Long term effect of coronavirus crisis on private school sector

[suk44]

I was reading an article in the Guardian today about the pressure some independent schools are under in the current situation, and how the ongoing uncertainty could hit the viability of some of them. Regardless of whether someone would be happy or unhappy with it, i''m thinking it is quite likely the sector is heading for a hugely difficult couple of years (like many other sectors of course) and especially since this isn't an issue that will be fully resolved anytime soon.

I understand some private schools were hanging on by their fingernails financially even before this crisis due to the huge increase in pension contributions, and now you have to add in the potential pressure from some parents for partially refunded fees for next term, international boarders having to fly home, and predictions of a deep recession (and therefore fewer that could afford to send their children to fee paying schools).

I'm wondering if we will end up seeing a greater number of such schools merging, closing or converting to state schools that we saw even after the 2008 recession, affecting even some big names?

I haven't rtft but several of DH's colleagues are moving their DC's from state into private in September. They are in industries not effected by Covid, and will obviously choose a private school that has excellent provision.

I don't know of the situation in DD's private school. We do have a number of BA pilots, so that may well be an issue with them having to give notice, however the school is also known for it's excellent IT and on-line provision. It's ironic actually, as a few years ago everyone was very dismissive of ipad reliance, and learning apps, and virtual learning, but due to this, the students had a real head start as everything was already set up and all the students were used to using the technology.

I know St Marys Shaftsbury has closed this week.....sure others will follow .....

St Mary’s S has been in financial trouble for a long time. Any school which has had difficulty will find this hard to survive, although furlough will have bought them a bit more time.

With the news today that teachers in state schools are being given pay increases of up to 5.5% (depending on experience) there will be pressure on private schools to match these sorts of increases if their pay scales aren't going to start falling behind the state sector. I imagine this is just another thing that will add to the financial pressure given fee increases in a lot of schools aren't likely to be anywhere near this in September.

it doesn't mean what is on offer will be what it did before it terms of advantages over state schools.

I think private schools which have done well with remote provision in areas where state schools have not done well are seeing a great deal of increased interest. I have several friends who were perfectly happy with their DCs state schools compared with independent options - before the summer term. Whether this difference persists will probably depend on whether all schools return to pre-Covid provision.

Of course, it may be that the private schools which were already troubled financially were less likely to be able to provide good remote teaching.

Yes some schools might have some increased interest due to apparently better online provision, although interest leading to significant increase in numbers which are sustained is something else. They'd also have to increase numbers to counter those they may lose due to job losses, loss of international students, on top of dealing with the huge increase in pension contributions and the pressure to match the announced state school pay increases, whilst trying to maintain very small if any increase in fees. No easy feat.

So we've now had the first merger news this year, between Bablake School and King Henry VIII School in Coventry.

www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/two-historic-coventry-schools-announce-19035738

Don't think there's been news so far this term of any impending closures as far as I'm aware, but with the covid situation seeming to be going backwards in terms of cases and deaths and the continuation of restrictions and hit on the economy, sadly it will not be surprising if further closures/mergers are announced in the not too distant future.