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Original poster

Private schools will not have testing funded

297 replies

DrizzleandDamp · 02/01/2021 11:44

Not sure where I sit on this one, state schools are obviously having the lateral flow tests funded by government.

Private schools have been told no funding, no help with extra staffing, ultimately a cost of around 12 extra members of staff who can’t teach (depending on size of school), and £20-30,000 a month on tests. That won’t encourage take up.

Not all private school parents are rich, some are just managing, some are on hardship bursaries and an awful lot right now are getting free schooling:help because their businesses have died from Covid or jobs lost and they can no longer afford fees. So the schools are at the moment subbing them, but it won’t last and they’ll be removed.

Around 6.5% of U.K. (c.600k+) pupils are in independents. Will the government provide those school places when parents have to pull them or private schools go under?

I’m just not sure it’s ethical when parents are paying into the NHS, and into schooling (twice) that they aren’t providing these tests.

Just wanted to have the debate!

OP posts:
CovidPostingName · 02/01/2021 12:25

Good. If you opt out of state education then you opt out of the benefits such as they are.

notevenat20 · 02/01/2021 12:26

Good. If you opt out of state education then you opt out of the benefits such as they are.

It's slightly complicated by the fact that billions is being given to the private sector to keep it alive.

Candycane2020 · 02/01/2021 12:29

Private schools were able to furlough staff but state schools were not. Private schools have smaller classes. It’s not been an even playing field all through the pandemic.

Whydoelephants · 02/01/2021 12:29

I don’t think private schools are ethical so find it hard to have much sympathy tbh.

GoldGreen · 02/01/2021 12:30

I don’t have an issue with staffing (most private schools have higher ratios of staff and often a school nurse), not providing the tests though I do think is unfair. The reason for having these tests is to keep kids at school, but also reduce infections, which is a public health issue, and we should not expect people to privately pay for this. It’s a bit like saying kids in private schools should pay for the flu vaccine, which we give to them to stop transmission in the community.

Barbie222 · 02/01/2021 12:31

@GoldGreen

I don’t have an issue with staffing (most private schools have higher ratios of staff and often a school nurse), not providing the tests though I do think is unfair. The reason for having these tests is to keep kids at school, but also reduce infections, which is a public health issue, and we should not expect people to privately pay for this. It’s a bit like saying kids in private schools should pay for the flu vaccine, which we give to them to stop transmission in the community.
I agree, I think the tests should be funded across all schools
FuckOffBorisYouTwat · 02/01/2021 12:33

I keep hoping for private schools are going to collapse and disappear so I have no sympathy

AnotherNewt · 02/01/2021 12:33

This is a national emergency.

The testing kits should be provided, because that's a direct new expense for items mandated for pandemic response.

But yes, telling them to sort out their own staffing seems fair (but I would allow free access to the national military-staffed webinars and phone support, because again it is in everyone's interests that every school does this right)

Dreahil1 · 02/01/2021 12:34

Hmmm it’s difficult because I think Covid tests/lateral are crucial.

However you can’t have it all in life either.

Watchingbehindmyhands · 02/01/2021 12:41

It’s beyond ridiculous and weird given we have a Tory government. You’d think they would be wanting to keep their children and families safe. It’s not like private school kids aren’t part of their local communities, is it?

user68901 · 02/01/2021 12:41

Please don't try to convince me that life is unfair for private schools !!

FairyFairy · 02/01/2021 12:42

Cry me a river.

Newgirls · 02/01/2021 12:44

Some have already been doing their own testing eg eton so this isn’t even news

Original poster
DrizzleandDamp · 02/01/2021 12:44

So if you opt out of state you opt out of any benefits? So if people have private healthcare the NHS should turn them away for treatment for Covid too?

Forgetting the fact they are paying in still.

OP posts:
DoThePropeller · 02/01/2021 12:45

Of course they should fund tests for all school settings. I don’t even understand the rationale for not!

It would cost them more if people start withdrawing their children and cramming them into state schools.

Rosehip10 · 02/01/2021 12:45

Good - why should the general public provide money to businesses that masquerade as "charities" for tax reasons and have a history of collusion together to rip parents off by setting fees at the same level.

Puffalicious · 02/01/2021 12:46

Private schools can afford the hit- subsidised heavily by government. As PP have said, if you opt out of the state system you take the rough with the smooth. My take on this is always education is a right not a privilege: if you see privilege as important to you you need to deal with the fall out.

Original poster
DrizzleandDamp · 02/01/2021 12:47

But most independents aren’t Eton and have a mix of kids, an awful lot of Drs kids for example.

It’s not about wether you “feel sorry” for private or agree or disagree with it. It’s wether you agree with the ethics of something that is a government medical drive being unfunded for some children AND staff. Remember these schools have teaching, catering, cleaning etc staff too.

OP posts:
Blackdog19 · 02/01/2021 12:47

I think that’s fair enough.

notevenat20 · 02/01/2021 12:48

Private schools were able to furlough staff but state schools were not.

Doesn't that mean that state school teachers were on 100% pay throughout but furloughed private school teachers were on only 80%?

EmmaGellerGreen · 02/01/2021 12:48

Private schools provide so much more than state schools, if they need to cut back on some of the extras for a while then so be it. As for staff to do the testing, state schools are getting no extra funding and need to rely on volunteers from staff or parents. Private schools will need to do the same. Life isn’t fair, is it?

FairyFairy · 02/01/2021 12:48

@Newgirls

Some have already been doing their own testing eg eton so this isn’t even news

Plenty of private schools were forking out for testing technology months ago. I can think of several schools other than Eton who purchased their own fancy machines etc.

Empressofthemundane · 02/01/2021 12:49

Do you have a link to the details on this @DrizzleandDamp? I haven’t heard anything about it.

It makes sense to me that private schools have to resource the testing themselves, but odd that they aren’t given the lateral flow tests. The children are being tested as a matter of public health and more because they are potential vectors of disease rather than for their own safety. If schools can’t get ahold of tests, buy inferior tests, etc. It is the community who will suffer, not the private school children.

Musicaldilemma · 02/01/2021 12:49

It is plain stupid of the government because private schools are already under pressure to keep open as much as possible and only send close contacts home, because they are a paid for service. So if the government wants more spread, this is what will happen.

Puffalicious · 02/01/2021 12:50

OP clearly your kids are in private education. I think you'll find that you're 'paying in' for far more than state education, what about all the other services you get? It's also partially negated by the huge subsidies paid to the private sector by government.