To marvel at privately educated Keir Starmer's hypocrisy?

[Bursarysadness]

Both Kier Starmer and his wife are privately educated. Kier's senior school converted into a private school in the second year of his attendance and he has received a generous full bursary up until his A levels. He has built his life and his success on this education, supported to the end by the bursary funded by the same schools and parents he is now trying to destroy. It pains me as my children receive 50% bursaries from a brilliant local school. We've worked incredibly hard to cover the remaining 50% but it has been worth it, seeing how my children blossomed. We had a very different experience in their primary state schools, including bullying and racism. We don't live in a great area. We have just been told that the school will probably reduce all their bursaries to be able to lower the fees for the non bursary parents who are now struggling because of the VAT introduction. I don't know what the future for my children is now and they have so many close friends where they are. They are both academically brilliant and work very hard - hence the bursaries were granted. I feel so depressed that, from what is becoming obvious, they won't be able to benefit from the generosity of bursaries the same way Kier Starmer did when he was a child ..

I am only a few years younger than Starmer and I didn't think these grades are great. I studied medicine though so perhaps better grades were expected.

Also - are we totally missing the key point here? The fact that we are all tax payers so we already pay for the state education anyway? As part of our taxes? So, basically, now we are paying twice? I think I would feel better paying the VAT if I had some reduction on my main tax considering I'm not using state education for my kids? And I work for NHS too?! So I'm contributing quite a bit all around I believe?

As others have mentioned, quite a few countries actually contribute towards private schools as it takes pressure off the state sector. Someone mentioned Australia but also Finland etc...

The problem is our political leaders are looking for short term wins with the embittered masses, not for long term results. They are already thinking about winning votes in 4 years time, not about "fixing" education over the next 10-20 years. This is an easy win - like throwing fresh meat to the hungry lions at gladiators event

To CurlewKate, Agoingconcern and anyone else who is interested:
”I would describe myself as a socialist. I describe myself as a progressive” Keir Starmer June 2024

@Kitte321 Personally, I think it would benefit the 93%. It's the only way to improve education as a whole.

@blueskies73 "I had some reduction on my main tax considering I'm not using state education for my kids?"

There are loads of things I pay taxes for that I don't use. That's how taxation works.

I don't think you really believe that there's no racism in the private sector.

It’s not the same with education though which is why many countries do indeed give income tax relief to parents who use private schools.

Taxes are paid to fund public services however if you decide to opt out of a particular public service at the point of need then it makes sense to reward people who do that. It is the same reason why some countries give you tax relief on private healthcare as well.

If you find out you need a major operation costing say 50k and are considering funding it yourself it makes sense for the state to offer an incentive for you do so providing it is not more than 50k.

It’s the same principle with schools.

Yes, I think there is less racism in the private sector actually. But not necessarily because they are "better people" but because their reputation is everything and it's their marketing so they have to eradicate any inkling of it as soon as it raises its ugly head. So yes, they are better. For self serving reasons perhaps but much better at managing and eradicating it in my experience

Lol, our local private school obviously didn't get that memo. It's well known for racist bullying and the school failed to tackle it for years.

I said earlier that my godson experienced appalling anti semitic bullying at both his prep and public schools. But I am not ignorant enough to dismiss the entire sector because of this.

Oxford made EEE and similar offers for years, though, because they relied on their own entrance exams. So Oxford is beside the point.

I was badly bullied at private school, by teachers and pupils. I wasn't one of the children from the very wealthy families, therefore I was fair game. I don't believe there is less bullying at private schools, though it may perhaps be of a different type at times.

Then why would you stay in a school like this? We are in London and schools can be very ethnically varies. I imagine they just can't afford any accusations of racism on their record. Where are you?

Then you better make more money so you can afford the things you want.

Who's Kier Starmer?

I don’t see the hypocrisy.

I do see the hypocrisy in thinking the market can deliver education but wanting to be protected from the financial reality of the market.

@Bursarysadness ultimately, its the Chancellor’s policy, not really the PM’s. She and her sister (also a politician) were both state educated all the way, they both attended Oxford and so she (somewhat naively) has an ideological objection to independent education.

Somewhat ironically for the person at No. 11, I think it’s less to do with the numbers and more to do with philosophy and her personal convictions. I have little confidence she and HMT have properly kicked the tyres on how, in real terms, the revenue gathered will improve state education (as is the stated goal).

But @Bursarysadness if this school is really so fabulous why don’t you pay for it yourself rather than being subsidised by the other parents? If you can’t, then you see where the problem arises.

Fair point @Piglet89 and yes, it feels like it's all about personal conviction and beliefs and not actually about what makes sense, logically or economically. Both my husband and I were state educated and did very well, especially me - that's why we could afford to pay half of the fees. However, schools in South London have changed - some of them are scary places right now. Plus, every child is different. My boys would get in trouble and they would not study unless they were in the environment they are in right now. I was a conscenscious girl, I pushed myself. My boys.. no way...

Dislike Starmer intensely, but I don’t think you can hold someone responsible for a schooling decision made by their parents.

Whilst our school has committed to maintaining existing bursaries, it’s sad that future bursaries have been scrapped. It just makes private education available to fewer. We have seen 2-4 kids leave each class at the end of last term. At the other end of the scale a large group of parents (including us) paid multiple years of fees well ahead of the election. Based on legal advice we received at the time, but also to provide a financial buffer to the school, who benefit longer term from investing the funds.

Yes, the children of rich people who can afford to buy near a good school get a good state education. The rest don't.

He is a very clever man. The reason he bought where he did was because the knew the schools would be good, just like I did 30 years ago.

Of course he is preventing the children of ordinary people getting a good education like his children are by charging VAT on the fees.

@IMustDoMoreExercise "Yes, the children of rich people who can afford to buy near a good school get a good state education. The rest don't."

A lot do, you know.

But it should be everyone, not just a lot.

If more parents who do care send their children to a school, the ones who don’t care become a smaller percentage of the parent body.

This post is very tin-eared. What about hardworking families with motivated kids who can't afford to pay even half of private school fees?

Come on over and join us on the state school side where we are actively volunteering to make our schools better for ALL the children!