Page 9 | Reconsidering private education/labour gov

Bluevelvetcake2 · 2022-10-20T10:41:15+00:00

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…

piesforever · 21/10/2023 22:48

Bluevelvetcake2 · 20/10/2022 11:44

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

Good!! Equality is more important.

piesforever · 21/10/2023 22:50

Topgub · 20/10/2022 13:18

The quicker it happens the better.

Absolutely. Parents who use private education are a disgrace.

Thisisnotlikehim · 21/10/2023 22:52

Not removing charitable status. Too complex. Just adding VAT. We Have used private Ed and I fully agree. It’s a MASSIVE luxury private Ed. The schools could choose not to pass it on. I fully support the idea. The VAT can help develop the state schools.

Areallyboringperson · 22/10/2023 04:08

VAT on school fees is coming. Factor that in to future plans.

Private schools around here have been adding £1k to fees for the last few years anyway. Factor that in too.

the institute of fiscal studies has done a thorough investigation of what is likely to happen if VAT is added to school fees and though they admit the variables are significant the overall impact is estimated to be a net benefit to the state of £1.6bn. So factoring in all of the parents who move to the state sector this will still be of significant benefit to the state. It’s going to happen.

Paying fees up front will not mean you can avoid VAT on the fees. HMRC have thought that through already.

It’s not tackling the funding provided to schools which would make me consider state, it’s the clamping down on disruption and violence in the classroom. Left leaning parties are into ‘inclusion’ which means including violent kids in classes. If they instead favoured exclusion (removing violent / disruptive pupils from classes to be taught elsewhere) state education would appeal much more (and I’m sure behaviour would improve overnight if pupils saw actual consequences for their actions!)

FrodisCapering · 22/10/2023 07:11

I would rather get a second job if it came to it, and so would my husband.
There is no way I would send my children to any of our local schools, not least because the majority of them are faith schools, which is something I do object my taxes doing towards supporting.

I despise the Labour Party.

If the aim is equality, I hope they ban tutors, extra sports lessons, parents buying books and spending time on homework, extra music lessons, oh, and buying the child their instrument etc etc. See how ridiculous this is?

Busephalus · 22/10/2023 07:42

Frodis, yes your post is

Warum · 22/10/2023 07:45

mummymeister · 20/10/2022 11:49

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.

^^
Exactly this.

Whatafustercluck · 22/10/2023 08:06

Areallyboringperson · 22/10/2023 04:08

VAT on school fees is coming. Factor that in to future plans.

Private schools around here have been adding £1k to fees for the last few years anyway. Factor that in too.

the institute of fiscal studies has done a thorough investigation of what is likely to happen if VAT is added to school fees and though they admit the variables are significant the overall impact is estimated to be a net benefit to the state of £1.6bn. So factoring in all of the parents who move to the state sector this will still be of significant benefit to the state. It’s going to happen.

Paying fees up front will not mean you can avoid VAT on the fees. HMRC have thought that through already.

It’s not tackling the funding provided to schools which would make me consider state, it’s the clamping down on disruption and violence in the classroom. Left leaning parties are into ‘inclusion’ which means including violent kids in classes. If they instead favoured exclusion (removing violent / disruptive pupils from classes to be taught elsewhere) state education would appeal much more (and I’m sure behaviour would improve overnight if pupils saw actual consequences for their actions!)

I don't understand your comment about left leaning parties being into 'inclusion'. Who has been in power for 13 years? There are so many children with additional needs who should be in specialist schools who are instead in mainstream education. You cannot get an ehcp for love nor money, class sizes of 30+ mean that the problem is exacerbated, and there's a three year waiting list for ND assessments. And for those who are struggling in mainstream, there is little alternative provision for them and so many parents are putting themselves into poverty by homeschooling instead. Yeah, state education and 'inclusivity' has thrived under the Tories. Always amazes me that left leaning parties get the blame for various situations, when Labour have had a fraction of the time in power in the UK than the Tories have.

Whatafustercluck · 22/10/2023 08:10

Op, you need to factor in a 20% increase and if you cannot afford it then take your chances with state education like many of the rest of us (and hope that a rebalancing of our education system happens under Labour). Or, given that you have a lot of faith schools around, hold your nose and apply for one of those.

DreamItDoIt · 22/10/2023 15:34

Do you have good local primary schools? What about secondary? If you're concerned send them state until 8 and review. Tutor on top of necessary. Apply for both state and private for year 7 to keep your options open.

Is the private secondary you're looking at selective!

twistyizzy · 22/10/2023 17:49

If state schools are so good why have there been multiple posts about toilets being closed, teacher recruitment crisis, so many numbers of teachers leaving etc etc?
The state education system is in crisis. 1 5 billion won't even fix the concrete issue let alone improve state schools. Labour have said nothing about how they will fix the state sector and indeed have said they will stick to Tory spending plans for the first couple of years
The VAT is a clickbait, vote winner to appease the left of the party without being part of an well thought out long term education strategy.

twistyizzy · 22/10/2023 17:54

piesforever · 21/10/2023 22:50

Absolutely. Parents who use private education are a disgrace.

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Wow so you base your opinion on someone just because they send their kids private? Disgrace to who exactly?
How about people who use private tutors to get their kids into best state schools?

Ohdearanotheryear · 22/10/2023 17:57

WatchoRulo · 20/10/2022 11:44

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.

This.

The need to allow for fee rises anyway?

DreamItDoIt · 22/10/2023 19:09

@piesforever - oh dear! How about those horrible parents who buy a house in catchment if an outstanding state school, or those that tutor to try and buy a free grammar place or those that buy into an area and then donate loads through parent portal to swell the academy coffers and give their children advantages?