Whitehall “braced for private schools collapse” 7

[ICouldBeVioletSky]

Continuation of previous threads discussing VAT on independent school fees. The thread title is a headline from a Times article last autumn.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/education/5237575-whitehall-braced-for-private-schools-collapse
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/education/5242586-whitehall-braced-for-private-schools-collapse-2
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/education/5280646-whitehall-braced-for-private-schools-collapse-3
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/education/5301690-whitehall-braced-for-private-schools-collapse-4
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/education/5317397-whitehall-braced-for-private-schools-collapse-5
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/education/5337850-whitehall-braced-for-private-schools-collapse-6

@SchoolRunDays , As a private school parent, I don't think my DD's school is being mismanaged at all. As I said, from £39k of my pre-tax income, the government is stealing more than £27k of it, leaving less than £12k of my money actually going where I want: on my DD's education.

I blame the government for that, not her school.

I'm completely supportive of her school giving a substantial discount to teachers for their children. Not only because it attracts great staff - and retains thrm for their children's entire education - but also because it builds the school community. Teachers are even more committed to the school because it's their own children's school, not only their employer. Less time conflict between school and personal time too, when their children are part of what they're supporting. And because it's just right that teachers should benefit personally from the incredible environment they create.

I'd far rather teachers got substantial discounts than bursaries were given to random children using means-testing. The school has plenty of bright kids already.

Most charities concentrate on fulfilling their charitable purpose. Private schools have a charitable purpose of providing an outstanding education to their students. That's enough. And given that they're saving the state £8k per student per year, they're already providing much more public benefit than most charities. I see absolutely no justification for the state to demand even more from them. It's utterly corrupt and wrong.

And it is utterly despicable and infuriating that you are pretending that there's any kind of justification for the wilful destruction of our schools, and trying to blame the schools for the deliberate harm done to them.. Bloody DARVO.

If you think they're providing a bad deal, just don't send your kids there!

We do value them. So just leave our schools the fuck alone.

Many parents were not aware of what is actually going on. They are now!

📌 https://www.pepf.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/InvestigatingBursaries_PEPFReport_010425-1.pdf

They’re all closing or merging.

Due to the mismanagement and internal funding.

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https://www.pepf.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/InvestigatingBursaries_PEPFReport_010425-1.pdf

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https://www.pepf.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/InvestigatingBursaries_PEPFReport_010425-1.pdf

Why on earth do you think parents would see this as a bad thing?!? Why would we want yet more of our money being spent on means-tested bursaries, when the state is already stealing so much and redistributing it to anyone but us as it is?!?

They're closing and merging due to wilful government destruction. Fuckers.

Independent schools are supposed to represent wealth and “academic superiority” How can we expect any wealthy person or any intelligent person to buy that their paying for a provision where co curricular are being cancelled, class sizes increased, trips cancelled, technology dated is smarter than attending state school for free.

all those who cannot afford a full fee bar outstanding, gifted, means tested members of communities “charitable” will all have to pay or leave.

Failing that, evidentially, more and more schools will close. No matter how old or grand. A business has to make money and live up to contractual obligations to its customers.

Many children are gifted and deserve a shot at independent school no matter the background. It’s earned.

A free for all for all kids of staff not even means tested never mind “selective” is a disgrace.

The internal corruption from within independent school education is clear for all to see.

No, it's not earned.

It's a gift from the parents paying for the bursary. A gift I personally no longer feel inclined to give.

Each child in the UK deserves an education. And so the state uses our taxes to provide an education for every child at a state-run school. That's our obligation fulfilled.

It's not corruption for private schools to give teachers a discount. It's an operational choice, for how the school wants to run. We all know about it - it's not a secret And I'm perfectly happy with it.

They can no longer afford it.

hence the mergers and closures.

Parents would rather see seats going to gifted kids from disadvantaged backgrounds than social climbers who cannot afford the fees and are dragging down the provision for everyone else.

Never before have parents petitioned the governors to demand itemised transparency of school finance bursary, scholarship Vs all the “hidden” fee remissions and “support funds” shared out amongst the workforce.

At that point parents can decide the value or potential ROI of THEIR investment.

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https://www.pepf.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/InvestigatingBursaries_PEPFReport_010425-1.pdf

You’re the one being subsided.

Pay the fee or leave. Staff in this climate should receive a token 10-20% fee remission and all remission should be means tested.

Leave the funds (of the wealthy paying Full Fees and full VAT) to gift to disadvantaged children in society who are assessed and academically gifted. Pulling up the grades for our schools! Worthy.

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Where’s all our money going?

https://www.pepf.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/InvestigatingBursaries_PEPFReport_010425-1.pdf

Why do you keep putting the same link in? And why do you keep insisting that parents are really angry about this?

Do you have a child at private school, and object to teachers discounts? If so, I suggest you take it up with your school or take your child out.

Everyone with their kid at private school is doing it by choice. So I'd say the evidence shows that most (like me) are happy with the school's choices.

I don't want bursaries going to kids from disadvantaged backgrounds. I wany any bursaries to go to people who contribute to the school - and teachers are high up that list! Any parents who have contributed full fees for years and are facing short-term hardship also come higher up the list for me than randoms.

The loss of what the school is able to provide, due to having to reduce their fees so that the overall amount - including the extra government theft - remains affordable, is, as I said, the government's fault. As are the increased mergers and closures. And it's deliberate destruction by the government, not inevitable or even just a side effect.

I blame the government entirely, certainly not the teachers and certainly not the schools.

Erm, I'm not a teacher

But I don't want my full fees subsidising disadvantaged children. My (significant) taxes already do that, by funding state schools.

I'm happy for the school to provide a reduction to teachers: I see the value to Dd's school in doing that.

Our school grades are already great.

If you're not happy with your private school, choose a different one.

Do you not understand

Those independent schools “charities”

who have sought Charitable status have an OBLIGATION,

so whilst I appreciate all those staff on 50% non means tested fee remissions plus support funds to cover their VAT would much rather all FULL fee payers money kept going to them as a form of charitable status,

sadly! 😳 That’s not how it works.

https://www.pepf.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/InvestigatingBursaries_PEPFReport_010425-1.pdf

Independent school staff

If you can afford the fees for your children they’re welcome

If you’re on massive (unaffordable in current climate) fee remissions and cannot afford

if you also cannot afford the VAT we are paying in full, please leave and free up places for schools to make money.

If you’re a staff member with a wealthy partner who can afford be prepared for incoming means tested fee remissions.

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https://www.pepf.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/InvestigatingBursaries_PEPFReport_010425-1.pdf

📌 Reality

Of course I understand - I just disagree with you. And I suspect my viewpoint is more typical of private school parents than yours.

I'm aware that the current education-hating government are putting far more onerous obligations on private schools than on any other charities.

Hopefully they'll be out soon, and won't be in power again during my lifetime.

In the meantime, I trust my DD's school to walk the line they need to, in order to appease this corrupt, incompetent government.. so if they need to do a few means-tested bursaries, so be it. Although I'd rather not hear about it.

But I'm very happy for teachers to have a discount. I consider it money well spent. Why do you find that so hard to understand?

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Review your own school

Contact the governors for transparency

All staff including senior staff will be in blanket fee remissions and will not help.

Seek exact figures on internal discounts and fee remissions via governors.

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https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search

Like I said, I'm very happy for the school to offer substantial discounts to all staff.

If you're not, change school.

Of all the things to get upset about...

Schools are closing not ever going to see the next government!

Families leaving in their tens of thousands as annually their fees are hiked and they have to pay VAT.

Those gifted children deserving of scholarships and bursary overlooked for….

All the “hidden” discounts and perks going to staff.

Pay the fees. Pay the VAT the same as all other families.

if you can’t, you have no business holding places which could be brining in funds. Pay your own way.

Yes, you should absolutely condemn the Labour government for this deliberate destruction of private schools, and the harm they have caused in many people's lives.

So much harm!

They are utter fuckers, and I can't wait to see them consigned to a dismissive footnote in history books.

Don't conflate that with bursaries.

No kid is entitled to a bursary, no matter how gifted. Sure, you could see them as another victim of the government, since stretched parents and schools have chosen to stop giving so generously.

But it was always a gift, never an entitlement.

And those bursaries were always totally separate to discounts to teachers, which fulfil a purpose, rather than just being a generous gift.

Actually it’s a mix of both!

Labour have brought this to attention

Made Independent school finance scrutinised like never before!

But at its core it has exposed all of the “hidden” funds within Independent school finance.

At the time when the said “tighten their belts” they knew exactly what was coming!!

Wealthy independent school kids at selective academic schools have no option but to move to Eton etc financially not impacted or International.