Have your school shared VAT update?

[nearlylovemyusername]

Just heard from ours, total increase will be 15%. This is on the top of annual increase of 4%.
Significant number of kids moving to grammar

If you're talking about university applications, they look at where you studied for GCSEs as well as sixth form.

It’s not just that. Everywhere my DS turned since year 9 he got doors shut in his face; anything he tried to do including work experience, voluntary work for DOE, he got told by companies that they only took state school DC. My son has been given application forms asking how much his parents earn.

I don’t care if they look at his GCSE’s. I’m more against paying the 20% tax on education. That’s my main push, the other factors are secondary.

@NewNameNoelle

We are hoping that it stays open long enough to get our kids through to 13. They’re then heading to big name schools that I’m not worried about, their financials are rock solid. And the privilege gap will increase as a result.

You mean the privilege gap that you are supporting and perpetuating by sending your kids to ‘big name schools’?

My irony meter is off the scale.

@PhoebesSecretCookieRecipe this is shocking. Which part of the country is this if you don't mind sharing? My experience with London large corporates isn't like this, they don't tend to check sector

@PhoebesSecretCookieRecipe "Everywhere my DS turned since year 9 he got doors shut in his face; anything he tried to do including work experience, voluntary work for DOE, he got told by companies that they only took state school DC."

That certainly doesn't apply where I live. Are you sure it's not a case of being so used to privilege that equality feels like disadvantage?

@SabrinaThwaite

Of course I mean this gap. It is being increased by the closure of smaller and cheaper private schools. Private education will become more elite.

I’m fully aware of this, hence my comment. I know that we are benefitting from this and it is hugely unfair on those who are excluded. I went to a state school, and it was shit.

I’d rather more people could access private education, not less. I would rather more educational choices across both sectors, rather than less. I’d rather state schools improve rather than decline and wish they could be honest about this policy being unlikely to lead to any genuine improvement in those schools.

The big name school we are heading to have 60%+ of children on fee reductions and many on full fee bursaries. Hopefully that can continue

@NewNameNoelle

Glad to see that you realise you’re part of the problem when it comes to perpetuating elitism and privilege.

BTW, both DH & I went to a poor state school but we never once considered sending DC to grammars or private schools. It’s not the justification that you think it is.

The nourishing hot lunches which were included in the fees, are no longer going to be provided. The kitchen staff were made redundant in July. This saving means that there will be an overall increase of 10%.

This decision was made after the school conducted a survey that showed 80% of families would have to reconsider school places for their children.

Its an £10k pa small nurturing school in a SW city. Specialises in children who have not coped in larger settings/ previously had EBSA.

Several families have said the increase has been the catalyst needed to apply for EHCP assesments.

I'm gutted about the hot lunches.

Our school didn't confirm this but we received invoice with monthly instalments with the same fees over 24-25 which could mean something.

Interesting that you are so certain that you are morally superior.

How far do you extend your principle of not giving your DC any unfair privilege?

Do you allow them to study a musical instrument? Take part in extra curricular activities? Enjoy a stable family home with interested parents? Read their own interesting books? Reliably have nutritious meals and adequate medical care?

You must be aware that not all children enjoy these privileges, and that they confer a far bigger advantage in life outcomes than school does?

I assume now they won't be charities so don't have to give any bursary places any more so can save money that way by making it another paying place if they want to?

(I was of the opinion the Government should have upped the requirement of charitable facilities offered rather than add VAT to share the quality of education and resources, but, hey, who am I)

The problem with knocking "privilege" is that you then have to acknowledge the privilege you give your own kids: a roof over their heads, food, extra curricular activities, holidays, engaged parents etc.
When you talk about privilege you mean what you can't afford/choose not to give and the danger then is that you create a situation whereby anything other than living on the streets is privilege.

Also the virtue signalling of "we could but chose not to" as if that entitles you to praise or congratulations.

I opened this thread for PS parents to share info about VAT related increases and really wanted to spare it from another fight with PS haters.

I cannot comprehend what people whose kids don't attend PS are doing here but this forum is free forum of course.

So I'll bite now:

Re grammar places - it was obvious last year during exams season that Labour would get majority. So my DC sat exams for one of the top 10 UK grammars. If nothing else this was to give them some experience of external exams. Got the place. DC also sat for super selective London public schools. Got two offers. I accepted both grammar and one public. I will now lose one term fees for public and my heart is really breaking as this school would be perfect for my super bright ASD DC, but I just can't make VAT work. About third of my DC year group did the same. To note - this is prep which is famous for sending kids to the most selective London indies and kids don't usually go to state from there, it's the very first year like this. Many parents with younger kids in our class won't even try for indies in upcoming Year 6. Our brilliant prep is changing approach to support this.
Demographics wise that grammar was traditionally catering for super bright kids from poorer families, predominantly Asian communities who highly value education. This is going to change.

Unintended consequences - for many parents PS fees were the driver for extra work. Not anymore, so some people will reduce their hours. I will retire soon. My corporate role will move to EU. So loss of tax from me only will be in tens of thousands thanks to this policy exclusively.

Re PS kids moving to state and improving it - were do I start? those PS parents on borderline who are being pushed out by VAT clearly value education enough to make a huge effort to pay crippling fees. They won't accept the fate and move DCs to sinking state, they are resourceful enough to get grammar places or catchment of excellent state. Or home educate if needed. It's kids will less "strong" parents who will suffer.

The list is too long to continue, I'd like to revisit this thread (and few others on the same topic) in five years time to review the outcomes of this policy. I have zero doubts it won't be pretty

Agree with much of what you say.

I don’t think you will need to wait five years to see what a horlicks this will have proven to be.

Policy made from envy is doomed to failure.

Those who were not considering grammars have now registered to sit 11+ or 6th form entry in September. As the private school cohort is usually a couple of years ahead, they will likely get offers and will be sitting on them until the situation is clear. Then some of them will actually take up their places, leaving underprepped state applicants to fend for themselves.

Tuition+boarding+vocational ballet or music are more than £50k. Toilets are rubbish at Royal Ballet School as far as I know.

China and Russia will keep outperforming the UK in all things STEM. Good luck!

oh yes, this as well.

@strawberrybubblegum

Interesting that you are so certain that you are morally superior.

Hardly. I just don't believe in using wealth (earned or unearned) to buy privilege, which is why the vast majority of parents buy into private education. Exam results, school experience, extended childcare - isn't this what private school parents are paying for?

How far do you extend your principle of not giving your DC any unfair privilege

It depends if you call parenting 'unfair privilege' rather than fulfilling your duty as a parent. Seems that you do.

You must be aware that not all children enjoy these privileges

No, they don't. 14 years of austerity and the dismantling of state education from even the very early years during that time has a lot to answer for, doesn't it?

So you don't use any personal money to pay for holidays for your kids or a house/car etc? These things are all "privilege" to some people. Do your kids have hobbies that you pay for? Again, that's "privilege" to some.

How dare you apply logic with the rabid anti-PS brigade?

🤣

Totally agree. I guess the problem is where people don't have the 'good state school'. Which incidentally is why many are in private in the first place.

I've never heard that it's a privilege to pay for extended childcare with your earned money! 🤣 What's next, I wonder.

"I don't buy privilege for my children"
"I vote Labour even though I know the policy will harm my children"

this is level of ... purity?? (zealotry) I will never understand