Reconsidering private education/labour gov

[Bluevelvetcake2]

As it looks increasingly likely that we will have a Labour government at some point, I’m wondering if anyone who was considering private education for their children is now re-considering it? We have put down a deposit for a prep school we really like which we could comfortably afford at the moment but not with significant fee increases. Just wondering if anyone else has concerns along the same lines and if so what are you thinking…

What are your concerns?

These schools are business ( albeit with charity status) they’re the ones who decide what to charge…

Concerns are that Labour has said they will remove charity status of private schools which will result in significant increases in fees. I expect this will mean many parents like us who have well paying professional jobs but aren’t multi millionaires will end up having to withdraw their children

Well the fees are no doubt going to increase due to this government doing their best to destroy the economy, so you're probably screwed either way.

If Labour did get in, it’ll be ages before they can put through any legislation that increases private school fees. I wouldn’t worry about it too much. How much, realistically, could they increase the fees by anyway?

If you’re worried about how you’re going to afford the fees, can you see if your DC would qualify for a scholarship or bursary? Or could you just put them in another good (non fee paying) school near you?

Hopefully Labour would improve education for all and less people would need to choose private schools.

I have wondered how long it would take but I also don’t know if it’s wise to start them off in a school only to have to pull them out a few years later

How much, realistically, could they increase the fees by anyway?

I think realistically they can't increase them by much and many private schools will shut. Putting more pressure on state school places.

It will never happen.

Yes I think seeline is right that many will end up shutting and this will put more pressure on the state sector (which is brilliant isn’t it?)

I would welcome the change to the charitable status of private schools and am all in favour of this being removed. they arent charities any more than a university is. However, much as Labour like to say they are going to do this, so many of the MP's have their kids within these systems that whilst they might talk the talk I think its highly unlikely they will walk the walk. they had the opportunity to do it when last in power and they didnt so no reason to think that even if they say they will they will do it this time. shame really because it needs reforming.

@ChiefPearlClutcher what makes you think it won’t happen?

My understanding is that fees will increase by 20% as we will have to pay VAT on them if schools lose their charity status. DC has four years left (currently in year10) so if it affects us it won’t be for long snd I will just have to find it if it happens and they want to stay for sixth form. I m still a passionate Labour supporter despite this, hopefully they will improve education so private won’t be the only option as it was for us!

There has been many threads about this, use the search function. I honestly cba to type it all out. But it won’t happen. And if they try, it will take YEARS.

Education Education Education- Labour

Cut school budgets to the core- Coalition and Conservative

Given recent history Labour will be better for education than any Tory led government.

VAT is coming. You are right to be concerned.

You should certainly factor VAT into your estimate and if you then can’t afford it, then don’t do it. Nothing worse for your child than being withdrawn from independent sector in a disruptive way part way through their education because you can’t pay. Who knows what state school spaces will still be available to you. Ask yourself what you are prepared to give up (eg downsizing your house) to keep them there if fees become unaffordable.

With a solid majority, I expect labour will have no problem making this change and quickly. In the current climate, you would expect to see this as a labour manifesto commitment, unfortunately for those parents who are caught in the middle.

Looking at some older mumsnet threads, some people seem to be saying removable of charity status is different to VAT on fees and that’s not what’s being proposed. Anyone able to clarify if that’s correct?

How many years would this take though? There are serious problems in education.

VAT is coming Labour think they can fix the state school system by penalising the private school sector. They don’t realise the damage it’s going to cause.
I will still vote labour regardless in the next election as all this doesn’t matter in the long run. What matters the most is getting rid of the dirty environmental policies if we want a chance for us and our children to have quality of life in the near future.

OP you also need to factor in inflation to the fees regardless if labour introduce VAT or not. Hope it works out for you guys x

I think that labour would have to think really carefully before just shoving 20% VAT on private fees. The tens of thousands who would be priced out would immediately need state places. And private/state is something that varies massively by area. In some areas, several private schools are thriving because of the very sparse or poor state provision. In other areas, there is little private provision because the state provision is fine. So basically it wouldn't be a case of every state school can take in a few priced out private kids, it would be more like a smaller number of full state schools would be asked to take in tens or even hundreds of kids.

Any VAT would have to be phased in over a number of years.

I would be seriously disappointed in a Labour government that puts even more barriers in the way of children having access to the most suitable education for them as individuals. Not all private schools are about the elite, some are the only option left to young people who have been destroyed by the state school system. There are serious serious issues in the state school sector that need immediately addressing. This should be the next (and current!) governments priority, not making an already difficult to reach last option become an impossibility for children who have been failed by the system.

The amount money abolishing the charitable status of private schools would raise would be a tiny fraction of a rounding error in the grand scheme of government spending. By the time a Labour government could be in place, it will be full on battlefield surgery time for the country with much much more profound things needing fixing urgently. I really can't see something as divisive and ideological as this being a priority.

Oh I thought the title meant because state schools would improve because they'll actually be properly funded. How wrong I was.

At the very least they'll remove their charitable status and hammer them with tax but, given the chance and a sizable majority, the likes of Raynor and Lammy will get rid of private education altogether. So yes, I believe you have grounds for concern.