VAT on fees - will your school help current families who are struggling?

[rosegoldtoner]

I know there has been much discussion on here about this, and I really don't wish to ignite a debate about private versus state and if this policy is right or wrong...but I'm curious as to how your schools are intending to support parents who might be unable to cope with the increase on fees?

My DC's school hasn't yet been clear how large a percentage they will add to fees. It is one of the most expensive day schools in London with an extremely strong charitable ethos which is great. There are a number of pupils on full bursaries - the school's policy has always been that they offer 'life changing' bursaries - offering them to pupils that wouldn't otherwise have a chance to attend the school, rather than supporting families in other ways such as through academic scholarships or smaller sibling discounts, for example.

The school are aware that a lot of families are already pushed to the absolute limit - there was a huge parental backlash a few years ago based on the ever increasing fees, and the school have acknowledged in the face of VAT that many parents are extremely worried and might be left unable to continue to send their children to the school.

HOWEVER, the school seems to be continuing on with their existing bursary policy for new pupils coming into the school - whilst at the same time being unclear as to how they will support existing families who are going to struggle. This seems particularly upsetting when many families have been attending the school for many many years (there's a junior school as well) who might have to pull out their kids at crucial exam stages.

Seems to be the very opposite of 'charity begins at home'? What are other schools doing?

Highgate? Woke ethos?

If you are not happy with how things are handled you need to form a parent group and start campaigning directly with the governors and hold them and the immediate leadership to account.
Some schools are sending out detailed questionnaires asking the parent group what they want as a whole re the VAT and will then find a strategy to cut offerings accordingly.

I don't expect the schools to support existing parents who will struggle with increasing fees apart from perhaps being more flexible in terms of notice to leave

Yes definitely lobby the governors to cut the bursary for new students - totally unfair struggling parents have to fund them with increased fees. Obviously the rich don’t care like usual as they have more than enough bucks to pay for any fee increase - why don’t they fund these places out of their own pockets instead!

@Araminta1003 - thanks for reply. Probably shouldn't name the school but can you elaborate a bit re 'woke ethos'?! How might that affect what the school does re families and VAT?

Would also love to hear a bit more about the questionnaires you know about - do they centre around what families are prepared to cut in order to make savings?

@Digimoor - I suppose the point is, shouldn't the school be looking to prioritise supporting existing pupils rather than ones who are yet to join at this stage?

Our school has been clear that if existing families are really struggling they should approach the school who ‘want to do what is in the best interests of the child’. I know of a few families that are considering withdrawing their children so I hope this might help.

I’d expect less new burseries and funded places but existing ones to continue.

The school could do much more to support disadvantaged children by donating to food banks for those in real need. Children can get a good education at a state school, a private education is a luxury not a necessity. If parents are really concerned about helping needy children they could make MUCH more of a difference by donating to those charities helping with the basic life necessities. There is massive child poverty in this country with children needing decent accommodation, clothes, safety, food, warmth - a private education is WAY down the list on how to help needy families.

I think that the school is entitled to continue it's current well known policy. However I think that students going into years 10,11 and 13 this September should be enabled to complete the GCSE or A level programme. I think because the policy has been announced before A level results are out, and that applications to study elsewhere are quite normal at that junction that it's not necessary to protect those going into year 12 other than waiving the one term notice to leave. It would not cost that much to help that small cohort. It would only apply for up to two years as future years will have time to make alternative arrangements to move elsewhere if necessary.

My DS is at Private school and while it might be nice for The school to help out parents where kids are in Y11 (so GCSE year) I would not be happy if any of the fees I pay went to support any other kids who's parents can no longer pay.

Do you think private schools are not donating to food banks etc?

I believe our school is directing bursary funds to existing students who might need it to continue for now, not for new applicants.

@ThursdayTomorrow - thank you. All very valid in a broader sense but I'm asking about current families who will struggle in the face of this, and what schools might be doing to support those families.

@Summertoohot - interesting and a great suggestion! Do you (or does anyone) know any schools who are doing that?

Does your child's school offer any bursaries? Are you saying those should be immediately removed?

“Would also love to hear a bit more about the questionnaires you know about - do they centre around what families are prepared to cut in order to make savings?”

Yes and run by an external consultancy, very detailed, answers to be collated, anonymous and then strategy formed accordingly.

There are two types of management - those who keep asking the parents and consulting and invoke parent input continuously on key strategy vs

CEO type head, my way or the highway vision type - take it or leave it if anyone questions. I think that style is going to fall flat on their face in the next few years and has no place in education.
Getting through this period will require strong collaborative leadership but with empathy for all.

Look in some counties school fees are set according to wealth and income in different tiers in accordance with how many kids in private etc. Everything could theoretically be on the table.

@Bellaboot - thank you. I wouldn't ask you to name your school but is it a very competitive one? Part of the problem with my DCs school is that a lot of families think that there's a top-down attitude of 'if a family can't cope, there will be others that can' because the school is so sought after!

That was meant to say in some “countries”.

@rosegoldtoner - it might depend on what foundations and endowments are in place and what they state specifically. Lots of the older public schools have several endowments they can draw on to possibly help some families in the VAT situation. Ask the governors to elaborate on what is in place.

Yes it's selective and super sporty.

Our former school is similar to yours and we had to leave.

We’ve not heard how much will be added on yet. But 9 out of 20 so far have given notice. We’re up north so a lot don’t have the salaries to cover the increase. We’ve just applied to state school as well to move across. We know before the summer holidays that bursaries grants and any monetary scholarships will be stopped so I assume to minimise the increase for paying parents. I can’t believe how labour think it won’t effect many people when it’s affecting so many , lots are leaving and also haven’t joined reception class due to it.

@Araminta1003 - thanks again, that is fascinating. Out of interest, do you have a rough idea of when those schools undertook those questionnaires? Our school does say they are looking at all ways they can minimise burden to parents, and they do 'consult' with parents on a wider level - but they are yet to be categorical about anything, hence the surprise around the bursary policy for new pupils seeming to be the same as ever!

Families have also been told there is no significant endowment. There is a charitable fund for existing families whose circumstances suddenly change (eg if a parent dies).

@Ubertomusic - I am sorry to hear that. It doesn't seem right or fair at all.

@Hoppinggreen - so if you couldn't afford the fees any longer when VAT is added - or even if you could but your child's best mate couldn't - would you rather you/they leave the school at a key stage and entirely new kids join the school on bursaries?

I live in a Grammar school county and an interesting change is happening. The preps are losing applications at Reception age but applications at age 7 are up. At least two preps which were until now marketed as the feeder to a secondary school with same name are now openly marketing themselves as 11+ preps. The one private that used to have a 4 - 13, then 13 to 18 arrangement is changing to 4 - 11 and 11 - 18. The lower school being 11+ focus and the upper school being where they go if they fail to secure Grammar places. Some parents are gambling on saving up for private for age 7 to 11 and state for the remainder. VAT has certainly made this change in 'model' obvious this year.

I am not a private school parent but it seems unusual to me that the school haven't been clear about how large a percentage they'll pass on - it may not be in the school's interests to do so, but it is in parents' and they will be anxious.

Carrying on with funding generous bursary places rather than supporting fee-paying but struggling families - well, for one, we don't know how many families are affected given that the school hasn't given a figure. But more generally that may be the approach they choose to take, if they have a strong charitable ethos. If it's "one of the most expensive day schools in London" as you say, they may have also taken a view on what the parental cohort can (broadly) afford.