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AIBU?

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Original poster

Abolishing private schools - how would it work in practice?

999 replies

Dongdingdong · 22/09/2019 18:39

Labour has voted to abolish private schools:

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-public-private-school-abolish-eton-vote-conference-corbyn-education-policy-a9115766.html

Whether you agree with this or not, I don’t understand how the logistics would work. Would private schools suddenly cease to exist from say, summer 2023, with all pupils forced to find a place at the local state school for the autumn term onwards? What would happen to the buildings and facilities - would they remain as state schools or be sold off to developers for example? Confused

OP posts:
newgame989 · 25/09/2019 09:43

That fits my experience of trying to help at the local school wickedgooddoge, we can raise money faster than the teachers can be bothered to spend it, and then all the shouts that we should only be running free entry events for the tiny number of disadvantaged kids in our catchment that could be better served with more direct and fuller subsidy. Parent engagement helps your own child only. We do have a few parents volunteering in class as much as they are allowed to, they make a small difference but one volunteer per 30 kids for a couple of hours a week doesn’t deliver the same benefit as reducing class sizes, only better funding can do that.

newgame989 · 25/09/2019 09:56

we all know what will happen if private schools get too expensive or are abolished, the super rich will go abroad and we'll all crowd into the nearest already over subscribed good schools and pay for an incredible amount of tutoring. Very few of them are going to be improving their catchment sink schools.

AsTheWorldTurns · 25/09/2019 10:00

Then if location is a problem, as well as anti social behaviour, how would banning private schools help?

It wouldn't, I was suggesting the opposite.

OMGshefoundmeout · 25/09/2019 10:36

If they abolished private schools rich people would just opt to ‘home school’ - in large exclusive groups in big buildings with great facilities and they’d pay a large fee/subscription to support these big buildings and the staff in them.

I bloody hate the Tories but Corbin makes it impossible to vote Labour.

AsTheWorldTurns · 25/09/2019 10:39

If they abolished private schools rich people would just opt to ‘home school’ - in large exclusive groups in big buildings with great facilities and they’d pay a large fee/subscription to support these big buildings and the staff in them.

They might even find some disused school buildings up for auction that had been previously 'democratically redistributed' by the state, but could not be maintained and fell into disrepair... maybe?

redchocolatebutton · 25/09/2019 10:55

which is why the logical consequence would be to banish home education as well.

CruCru · 25/09/2019 11:47

The thing is, the buildings often aren’t owned by the school itself. Choir school buildings are often owned by the church (CoE or Catholic) so “redistributing” those assets means the state taking something from the church (who have the means to fight it in the courts).

Dapplegrey · 25/09/2019 11:52

so “redistributing” those assets means the state taking something from the church (who have the means to fight it in the courts).

That would be an interesting fight Crucru. On the other hand Henry V111 just marched in and took all the churches’ assets so maybe Corbyn will take a tip from Henry.

SmiledWithTheRisingSun · 25/09/2019 11:53

It's a fabulous idea!

SmiledWithTheRisingSun · 25/09/2019 11:54

Makes my blood boil that PSchools are registered bloody charities!! "For the public good?!?!"
Pah!!!! Angry

Dapplegrey · 25/09/2019 11:56

OMG and astheworld - I think that would definitely happen and with the substantial sums saved from school fees parents would be able to start some excellent home schools.

Dapplegrey · 25/09/2019 11:57

Smiled - what’s an excellent idea? Banishing home education or seizing church assets?

Trewser · 25/09/2019 11:59

which is why the logical consequence would be to banish home education as well

Lol! They really didn't think this through did they. People with money and determination will always find a way around these things

AsTheWorldTurns · 25/09/2019 14:09

which is why the logical consequence would be to banish home education as well

So, not only will Corbyn seize private assets but also send government agents around to forcibly remove children from their homes where they're being well looked after and well educated?

LemonPrism · 25/09/2019 14:11

The richest would go abroad. The rest would be put into schools and there would be less funding per child.

jasjas1973 · 25/09/2019 14:18

Most parents wouldn't want to home school their children and there are laws on numbers of children being taught before it becomes a school and HS kicks in.

i'd imagine that even when a P/School had been taken back into the state system, the school would stay as it is but instead of new pupils being fee paying, they would be state children and the school facilities would be available to other schools for free.

It would doubtless also be done in stages as no govt would have the money to do it all in one go.

So rest assured all these MN ers who have ambitions to send their kids to Rodean or Eton, you'll be ok for a while yet.

Dapplegrey · 25/09/2019 14:25

Most parents wouldn't want to home school their children
How do you know since you have nothing to do with private schools or the parents?
They may well join forces and stay within the law if they think their children would get a better education.

Drabarni · 25/09/2019 14:31

In the UK it's called Home Education, in order to remove the idea that it's a school at home, which it isn't.

Yes, we would H.ed if my dc school closed. We have done this previously for primary.
Talking to parents at the school it's a mix of international students going back home, the richer British sending kids to board abroad, and the likes of us H.ed Grin My dc won't step foot in a state school as the education isn't good enough.

AsTheWorldTurns · 25/09/2019 14:34

i'd imagine that even when a P/School had been taken back into the state system

What exactly do you mean by 'taken'?

jasjas1973 · 25/09/2019 14:34

My brother sends his children to a top PS, they wouldn't home school,
their opinion is the same as mine, it would be done gradually, over many years, so easily reversible by a new govt, as few schools would have been affected.
I did mention my family connection to PS a few posts back.

So, once again you're wrong.

There are a lot of downsides to HS, not least that a govt that abolished PS would change the rules on HS too.

AsTheWorldTurns · 25/09/2019 14:37

My brother sends his children to a top PS, they wouldn't home school

Oh well it's settled then.

Drabarni · 25/09/2019 14:38

Makes my blood boil that PSchools are registered bloody charities!! "For the public good?!?!"
Pah!!!! angry

Such ignorance, if it wasn't a serious subject you'd be laughable.
If you only saw the outreach work that my dc school manages. There is an outreach dept to keep up with demand. They have such lovely feedback from the places they have visited, the work they have done and the benefits to schools, day centres, hospitals, amongst others.

LesLavandes · 25/09/2019 14:40

No. Rich people would not on whole opt to home school. A ridiculous comme. There is more to schooling than the academic side. A lot of people on here are clueless! And furthermore, the ones who are clueless are the ones whose children are not being privately educated. So none of your business really

LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD · 25/09/2019 14:42

And not everyone at private is rich!

A neighbour of ours had a child at a private - 3 kids in a 2 bed flat, so not exactly lord of the manor. They were immigrants and worked their backsides off to give their child the best education (she got a decent scholarship).

CendrillonSings · 25/09/2019 14:42

jasjas

So is Labour going to abolish the Human Rights Act or derogate from the European Court of Human Rights? Because if you think the courts gave a tough time to a PM who wanted a few weeks’ prorogation, just wait to see what they do to one who wants to abolish the rights enshrined in that legislation...