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!

You think you are being clever by telling people to send their kids to state school but you come across as spiteful and bitter.

Great argument there.

@Lumene

A Covid test is not a 'cost associated with private school'

Well there’s no problem then is there?

Erm.....

World’s tiniest 🎻 springs to mind!

@AndcalloffChristmas

World’s tiniest 🎻 springs to mind!

Lol I have no sympathy. All those fees have to go somewhere. Might as well be used to fund testing.

@Lumene and even more so by your last comment! I notice that you couldn’t counter my argument!

It’s fake news folks

covidpostingname, we’ve ‘opted out’ of state education in order to send our child to a specialist school as despite being funded he wasn’t receiving the support he needed and was entitled to. Where do you stand on that? It’s classed as an ‘Independent school’ but half the kids there are local authority funded. It’s not as simple as you perceive it to be. Believe me, we would prefer for our child to be at our local state school, it would save them and us a load of hassle and heartache.

This is from government guidance

"All schools with secondary-age pupils, including independent schools, special schools, alternative provision, sixth forms and further education colleges, will receive an initial delivery of lateral flow device test kits to support asymptomatic testing from the start of the spring term."

So your information is incorrect.

@Crumpetycrump

It’s fake news folks

Exactly

@Orf1abc

can they also opt out of paying the portion of their taxes that go towards schools then so they aren't paying twice?

You don't pay twice. You pay for your child's private education and you pay taxes, some of which go towards education. Those taxes are paid into one central pot, and you pay the same irrespective of how many children you have, or even if you have none at all.

If you do think you pay directly for a state school place for your child, then I look forward to a rebate for all the years I've paid for my non existent child's place.

Aren't state schools funded per pupil? Something measly like 4k per child per year? so why would anyone assume to think they are paying twice for their child's education when they've opted out of state provision? Less children in state provision equals less funding and therefore lower percentage from all taxation. This is another reason why schools are not jumping over themselves to off roll for non attendance.

No sympathy - either you pay for private education and everything that comes with it or you don't, your choice (which I don't think should exist, but that's a seperate issue).

I notice that you couldn’t counter my argument!

Insults are not arguments. If you have a point to make happy to engage with it.

@BuggerBognor

Of course they should be funded - private school kids go to the same places as everyone else (and their elderly nans). If it’s a public health issue it should be applied to all children irrespective of where their parents choose to school them.

Lots of envy politics on this thread. As cynical point scoring by the useless Tory government.

It used to be the politics of the working class, or socialism. Now its called envy politics.

@Whydoelephants

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

This. Find it hard to have sympathy.

@MiniTheMinx just over 3k per pupil for primary schools. More for secondary.

@Lumene I did make a point but you chose not to engage. Why is that?!

Didems ..

@Orf1abc

can they also opt out of paying the portion of their taxes that go towards schools then so they aren't paying twice?

You don't pay twice. You pay for your child's private education and you pay taxes, some of which go towards education. Those taxes are paid into one central pot, and you pay the same irrespective of how many children you have, or even if you have none at all.

If you do think you pay directly for a state school place for your child, then I look forward to a rebate for all the years I've paid for my non existent child's place.

technically you do pay twice. Because the tuition fee comes out of your pocket AFTER already paying income tax which includes education as well as other public spending.

I think all schools should be testing, it isn't about the school it is about the children and the spread of the virus. It doesn't matter who you are, you can be carrying this virus.

Do you have a link for this?

Independent schools will be getting deliveries of tests free of charge under the mass testing scheme. They just aren't eligible for the funding for staffing or extra equipment.

@Avebury this is not true. See my post up thread which I quoted from my daily DfE news to schools.

The hatred for private school is very British. In Denmark, which has much higher tax rates them us, you only pay the difference between the state funding for a pupil at a school and the private school fee if you want to send your child to private school. There is none of this British anger and hatred.