to think running state schools for profit is a terrible idea ...

[threefeethighandrising]

... it won't benefit our children but may make some profit for shareholders, which I guess is OK by this government as it's all they really care about?

Article here: Academies and free schools should become profit-making businesses using hedge funds and venture capitalists to raise money, according to ... Michael Gove.

flatpackhamster

Tell me why I need evidence.

caroldecker

Companies make profit by selling things to consumers, either by giving them what they want, or convincing them that they want it. This works fine for things like shoes, fridges, food, cars and so on.

By and large, these are things that the consumer can easily understand.

Tell me how education fits in with these things.

In what way will freeing teachers up from paper work and lesson planning save money? Are we saying we will need less classroom support staff? teachers work shorter hours? or a huge part of the present work load and the skills needed to undertake this aspect will be outsourced and therefore teachers will be paid less?

If private investment and for profit is going to be the motivation behind providing state school education then I think a conversation needs to be had about the charity status of private schools.

Toadinthehole
flatpackhamster

Tell me why I need evidence.

I can't believe I even have to answer this. Did the Enlightenment pass you by?

TabithaStephens
"How do the schools make a profit? By providing the service at a lower cost than that charged to the government. You know, the same as any other private company involved in the state sector."

How are schools going to do this without affecting the education of children?

If private companies could really undercut state schools, they would have already done so - but private spend on schooling is generally higher than state
AND
private schools do not have to cope with disruptive / severely SEN children

good point talkinpeace

State schools are subsidised by the taxpayer at present, it would be impossible for private companies to undercut them. Give private schools the same funding and I believe they would easily be able to provide a better service at a lower price.

Tabitha
State schools are subsidised by the taxpayer at present
Sorry?
State schools are paid for by the taxpayer.
Schools are given a budget share and have to bring in the education within that budget.
Here is the budget for a random secondary school in Hampshire.
www.hants.gov.uk/education/schools/budgetshares/files/2013/0/4156.pdf
read and learn.

On that link.
The school gets £3735.61 per KS3 pupil per year
and £4480.89 per KS4 pupil
They get an extra £319359 for Pupil Premium
£162211 for kids with severe SEN
£8744 for kids whose first language is not English

total income of £4153590 to educate 802 children for a year

a profit making company would be given exactly the same budget chares but would hand part of it to shareholders and directors ....

A private school near me charges £11k a year per pupil.

Rail was privatised but is still 90% financed by the government when it comes to investment, with ALL profit going to share holders, ageing rolling stock and rising fares.

Over 90% of rail investment 'financed by taxpayers'
Rail privatisation has failed to deliver for rail users and taxpayers, according to a new TUC commissioned report published today. The report said that privatisation has brought in little private sector investment. The figures show:

The average age of trains has risen since rail privatisation, from 16 years in 1996 to 18 years old today. Just £1.9bn was spent on rolling stock between 2008 and 2012, compared to £3.2bn between 1989 and 1993.

Over 90% of new investment in recent years has been financed by Network Rail.

The UK has the most expensive rail fares in Europe. Long distance, day return and season tickets are all around twice the price of similar tickets in France, Germany, Italy and Spain, which have publicly-run rail systems.

Average train fares in the UK increased at three times the rate of average wages between 2008 and 2012.

As you can see, privatisation has been a great success
www.tuc.org.uk/industrial/tuc-22263-f0.cfm

Of course education is even more key to the economic prosperity of the UK and companies can very much more easily outsource production if workers don't have the skills and education they require.

Don't think for one minute that the government is simply fishing around for private companies to manage schools, what is required is investment. However we know from experience that profits are not re-invested instead costs rise and the tax payer has no choice but foot the bill.

indeed mini - great point bloody well made.

there is no profit in this. its just another round about way to make rich people richer off the backs of the tax payer.

TabithaStephens
So your answer is to subsidise private education and make the taxpayer pay more.

That is just a little bit inconsistant.