Is it right....

[takeittakeit]

So Buckinghamshire CC are now asking parents who have children currently in a private school if they can afford to keep their child, with evidence of their finances, there rather than offer them a place at a state school

The vindictive hatred of a certain cohort of the population against private education seems to have lost sight of the fact these children have as much right as anyone else to be educated in a state school.

Or is this labours next step - to exclude children or give them a lower priority to state schools if their parents earn "too much" by their standards?

If they are seeking access to an oversubscribed school (and Bucks says all their schools are oversubscribed), it’s reasonable for the CC to ask for further information as to why they’re a special case and need to be squeezed in. But rules say that CCs can’t ask for certain info, including financial circumstances, so Bucks have withdrawn the letter and apologised.

Nothing to suggest this is Labour government policy.

Any parent with a child at ps would have laughed at this and not one would give that info. None of the councils business - who do they think they are?!

Frankly I think it's good to see councils now flailing around as they don't have enough places. Perhaps in future the government might think of the consequences of a policy before enacting it.

Every child is entitled to a state school place and that includes applying for grammar.

I would assume this is in the same bucket as needing to be literally homeless before the council will put you into emergency accommodation.

It’s an admin thing I guess - not justifying it, but I assume that’s how it happened.

They have to create new places, they are legally obliged. If the pupil can be proven to not have a place, then they have to create one.

Or is this labours next step - to exclude children or give them a lower priority to state schools if their parents earn "too much" by their standards?

Bucks is Conservative controlled.

It's a ridiculous situation of which there are two parts. They CC were wrong to ask for that information, but the parent was also wrong to think they would just get a place at the school of their choice.

I wouldn't be surprised if this is one of the many posters who threatened to do this to teach the LA a lesson.

Buckingham CC is a Conservative Council so take it up either way the Tories.

Hello again OP!

I think on the other thread where this came up, we were all agreed that Buckinghamshire council had no right to ask for evidence about finances, but had every right to ask whether the child was still on roll at a private school and when the contract at the private school would end. Often private schools require a term's notice for terminating, and no LA is going to process an application for a school place which won't be taken up immediately.

No vindictive hatred, though if this comment was a clumsy segue into the issue of VAT exempt status being removed, then many people don't disagree with it as a policy.

The real story here:
A (Conservative) council official rightly told a parent the two schools they where inquiring about were full, so their child couldn't have a place at either of them.

A (Conservative) council official very wrongly told a parent that if they could provide evidence of being unable to finance the current school, they would allocate a place at an available school.

They should have simply said the parent couldn't have the school they'd like, but would be allocated a non preference school. This is what happens to ALL parents trying to get a school place who can't get their preferred choices, and has nothing to do with what government is in power.

The council official withdrew the request for evidence that they had no right to ask about, when they rightly got flack, and the council have apologized.
It shouldn't have happened, but it's either stupidity and overstep, or overstepping jobsworth.
Incorrect responses from councils about everything from CT to schools to parking to disability services, often illicit stupid and incorrect demands.

I've had so many unacceptable requests to provide deeper details of disability and how I manage it, beyond the standard required proof, by idiots who think they're protecting finances. My council also wrongly try to bill me for services they feel they should be providing me with that I don't have or want! 😂

What was actually said:
(the bit crossed through is what they should not have said)

"Unfortunately we cannot offer any places at your preferred school/s as they are full”.
“In this circumstance, we would normally advocate that [the child] should remain at their current school. However, if you can provide evidence that you can no longer finance the independent school fees, please advise and we can make a local authority non-preference allocation.”

Buckinghamshire council’s data shows only five state secondary schools out of their 38 schools had places available for Year 7 students in July. Only four had spaces for pupils in Year 8, and three had Year 9 spaces.
So if you want any school other than those, you'll be allocated a non preference school, regardless if you are coming out of private, moved from another area, hate your current school, or any other reason.

(PS, I happen to disagree with VAT on education of any form.)

Is this reported anywhere other than The Telegraph? (Which is where I read it)

If not, the bias is showing.

If not, the bias is showing.

The council is Tory run so a Tory supporting newspaper is hardly showing bias exposing the council’s wrong doing.

What an entitled prat you sound….to be honest you should have proove that you require the place now….confirming why you need for a school place at a specific school is greater than someone else’s. This bollocks re. Private school haters….people don’t hate private schools…..they hate the parents sense of entitlement and snobbery….somehow you are better than others because your child goes private then god forbid you have to slum it back in the state sector then only the outstanding school for you! Grow up I say

Thats not what I'm getting from the op...all children are entitled to a state school place regardless of wealth or income.

Nothing to do with snobbery, they should be offered a non preference allocation (not necessarily the school of their preference but a school in the local authority) if they can no longer remain at their current school.

At no point should parents have to prove they can or cant afford private school to be offered a state school place

Elleherd has posted exactly what was said (and the bit that has been withdrawn and apologised for) upthread and it makes sense.

Not sure why you are being so rude to the op??

Read the original message “vindictive hatred of a certain cohort”….really thus my outrage…nobody has a right to anything over and above someone else….someone made a mistake with criteria….nobody knows what the parent asked / said to LEA…..were they being demanding etc. Perhaps the LEA were trying to help this soon to be ex-private school child by finding away of putting them above another child on the waiting lists etc. but again nobody truly knows but the fact the OP jumps to the conclusion people hatred of Private Schools is a nonsense - I don’t believe this to be true.