Any other bursary parents concerned?

[orande]

My son attends a local private school but we also receive quite a significant bursary for him to attend.

We know this changes every year (and it does but only very slightly).

Is anyone else worried about having to pull them out if they are taken away?

My son did attend a local state school but was profusely bullied;after diagnosed with asd and adhd. So, in year 1 we looked into private and then applying for a bursary.

He's now in year 7.

I am assuming all bursaries will be scrapped?

Perhaps not now that Labour have reversed on charitable status. However, how the VAT will be treated with a bursary is an interesting question. Whether they will charge the whole fee plus VAT then minus the bursary or whether they will only charge you the VAT on the fees after bursary is an interesting question - I hope for your sake the latter

Don’t panic. Firstly , there has to be an election, and Labour have to win , then the legislation has to go through Parliament, and it will be challenged, no doubt.

Bear in mind too, that some bursaries are bequeathed by former pupils; some non-charitable status schools also offer bursaries as part of their ethos.

Do you have an expectation of what your sons position will be in Secondary ? Good luck with it.

I have been thinking about this recently. This is my totally inexpert view:

Firstly I think a change in VAT doesn’t have to be linked to a removal of charitable status for the school. They are separate issues and if the school retains its charitable status they will have to continue with some bursaries etc. Although costs might need to be cut to offset a VAT implication on fees. It also isn’t clear if it would just be for part of the fees eg ‘education’ rather than meals, sports, travel and trips etc.

Whilst the headlines are of immediate implementation remember that the election hasn’t been called, and Labour haven’t yet won.

If they do win the law change would need to go through all the usual processes, which aren’t speedy. And I’d imagine the House of Lords would want careful scrutiny.

And you then have any legal challenges which I’d imagine could tie it up for a while longer yet.

Only then would schools need to look at bursaries etc. You’d hope that they might lower bursaries for new students but keep existing students so they don’t disrupt their education.

In summary, it’s possible they might cut them, but there are too many variables to accurately call it and it would be some time yet before it did happen.

It will differ with every school but I don't think overall they will be scrapped however they may be significantly reduced OR you may have to pay the VAT on top of what you are being asked to contribute.
Whilst I wouldn't be panicking I would be looking at planning for what happens if you lose some, or all, of the bursary. Your best place to start is speaking to the Bursar of your school as they will be the best person to advise. It really depends where your bursary comes from.

I'm a single mum with a ds taking his gcses this year, on a maths scholarship. Labour won't get to wreck them. I won't allow it.

The extra 20% will hit in ds' final year and I'm not giving up then, even if I have to sell stuff to pay the fees.

That's always assuming they get elected !!