Bursaries

[EverythingAllatOnceAllTheTime]

Merely as a footnote to the comprehensively-debated VAT on school fees, we donate several thousand per year to our children’s private school, in order to provide bursaries for less-fortunate children.

We have just cancelled these donations and are aware of other parents doing similarly. It’s genuinely sad for the kids who will lose out, but the Government need to realise there are consequences to their actions.

Just a comment - I have no plans to enter into another debate.

Of course you do

If you don’t want a debate or discussion why bother posting… all a bit silly really.

Ha Ha - good new angle. What a strike at the heart of government

If you can afford to spare thousands a year in donations you can afford to pay the VAT without any issues. I'd rather the VAT was paid and money goes towards state schools then your money going towards bursaries.

Bursaries are often given to academically very able (or other talented children; musical/sports). If bursaries are no longer available then the school as a whole will suffer as it will become less competitive and therefore less attractive to full fee paying parents going forward. Private schools rely on their reputation for business.

Perhaps your decision needs a little more thought?

Thank you.

It was not a decision we took lightly, and plan to simply allocate the money to an animal charity.

I dont otherwise share your views about the school being less ‘attractive’ - the bursaries were provided to means-limited children, who will presumably simply be placed in the state system - where the facilities are generally not as good. This is not to run-down state schools before the perpetually-offended steam in!

Do you genuinely think the government is going to notice?

Oh look Maureen in woking is no longer giving £2k to the independent school. We'd better change all of our policies

The issue here is that all children should have the same opportunities and by levelling the playing field it will raise the standard of all schools.

What's the point of this post exactly? You've still got money available to donate, yet you're making some 'statement' by donating to an animal charity instead? Nobody cares.

Which is complete rubbish. It won't make any difference at all.

Just like the OP withdrawing her gift

the bursaries were provided to means-limited children, who will presumably simply be placed in the state system

Nah … The cleverer parents will look to older, wealthier schools, particularly boarding, whose bursaries don’t depend on thruppenny donations from current parents.

Well at least the fluffy kittens will gain...

Thank you.

If only it were that simple. Children have different needs - SEN etc., and private schools are generally better at providing the support - hence the bursaries provided at my children’s school. Larger class sizes in the state system can prove problematic etc. I genuinely feel for these kids.

Sadly I don’t agree with your assertion that this will raise the standard of all schools!

They may well get a better education there. You have done them a favour

It won’t do much at all other than lower bursaries and more move to state

Honestly OP, this isn't a strong argument. Most people would prefer that state schools receive more funding in general than that a very small number of lucky kids get a reduction in their private school fees.

Children have different needs - SEN etc., and private schools are generally better at providing the support

Really? There are so many posts here from people whose children are 'managed out' of private schools because of their needs.

Fair enough, thank you.

I was merely sharing some personal experience and a view that Government should be made aware (evidently not….)

I'd rather the money went to state schools to help the majority rather than the odd child being helped.

No point in posting here OP if you are not willing to have a debate.

We were donating 6k per annum, genuinely. So, whilst that may be ‘thrupenny’ to you, it certainly wasn’t to us, and many others I would imagine.

But ok.

I agree to an extent that it won't raise standards instantly but the more "wealthy pushy" parents who join the state sector and "donate thousands a year" to their state schools, the better it will get.

This is why the primary schools in the wealthy areas do better. The primary my DC went to accounted for 25% of the local independent intake at secondary and believe me, those parents made sure that primary school was well funded.

If you and all the other donators have £6k a year to the local state schools it would make a dig difference to them. The PTA committees provide a lot of the "extras".

I was just thinking this. £6000 would help several hundred at a state school, rather than one random deserving, or not deserving, child at a private school.

So if you rocked up to a state school and said I’ve got £6000 to donate to you a) would they be allowed to accept it and b) what would it potentially be spent on?

You already get better performing state schools. Due to intake, house prices and selection

This policy just push this outcome more as parents use funds to access better state, by house price

It doesn’t do anything for other schools