Private Schools- hear me out before you judge!

[Silverbook]

I'm a state school teacher in Scotland. Class sizes are - 25 for P1, 30 for P2-3 and 33 for P4-7. I currently have a class size of 25, most classes in the school are 25-28. Relatively small town- 2 primaries, 1 independent and 1 secondary. The next nearest independent is 45 mins away.

The local independent school is closing due to VAT, the pupils are largely coming here. This is pushing all our class sizes up. No extra funding or staff, obviously. My issue with independent schools closing is that is directly impacting the state sector and no extra funding, resources or infrastructure is in place to support it.

Yes, our classes are still within legal limits but it will always be the most disadvantaged children/those with greater need of support who are impacted most by larger class sizes as there is just less time to spend with them.

I really feel this has been a poorly thought through and knee jerk policy. Surely you invest and create capacity in existing resources before increasing pupil numbers?

That was in reply to the previous poster who was talking about the future- I was replying based on that.

Taken out of context I can see how it reads like that. The school is closing, it’s in our local press.

You’re wrong the Greens would do this apart from they made it clear children with SEN would be exempt from the VAT

That’s really similar to the London school I mentioned, it was v quiet and was being bought / due to close. Really it was notice to families start planning your departure.

@Silverbook please name the school then. If it’s already out in the press.

That figure was in reply to the previous poster who was talking about the future- I was replying based on that.
Taken out of context I can see how it reads like that. The school is closing, it’s in our local press.

Not jealous people at all. If I had my way all the private schools would be closed. Vat doesn't go far enough for me.

Okay let's stick to specifics. Where is your back up for your assertion that Starmer's father was not a working class toolmaker?You are always posting about that. It is simply untrue.

It's not taken out of context, you said that 84 children "have come to our school".

Where did the figure 84 come from?

Did he not own the tool factory?

It was practically a flipping shed. They were really not well off at all.

Good stuff. I am googling. Can you post a link that confirms?

The school roll. Googling will show the school.

I don't see anything except the Cedars school?

But if 84 is the entire school, that was never going to survive! And are you assuming they will all just transfer to you, even though there is another primary school? It seems unlikely.

No Op- I meant can the pp post about Starmers dad's flipping shed and impoverished tool making status. :) x

I have my doubts tbh.

I realise you think I’m a troll but I’m not. 84 is not the whole school. It’s the primary sector. The vast majority will come to one of 2 local schools. There is another school but it’s RC. We can quibble over exact numbers of take the theme if my post which was I think this policy could have been better planned for.

The link says they have had difficulties but have a plan to keep going, is there a update or a new article?

So it’s not definitely closing and you’ve not actually had any pupils from them yet?

I can't believe people made you do this I'm so sorry

The problem is that once word gets out that a school is in trouble, parents start to remove their children so it is likely that the OP’s school has already received pupils from this school.

No , I think someone's imagination has runaway. The accounts have been late for years , on the face of it , it hasn't been well run.

We have as some parents wanted to be in control of the move rather than wait until there was a scrabble of places when it does close.
Im not not going to further debate the authenticity of this.
I was looking for discussion around the lack of foresight of the policy.

Apologies, I no longer think you are a troll, although you did seem to suggest that your school has already taken on a large number of pupils when I am guessing you haven't had any or many, and it is as yet unclear what the numbers will be.

The article I looked at suggests the school has been struggling financially for a long time. I don't honestly think it is a VAT issue, just a small school that is not profitable. It happens - as I say it happened to my school - and everyone adapts.

I was looking for discussion around the lack of foresight of the policy

I don't think it has much to do with the VAT policy, the school got into difficulties long before that was discussed.