So, Keir Starmer is intending to remove charitable status

[BadgerB]

He intends to use the money raised to "shake-up" the State schools.

Has he thought this through - the number of children whose parents just about manage fees, who will then transfer their kids to state schools.

How many? How much will this cost? And how soon can the necessary expansion be effected?

Of course, the really rich will be able to dig deeper into their pockets

The horror!! State schools you say!

Sound like a sensible plan to me.

And the rich digging deeper into their pockets - so? I don’t mind how they spend their money 🤷🏼‍♀️

What percent are in private schools? What percent of those are likely to leave?

Well I’m struggling to see how private schools even have the cheek to call themselves charities.

Historically a lot of private schools were set up by local philanthropists but you wouldn’t know it (eg Alleyns for example). But they are so far removed from charities now, it’s a joke.

I would rather charity status taken away but it’s a mistake to link it to increased funding for state schools especially as that’s not really how the tax system normally works. Just increase funding to state schools and don’t make it an attack on private.

Good

This will make little difference to most wealthy parents. An extra £400 per year on £40000 fees is nothing.

It will mean some families can no longer afford to pay and they will move their DC to the state system.

A small number of schools will go out of business and their students will either move to other private schools or in to the state system.

It also opens up a legal can of worms.

Other parties have looked at this and decided against for the above reasons. Big disruption. Marginal benefit.

But most of all it will make no difference since Labour is and remains unelectable in its current state.

I think that you’ll find a lot of independent schools would quite happily step back from being charities now - the government needs to change the laws to make that easier. Only about half of independent schools are charities anyway.

But most of all it will make no difference since Labour is and remains unelectable in its current state

We don’t have an election now 🤷🏻‍♀️

Hoping Labour can turn it around in a couple of years. Theresa May lost her majority against Jeremy Corbyn which was a shock at the time, and then Boris got a majority - so anything is possible.

Good

Has he thought this through - the number of children whose parents just about manage fees, who will then transfer their kids to state schools.

The state system will need to be ready to take on many more students.

Its a good idea. Just a shame we are stuck with bojo for another 3 years. Labour unlikely to get in but we can Hope.

It has been talked about for at least 20 years so maybe Starmer should just get on and do it so we can all move on

And they should also remove charity status from churches and religious organisations at the same time, as most of them are only ‘charitable’ to the very small amount of people who fit exactly with their belief system and follow their often brainwashed way of thinking, so them maintaining charity status is of no wider benefit to society than private school pupils

@MarshaBradyo

Has he thought this through - the number of children whose parents just about manage fees, who will then transfer their kids to state schools.

The state system will need to be ready to take on many more students.

Id be interested to know what actually would happen

For a start I doubt it would be overnight, I reckon it would be tapered. Many kids would stay in private anyway.

I doubt that many people sending their kids private are on the breadline struggling to cover the fees.

Not on the breadline no but yes enough for VAT to make them reconsider.

Every change in cost brings some change and this would too.

Would bursaries stop? That’s quite sad

It’s a really easy policy for labour to come up with as it will target with near certainty Tory voters and ensure it pisses off pretty much no Labour voters. A Tory tax if you will. What’s not to like?

Good. I dont understand why schools are right down the tory list. The special needs system is at breaking point.

Good! A 'charity' that allows those who can pay to self-select out of State education? I think not.

Next to lose charitable status should be churches.

Firstly, there will be a protracted legal argument so it won't happen quickly. Many schools have been charitable trusts for centuries because they were set up by philanthropists. And they have a LOT of political support where it counts.

If it goes through, bursaries and scholarships will be cancelled and many of the recipients will revert to the state sector, costing the govt more.

The truly wealthy won't bat an eyelid at an extra £400 per year.

The only people it will hurt are the gifted and talented, plus a few whose parents are struggling.

And Labour have to get into power first !

How will you distinguish between private schools with charitable status and other entities which exist for educational purposes and have charitable status?

I see he also wants 'compulsory work placements with local employers' and
'every primary and secondary child to have access to weekly extracurricular activities and after school clubs'.

What incentives will there be for local employers to provide work placements and who will provide these extracurricular activities?

they should also remove charity status from churches and religious organisations at the same time

That would certainly be interesting to see, of the 13 legal purposes that can make a charity, the 3rd is "the advancement of religion". I fail to see why this should be considered a charitable act in England in the 21st century.

I think it's economically wrong. Good private schools bring many benefits to an area and attract wealthy overseas migrants. We are going to lose more than the tax will bring in.

It's purely a political stick.

Good.

I say that as a secondary state teacher who sent DS1 to private school and had to remortgage to afford it. It was the making of him and even though I'll be paying it back forever it was, for him, a great decision.

I think it is a good idea too and have DC at private school (that does not have charitable status).
One of the reasons they are at private school is because we did not get them in to the local church STATE school that my taxes fund because we don't go to church regularly enough.... how is that fair? A vicar gets to choose who goes to a state school. That needs to end.

@ChardonnaysPetDragon

I think it's economically wrong. Good private schools bring many benefits to an area and attract wealthy overseas migrants. We are going to lose more than the tax will bring in.

It's purely a political stick.

Really, how so?