Russian Oligarchs using UK fee paying schools

[Chocalata]

Is this really such a big thing as the papers make out? I quizzed friends with DC at boarding school and it really doesn't sound like there are many Russian children in their schools at all. I feel quite bad for any Russian children that are at the moment, it must be quite terrifying to be alone in a boarding school in another country, even if your parents are potentially money laundering and financially supporting an atrocious invasion.

Sorry, but I really don't like the 'they are businesses first' line that's always trotted out on MN. Actually, no they're not - they're schools first of all. They largely care about their students. The majority of them are charities, and although that's the subject of lots of controversy, it does mean they don't have shareholders and profits, which is quite a big difference in structure from a commercial business. I also dislike the implication that all 'businesses' are somehow morally bankrupt organisations that are only interested in filthy lucre. Plenty of businesses, large and small, are actually very socially responsible. Of course, private schools have to stay afloat financially. But to imply that they're all just sitting there hoarding their pots of gold like dragons and quite happy to turf out their students on a whim is bollocks, frankly. They are schools, which are mainly staffed by teachers and educationalists (with a few business types thrown in), and they care very much about their students.

@bleuvert there are quite often posters on here who have come up against the reality I suppose, which is unless you are very lucky if you can’t afford schools fees any more you are out. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t good people who work in fee paying schools, they are awash with them of course. But although they are charities, they can’t behave like them, as they are totally dependent on paying customers.

@bluevert you are not wrong in some respects. However having been a governor in a private school that doesn’t have centuries of endowments behind it I can tell you that in many cases non payment of fees by a relatively small number of pupils (fewer than you’d think) could be the difference between a financially viable enterprise and closure - meaning all those lovely caring staff will lose their jobs and the pupils have to find places elsewhere. That’s why schools with Russian pupils will be worried right now

Of course they ultimately can't just waive school fees forever. But I know for example that a lot of schools did a huge amount to help students who were financially affected by Covid - reduced fees, temporary bursaries etc - to avoid having to kick pupils out. I know senior staff at two different private schools, and I can tell you for absolute certain that their conversations at the moment are all revolving around how to support Russian/Ukrainian families both emotionally and practically - not about where next term's fees are coming from.

@bleuvert The other posters you find on here are those whose children have been 'managed out' by schools - sometimes for reasons around SEN provision, other times because their results aren't looking high enough.
At those moments people really know their children attend schools that are businesses which have to protect their results driven marketing.
My DC's godfather is a head of a very well known prep school and they are on their knees after COVID - they helped where they could with keeping on children whose parents were struggling to pay fees, but that has forced them to make substantial cut backs this year with some of the nicer things that they provide. Long term that starts to effect their offering and therefore the amount of customers who are applying for places. That business model is no different to corporate entities. Again I reiterate that doesn't affect the lovely people who work in these schools, but you cannot be blind to their bottom line.

@Mummyford
Hard to believe you have never met a parent of a managed out child! I was responding to bluvert’s comments about fee paying schools business practices. Plenty of posters on MN can talk to this, but you are right that isn’t the main theme of this thread.
Can’t imagine that an oligarch’s child would last a second standing on their own feet in a normal school so I think that is an awesome idea.

If we're talking about SEN provision, then there are plenty of children who are also managed out of state schools. Doesn't happen quite so much for academic reasons perhaps, but it certainly does happen (usually with kids not qualifying for sixth form). I'm not defending the practice, in any setting, but when it happens in state schools, people tend not to infer that the entire sector (or even that school) just doesn't care.

@bleuvert I take your point.

[quote Chocalata]@Ketchupman
But presumably the schools checked the money before they took the fees and the donations? There are pretty stringent rules about this aren't there?[/quote]
No, of course not. The fees just get paid.

My experience is a really high proportion of overseas students being Russian in about five schools I know closely. In one it's like 50% Russian and Ukrainian (...).

@PerditaPerdita I think that is no longer the case> See this from yesterday

www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/private-school-russia-uk-sanctions-ukraine-war-b986060.html

I can't read all of this as not a subscriber but it sounds like there is legal change afoot, although with loopholes???

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ukraine-russia-sanctions-private-schools-b2028803.html

I was being daft, can read it just fine, it was just an advert I thought was a paywall!

This was powerful from article
Ms Kearns added: “Private schools are not competent to monitor for money-laundering – nor should they have to – but they are now being used as a weapon by our enemies.”

This is what was predicted by a few posters on this thread -
www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2022/03/07/britains-private-schools-face-funding-shortfall-sanctions-wealthy/

And this was interesting by the Daily Mail regarding the MP for Westminster

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10586873/amp/Russian-oligarchs-children-kicked-Britains-public-schools-Tory-MPs-say.html

Boris will make it appear that we're kicking out the oligarch children from the private schools, but he'll make sure that there are enough 'loopholes' that it doesn't actually happen. This will be done in order that these schools/businesses don't go bust and he and his cronies can continue sending their own children to such.

Sorry warty ,bad news for you,the Russians at Eton make up less than one percent of the school population,,Eton isnt going bust any time soon..

@nolanscrack Yes my friend with a DS there now said the numbers are low. I was surprised TBH. Especially after that very unpalatable trip to visit Putin from pupils a few years ago. I think Eton has a different financial model to other large public schools in that it really can offer a huge amount of bursaries - what is the figure on that, is it 40%. I think the fact that the head was a bursary recipient there himself also probably means that he wants to make sure the school is a little more reflective of the society outside its gates and not full of mini oligarchs and the stable finances say that he can act on his ethics (other schools need the cash.) Interested to see whether Prince George and Louie are let in to Eton even if they don't get the necessary grades like their father and uncle. Hard to say no but going against all his principles?

@nolanscrack my mistake. This article about Eton having to take out loans says that 20% are on assisted places. Might be more up to date figures.

www.theguardian.com/education/2015/aug/13/eton-college-borrows-45m-fund-scholarships-improve-sports-facilities

Maybe it would be best if you always double checked before posting about Eton as it seems your knowledge of the school is rather sketchy..
The pupils meeting Putin were actually ex pupils and oddly enough no school is responsible for the actions of ex pupils,
The Head didnt go to Eton so he certainly wasnt a bursary recepient..He went to some small non selective co-ed school in Hampshire,the previous head,who left five years ago did however meet your description..
Eton didnt "need" to take out any loans,with interest rates at the level they were at it would have been madness not to take the loans out,a very sensible financial decision, the finances of the school are in a very good place,the endowments have done very nicely in recent years,an excellent building programme,the new sports hall is superb and increasing the number of bursary places as well as sponsoring various state schools..
Yes Prince Harry went to Eton..yes he wasnt up to the normal academic standard,now what possible reason could have been behind the decision to try and keep the boys together,rather than Harry going to the school he was originally going to...what could that reason have possibly been...
What schools will the boys go to,I have no idea or indeed interest in the matter,Im sure the parents will pick the school that is right for each of the boys.. ..

For anyone genuinely interested in Eton College, here is a link to some recent financial statements.
www.etoncollege.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Eton-College-2020-Accounts.pdf
If you look at page 15 then you will soon discover the endowment income and how plentiful it is.
And if you care to dwell deeper you might even realise that Eton College does not so heavily rely on school fees.
If you are further interested, maybe look at Harvard and the importance of endowments.
Eton College has always been a cheap swipe for the rags of the UK, in particular.

@nolanscrack the headteacher made a statement about the pupils visiting Putin arranged whilst they were at the school.

Also @nolanscrack it was organised after Putin’s priest came to talk to the boys at Eton, and they organised it from their rooms at school and it took them 10 months of organising during term time inc whilst they were studying their a levels.

Congratulations ,you have read a newspaper report..,carry on with your unhealthy obsession about one school that has 17 out of apparently 2300 russian children at school in the UK and by all means ignore the fact you clearly know nothing about the school as demonstrated by your posts which had to be corrected...

@nolanscrack you told me to do my research so I did! I have a very close family member who was at the school and my friend has a son there now who is having an amazing time.

I am more interested in how we got to this place where our schools were infiltrated by Russian Oligarchs with barely an eyebrow lifted. But as you say, not many at Eton.

The royal comment was merely speculation. I am wondering if George is about to land at our local prep and was wondering where he would go from there and what happens if he isn't academic enough. Completely understand why Harry was sent there- my family member was there at the same time and he was much loved. Would raise more of an eyebrow if George went on the back of results that wouldn't get another child in .