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 ..

Yes I get that. It's not even luxury education. It is just private education. Given that there is a free at point of use alternative for those who choose not to pay the tax I can't see what the hysteria is about.

He went to a selective grammar school in 1974 which became an independent fee paying school in 1976 when he was still a student.

@Tiredalwaystired "
My children go to a state school and have not experienced racism.

Yep. My godson went to private school and did.

Neither of these statements prove anything.

Our local state school offers French only (senior school) and limited choice of A levels, compared to private. Am I so outrageous to want to pay for my children to learn Latin, mandarin, German or even just Spanish? And be able to do psychology for a levels of they choose? It's not offered by the local school. Am I so outrageous to want my child to do some sport or physical activity every day? Why is it considered luxury? I'm happy to pay for it but why do I have to be taxed for trying to give my child the same education I had? (State education but in a different European country). I'm not sure people realize how different education is in the rest of Europe

@Claphambunny I would like all of those options to be available to all who might benefit.

Change in educational choices and aspirations will only come when those who care and who can make change have some skin in the game. That may be ideological, it may be practical by having DC in the state system. State education needs more money.

Raising money for it by taxing the non essential option is, to my mind, a sensible logical first step.

Removing all selective forms of education (barring specialist SEND provision) is the second.

Banning private schools is the third.

These last two are unlikely to happen but would be the quickest way of ensuring that there was a greater focus on improving educational outcomes for all.

We are in the exact same situation.

Bursary gone from 75% to 40%. We were told a few days after the election result.

@IFollowRivers when will it happen please? For this kind of education to be available to all? We are going to be taxed from January so will it improve from January? Or in 10 years time? My children are at school NOW. They are preparing for exams NOW. They have no time to wait until the state education gets fixed. They have limited number of years at school. So what do you suggest? That we should deny these children their education because it became too expensive so things can get better for other kids in the future? Very idealistic but, as a parent, this kind of choice hurts me a lot. As someone mentioned earlier, I don't want my kids to be the lost generation or sacrificed generation

I'd be more annoyed with the schools that choose the rich kids/parents over the bursary kids.

Of course he's a hypocrite - all politicians are. He will lie and cheat his way through the next five years making you all poorer. I've been around long enough to remember two Labour Governments and the country will be far, far worse in five years. But you lot voted him in so you shall reap the dubious benefits.

Why shouldn’t there be private schools? My parents deliberately saved so we could go to private school - they didn’t go on holidays or have expensive cars. Why should some parents be punished for choosing their children’s education over other things?

State schools in a catchment area where homes cost upwards of £2m.

Ffs are you serious?
The entitlement you display is staggering and as many people do (including current right wing protestors) you’ve bent the narrative to suit your argument. You know damn well he didn’t ‘choose’ to go to private school. Also things were fairer in the 70’s and 80’s, normal kids could pass the 11 plus, have free drama, music and swimming lessons. It wasn’t that unusual to have the opportunity to escalate to a better education as a person from a WC background.
Theres absolutely no reason why private schools should be exempt from VAT, I would argue they’ve had it good for decades, thanks to the Tories but aside from this what makes your kids better/more deserving than others?
Is this how you’re raising them? Because god help them if so. You’re basically just having a grown up tantrum. Check your privilege!

No idea how long it would take. How could I?

I just feel that the selfish focus on 'my' DC rather than children as a whole is wrong. The portrayal of state schools as the Wild West of education that 'my' DC couldn't possibly go to is also wrong. It's just not true but for as long as state education is vilified in this way none of you chasing exclusivity for 'your' DC will look beyond this.

The way to make change is by joining the system and supporting it. You're not experimenting with your DC future by putting them through the state system you are providing the opportunity for more than just your DC to benefit.

As a foreigner, I find it shocking to see how these questions are approached in the UK and the general jealous in the society. Most countries want to have amazing doctors, scientists, artists, musicians and see having highly educated people, privately not not, as beneficial to the wider society. I've read recently that one of the London school will drop or greatly reduce their music bursaries. Here you go - perhaps a few less brilliant musicians in the future? The thing is - these things are available to people who want them. This is why bursaries and scholarships exist and you are trying to kill them. Everyone can apply for them. They have to work hard and be good to get them but they are there. The idea that all schools can be great is a fallacy, and that the 6% who care (as you put it) can make them much much better is a fallacy too? So perhaps they will be a bit better but the amazing options will be no longer available. Average for everyone. Play to the lowest denominator. So noone has more, noone has less... A basic communist idea. Not sure it worked out so well for them though,...

Did you look into the local tertiary colleges for psychology a level? That’s what state school kids do when their school doesn’t provide their preferred a level.

You can still go to state school and do physical education every day if you want. Parks have plenty of space after school for football, you can run if you have a pair of trainers and if you want something more structured there are hundreds of organised sports clubs open to state school kids.

And have several language tutors for languages?

Do you admit that my other points are valid then?

And also yes, if that’s your choice. Or there are state schools around that offer them out there. Our local high school (comp) offers mandarin and Spanish from year seven.

Posts like this make me wish Labour adds 100% tax to all private school fees ASAP. If your children are so intelligent they'll do fine at a state school.

Why can't all schools be great?

Of course final raw grades will be dependent on the intellect, health and engagement of the intake but there is absolutely no reason why all students shouldn't have access to great teaching, great facilities and the outcomes they deserve.

That's not communism. That's aspirational.

Total hypocrites.

They don’t agree with the public using private education, it’s unfair on the other children, but oh wait…..it’s ok to send their own children.

This is the least of their problems though. Been in a month and already in disarray.

All pigs are equal but some pigs are more equal, right?

You’re in Clapham so you can’t be that far away from a school like that.

My British born husband (state educated in the 80s and 90s) says state education was always in a mess in the UK and his local comp was awful (and he comes from a "naice" town). So tej Tories didn't ruin it then? Who did then? Labour was in power for many years with Blair etc... so why didn't they fix it?

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Challenge