How many kids do you know definitely leaving private for state?

[Quodraceratops]

I'd be very interested to know how many children people know of who are definitely leaving their private school for a state school - not people with plans to do so in future years, solely those definitely going now / in 2025.
For myself - large Scottish all years school, I only have knowledge of my early primary kids's classes - no-one leaving so far (but I'm guessing early primary may be less affected as Labour have been signalling this policy for a while so you wouldn't start if you couldn't afford VAT).

I just looked up Abingdon school and am wondering why on earth you think a school like that would be forced to close down because of this policy.

Utterly baffling.

It sounds like the school could have covered this but chose not to.

VAT hasn't even come in yet so what was their reasoning?

They wouldn't have to, this is such a bizarre thing to be worrying about. it's such a none- point it's unreal

Are you saying school buildings are exempt from listed buildings regs?
Noblegiraffe said private schools should become state schools and I replied that there might be considerable extra costs.
I’m sure people won’t mind if the schools are turned into housing but that wasn’t my point.

Yes, but at a huge social cost. But we would not be able to continue otherwise, so had to make this move. Our previous school is passing on 14% this year and I guess full 20% from next year onwards.

Given the limited public resources I think its probably not a priority tbh. It's nice to have elite athletes but by no means essential.

No I am not saying that. I am saying it's a irrelevant point as the state wouldn't have to take on those buildings.

Of course not. Arts are for Alexandrine and Cosmo only, as you clearly explained.

just looked up Abingdon school and am wondering why on earth you think a school like that would be forced to close down because of this policy.
Utterly baffling

Ok, I’ll try again. @noblegiraffe you said
Maybe that private school could turn into a state school like some other private schools did when they were no longer financially viable, then way more state kids would have access to those fancy facilities.

I didn’t say Abingdon would be forced to close down because of VAT policy. I gave Abingdon and Warminster as examples of schools, which if, as you suggested, were to close down and become state schools, could be costly for the state to maintain because of listed buildings on the site.

There are plenty of ways to pursue the arts in the state sector and I have friends who have had very successful careers in the arts following a state education

@Ubertomusic who covered the fees so far? Is it the school or the sporting body?

No I am not saying that. I am saying it's a irrelevant point as the state wouldn't have to take on those buildings.

They would, if as noblegiraffe suggested, ‘Maybe that private school could turn into a state school like some other private schools did when they were no longer financially viable, then way more state kids would have access to those fancy facilities.’

(I also had a friend who was sufficiently musically talented she got a full scholarship for a private school admittedly - but interestingly she was the friend who went on to then have a career that was nothing to do with music. )

Er, my kids’ bog standard state primary is partly listed, as are many around here because they were built in the 1800s. Are they as well maintained as the likes of Eton? Not at all, but they manage. If it’s a Church school, sometimes the Diocese will contribute to any major cost.

Ok, I'll try again, @Barbadossunset

A poster said something along the lines of 'won't state school parents be pissed off if a private school closed and they lost access to its swimming pool'.

I suggested that that private school, if financially unviable as a private school, could become a state school. This has happened before.

I did not suggest that the state sector should take over listed buildings from extremely fancy private schools which are in no danger of closing down because of this VAT policy.

Yes, and I am saying that the state wouldnt take on crumbling buildings and that I am surprised parents send their children to schools if that's what the fees are spent on

(Sorry, posted too soon).

My point was that listed/complex building status is no barrier to conversion to state/academy status. I think the United Learning Trust, amongst others, runs both fee paying and state funded schools.

Yes, and I am saying that the state wouldnt take on crumbling buildings and that I am surprised parents send their children to schools if that's what the fees are spent on.

Ok well DazzlePaintedBattlePants says listed building status is no barrier to state/academy status, so I’m evidently wrong that listed buildings would put off schools converting.

Please do tell me where, I'm all attention. Amazing state options for ballet, for example. I know ballet is not required in a developed Western country but I'm still interested to know how you guys organise things in your universe.

As an (hypothetical?) exercise, it would be interesting to see the numbers behind converting a private school to an academy. I don’t think there’s anything stopping a state/academy school mandating school lunches, for example - I know many private schools have an mandatory termly lunch fee, and the Michaela (state/academy) school makes everyone have the family style vegetarian lunch. Are the private schools making a profit on the wraparound/extracurriculars?

I would think that the biggest cost saving would be in increasing class sizes and therefore reducing staffing costs per pupil.

Part scholarship from school but I pay a big chunk of fees plus extra training, camps etc on top. Two national projects will cost me nearly £3k next year - other countries would pay DC to participate and pay even more to represent the country, here I pay through the nose for everything. But according to @WindsurfingDreams Britain does not want to be represented by talent. Maybe it truly is a nation of shopkeepers? 🤔
We're middle class and not eligible for grants open to FSM or PP.

Anyway, I was just amused by @WindsurfingDreams lecture on financial planning 😁

It wasn't a lecture, just an observation. If finances are really stretched I am not sure private education makes a lot of sense. I know people who found their families financial sacrifices a huge burden as children.

That doesn't mean it applies to you . But it does to some.

Ballet I don't know about, but I wouldn't wish ballet school on any child. But musicians absolutely I know people who had full scholarships or successfully juggled a state education alongside developing their musical talent

Yes we should be paying for sport development properly and not leaving it to private schools generosity.

But that is a separate debate.

Private schools offer scholarships because they share the glory of having top flight athletes.

Yes it is unfair that those partial scholarships are only available to families who can afford to make up the difference.

But you use that argument to argue against the children who are not elite athletes paying VAT.

Also ballet is a poor example. There are huge barriers to entry to ballet which have nothing to do with school fees.

The cost of classes, outfits and all the bloody shoes, plus exam fees, before they get anywhere near finding put if they're any good.

pintofsnakebite · Today 19:35

Yes we should be paying for sport development properly and not leaving it to private schools generosity.

I wonder what proportion of the Olympic competitors were state or private - I don’t remember seeing this mentioned during the Olympics.
We did pretty well in Paris this year so athletes must have had good training.