Private schools will not have testing funded

[DrizzleandDamp]

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!

I'm not sure I agree with a private company (private schools) who's mission statement is to look after their own should get public funded testing.
Private schools took advantage of furlough and only 7% of children go to private school in the UK - top 10% wealthiest parents no doubt.
I've got more important things to worry about.

Nope not going to get my sympathy or support

I said it up thread but anyway
Not all Private schools claim charitable status

@tomnjerrylover

Nope not going to get my sympathy or support

Doesn't matter, they are getting funded tests anyway 🤷‍♀️

THEY ARE GETTING PUBLICLY FUNDED TESTS.

What the OP was highlighting was that they are not getting further funding for implementation which she (or the piece she is quoting from) says will cost £20k per month.

State schools will get SOME costs refunded but nowhere near the full costs and as @VienneseWhirligig points out not without going through a lot of hoops to get there.

State schools couldn't furlough anyone. They we're still working. Everyone working was paid.

This is true. But it is not true that everyone paid was working.

@Remmy123

If you can afford private school .. you can afford a private test.

With respect, that is bollocks.

Wow I think that is crazy, of course they should be provided with the tests. The government wants all children tested. They need to provide the tests for all the children regardless of where they go to school. Like someone els said the flu vaccine is free and distributed in private schools as well. Should we maybe charge people who put their children in private school if they want the vaccine as well???

@Rollingfog

Wow I think that is crazy, of course they should be provided with the tests. The government wants all children tested. They need to provide the tests for all the children regardless of where they go to school. Like someone els said the flu vaccine is free and distributed in private schools as well. Should we maybe charge people who put their children in private school if they want the vaccine as well???

They are provided with tests.

But they have to pay the full costs to administer them, rather than having some refunded.

@notevenat20

Some people are at private schools on academic scholarships. I believe that's quite a lot of children at Eton for example who pay nothing.

Quite right.

I don't think private schools should exist and that is a hill I will die on.

It's an interesting topic. I think they are not allowed in Finland except for foreign language schools which is why so many successful Fins went to English language schools.

The question is what would happen if you could ban private schools in the UK. I expect the first thing would be that wealthy people would buy property in expensive areas surrounding a school and then "donate" to that state school. So then you have the tax payers subsidising the schools that only rich people go to that are flush with cash from the rich people.

You really need to address inequality in general as a first step before schools.

"I don't think private schools should exist and that is a hill I will die on."

What about these ones? And what happens to the children attending them if they don't exist?

www.meathschool.org.uk

jigsawschool.co.uk

www.steppingstones.org.uk

www.morehouseschool.co.uk

www.priorychildrensservices.co.uk/find-a-location/tadley-court-school-hampshire/

www.treloar.org.uk

Ok well if that is the case I think that is absolutely right, give private schools the tests but let them fund extra staff. but if the army is offered to help I think that should be the same for all schools as well.

Afaiac, it's totally Ok to be ideologically opposed to private schools. It's not ok to slag off the kids that go to them (which that particular poster didn't do)

Do you think universities should have to pay for the tests. Because they have fee paying students.

So many on this thread missing the point.

Having these tests done effectively isn’t just for the benefit of the children, whose health so many seem to be ambivalent about because of a decision made by their parents as to where to send them to school.

It’s for the benefit of society to stop the spread.

So if the lack of additional funding to implement the tests will affect how effectively it is carried out, then please don’t let your fucking ridiculous dislike of private schools stand in the way of this funding because ultimately, it’s the same virus getting spread.

@FractionalGains

So many on this thread missing the point.

Having these tests done effectively isn’t just for the benefit of the children, whose health so many seem to be ambivalent about because of a decision made by their parents as to where to send them to school.

It’s for the benefit of society to stop the spread.

So if the lack of additional funding to implement the tests will affect how effectively it is carried out, then please don’t let your fucking ridiculous dislike of private schools stand in the way of this funding because ultimately, it’s the same virus getting spread.

Yeah.

"Make schools safe!"
"Protect teachers!"

"...unless they teach in private schools"

This is very conceening. My child is an an independent specialist school. All children have an EHCP and are at this setting as they could not be accommodated in mainstream school. The fees are paid by the LEA and not parents. Many of the parents are carers due to the child's disability. No way could they pay for private testing.

All these children are some of the most vulnerable to being out of a school setting and to COVID.

So, in this case, yes it bloody well should be funded!

My point is that it won't be fully funded in the state sector either. A small portion of the costs will get refunded but this going to cost all schools, private or state.

[quote DrizzleandDamp]@LockdownLilly Eton may be but most aren’t Eton! I know for a fact this independent make facilities available for local schools when not in Covid, and during Covid they have actively shared all online learning resources with state schools!

They aren’t all Elitist wankers.[/quote]
So have Eton, in spades. Just Google it if you don't believe me. Eton is not a school full of elitist wankers, thank you.

@Lumene

I think this it is disgusting that ALL children in education are not being given access to free testing. And yes my DC are at private school so I would say that.

All children do have access though. If it’s really important to you that your children’s tests are funded, you have the option to send them to a state school.

So all children in private schools should register on Monday with the council to be put into state schools. That’s an excellent idea and would really benefit children in the U.K.

No it’s actually a heinous and stupid idea and would mean the state system would be unable to function properly.