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

@Zodlebud surrounded by a vast impoverished housing estate - which ironically for the middle class students helps with contextual post code offers. Also has a hairdressing room and a poly tunnel where pupils can learn to brick lay. Really does cater for all. The only thing I find a bit unfair is the high grades requirement for sixth form but the head explains that as those who can’t get the grades shouldn’t be focused on a levels as there are other local places that do great Btecs and the fee paying school can take on those who want to do a levels with lower gcse results.

And why are religious organisations allowed to be charities if education isn’t? That’s tax payers subsidising people’s beliefs and medieval imaginings, surely that’s a waste of money!?

Sounds like bread and circuses to me - he’s not getting the membership changes through he wanted. Has he met with Rosie Duffield yet?

@Rhubarbsoup

Labour focusing on the important stuff as usual. This crops up from them periodically, a lot with their children in private school are higher rate tax payers anyway yet don't use the state schools of which their tax goes towards, being double taxed effectively sounds fun; let's hope they jump ship to state schools and see how an influx of more children helps the already crumbling system.

Only if there are places? State schools are full round here hence some proper have to go private

Excellent news - it’s long overdue.

Overdue. Good move.

Has he thought this through? Probably, since only a fraction of the tiny percentage of British families who send their children to private school (7 per cent) are "just about managing" fees. So let's say that's 3 per cent of families with children. And some of those would unlikely ever vote for Starmer anyway as statistically those sending their children to private school are less likely to vote labour. Zero impact on the existing voter base but possibly big win in terms of positioning against an Etonian elite cabinet.
I don't think much of Starmer but OP, it's really you who hasn't thought this through.
If you're struggling maybe consider moving your children into a good state school. If you can afford fees you can afford to move house into a catchment that suits you.

Only if there are places? State schools are full round here hence some proper have to go private

Well yes exactly, but obviously labour have considered this and plan to magic new schools out of thin air to account for those in the private system currently just in case.

@newstart1234

Sound like a sensible plan to me.

Until the independent schools close because they can no longer afford to run...and those kids end up in already overcriwded state schools...and the gov isn't receiving as much money as they planned and having to fund additional places...

@SirChenjins

Excellent news - it’s long overdue.

Why?

Good. Frankly, if some kids have to go to state school instead their parents might realise how bloody badly funded state schools are. They might be the sort of pushy, pro active parents who will actually put pressure on politicians to do something about the state of funding.

Private schools having charity status is a joke. They are supposed to do something in return for this, including sharing some of their lovely facilities with neighboruing state schools. In my experience they don't. I used to teach close to several private schools. Our kids never got to use their extensive playing fileds, their lovely science labs or their up to the minute IT suites. They did, however, get to go into their main hall to compete against them in public speaking debates. This would involve no more than a dozen of our students. Hardly giving our students from one of the most deprived ares in the UK a helping hand there were they? But, I supposed it ticked a box for the private school.

We used to take some of the private school students into our sixth form when they didn't do well enough at their GCSEs and they were not allowed to stay in their old school. They, and their parents were usually very shocked at the state of our buildings and at the age of our facilities. They never complained about the quality of our teaching though.

But immigrants’ Children were taking over your schools and you voted for brexit so they’d go home. Plenty of places in the state sector and the NHS is infinitely better too.

@00100001 I think both the parties plan long term for the private schools to become state schools… so buildings and facilities won’t be wasted.

I don’t think parents will take their kids out of private - no spare places, because they preferred them in the first place etc

Schools will need to find other sources of income, if they really need to. Eg more pupils, put up fees, rent out facilities etc

Good,
About time too.

@amillionmenonmars

Good. Frankly, if some kids have to go to state school instead their parents might realise how bloody badly funded state schools are. They might be the sort of pushy, pro active parents who will actually put pressure on politicians to do something about the state of funding.

Private schools having charity status is a joke. They are supposed to do something in return for this, including sharing some of their lovely facilities with neighboruing state schools. In my experience they don't. I used to teach close to several private schools. Our kids never got to use their extensive playing fileds, their lovely science labs or their up to the minute IT suites. They did, however, get to go into their main hall to compete against them in public speaking debates. This would involve no more than a dozen of our students. Hardly giving our students from one of the most deprived ares in the UK a helping hand there were they? But, I supposed it ticked a box for the private school.

We used to take some of the private school students into our sixth form when they didn't do well enough at their GCSEs and they were not allowed to stay in their old school. They, and their parents were usually very shocked at the state of our buildings and at the age of our facilities. They never complained about the quality of our teaching though.

One of our private schools is quite good at this - they loan their pool out, share labs etc but the other private school doesn’t do it at all, apparently. We shall see if that returns post covid… though am sure the charitable status will stay.

[quote Placido]@00100001 I think both the parties plan long term for the private schools to become state schools… so buildings and facilities won’t be wasted.[/quote]
So where are government going to get money from to buy these buildings?

@yodaforpresident

Sounds like bread and circuses to me - he’s not getting the membership changes through he wanted. Has he met with Rosie Duffield yet?

I’m wondering how desperate he’s feeling right now after not getting membership changes through.

Re using private schools as state mentioned by pp presumably the state has to buy the buildings

So much ££

it will hurt small independent school the most that take on pupils with additional needs who thrive in small classes but would cope with a typical state school class size.

They already do take over private schools and turn them to state, but only the ones with saving. They wouldn’t save them all for sure.

@MarshaBradyo I don’t think they buy the buildings as a capital sale - will fact check that though as there is a good recent example. Will let you know.

@Placido inevitably in discussions like this broad brushes are required and I don’t disagree with you. But it kind of makes my point that in some areas the closure of private schools might have a disproportionate impact on state schools in that area - so on a macro level this kind of policy might appear attractive but on the doorstep it might be a very different matter. If those doorsteps are in marginal seats then it may not be the vote winner Labour want it to be

I wonder what the plans would be for places such as the Royal Ballet School, which is a registered charity.

@VanCleefArpels let’s wait and see what the Tory plans are - they are both trying to grab the red wall voters who have seen years of underfunded state education. How would you get their vote?

Can someone with a less Sunday mind think of numbers

If you take a smallish (ie not the VAT option) amount from each private student - 7% of population what improvements can you afford for the 93%?

You will likely reduce that pool slightly and increase state one

Some of these posts on what will be delivered sound expensive