Staff Redundancies as a result of VAT on schools

[BarleyMcGrew]

Can anyone tell me if schools are starting to make redundancies as a result of VAT? As in, actually cutting staff?

I know of two schools that have run this process supposedly because of VAT but they actually just ended up hiring everyone back but on less good terms.and conditions. Everyone kept a job, even if it wasn’t on as good pay/hours as before.

@MeltonInTheHeat - so sorry to hear about your school. It’s unforgivable, I really don’t know what to say! I really hope your local council is in close touch with the school and monitoring the situation carefully. I would be writing to my MP constantly about it too. With that level of SEND and lack of local school places, they really do have to care and I would make sure there is a clear paper trail to both the local authority and the MP.

Not on the redundancy point, but anecdotally (and unsurprisingly) VAT seems to be impacting on the number of foreign boarders that independent schools are attracting.

Went to a Home Counties girls’ school admissions event. It’s a “naice”
school, not known for being the most academic, decent enough reputation but considerably (and to my mind inexplicably) more expensive than other options in the area.

It’s mainly day girls but does have boarders too.

When asked about the impact of VAT on admissions, the admissions lady said they’d had 55 join Y7 last year and the same number due to join in September, so figures holding up. However, last year they had 8 international boarders and this year they had none!

Yes, my DC’s school has lost a lot of international boarders.

Yes, voluntary currently. Also, just not replacing normal churn.

Yet another private school closes its doors in Yorkshire, this time it’s Moorlands school.
That is 3 I know of, probably minimum 120 jobs gone, not seeing a lot of logic here.

We had 23 (!) member of staff spontaneously move on or retire at a small school about 80 teachers. Many were extra support staff eg people who did 1:1s with SEN students. Some were class teachers or music teachers

My friend's daughters private school hasn't made redundancies of teaching staff, but has made support staff redundant. She said numbers are down. She thinks it'll be okay for a few years, but if no increase in numbers within next three years she sees no alternative but closure. Makes her twitchy.

My school. Redundancies in science, art and the classics along with the senco and other support staff and some mid management roles. Plus the closure of one boarding house and associated staff