fundraising for a new full bursary, aim of 750k.