How oversubscribed are your local schools? Will they be able to take on students who are currently privately-educated?

[Macaroons]

One of the headline Starmer kept talking about is charging VAT for private schools. This would make private school fees unaffordable for many who are not mega-rich, pushing more students back to the state education system. Would the state schools be able to take in the extra students? Many schools are already over-subscribed, are there enough schools, classrooms and teachers to take in the extra students? My fear is that the extra VAT they get is not going to be enough to provide education for more students under the state system, as well as the additional 6500 teachers they claim they can provide.

It's lucky there haven't been any threads on this already.

The Tory bots are out in force with their messaging today.

Listen to the 'more or less' podcast - while there are oversubscribed schools on average it's going to be fine.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m00202g3?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile

Another scaremongering thread. In simple terms VAT stands for Value Added Tax. Parents send their DC to private schools because they believe it adds value. If not they wouldn't be sending them. So if the schools add value then they should be taxed as such. It's not rocket science...

I know a few schools that always have room, they used to call them “sink school”, now they just call them “Inadequate “

There won't be any at my child's highly sort after state school. If people apply they will be given a place at a school that does have places in the same town. It doesn't have a great reputation but that's what happens when you apply mid year

I mean oversubscribed schools are generally in poorer inner city areas. Not likely to be a problem for those able to pay for public school at this point.

Well the unbelievably oversubscribed catchment bunfight primary near me now has places in every year. When my kids were small it was impossible to get into.

Birth rates are falling, this is not a long term issue

No school is going to be suddenly oversubscribed, it's just another Conservative lie.

There will be none in my children's school as it already oversubscribed with children in are the catchment and meet the criteria.

I think all you parents with children at private schools who will no longer be able to afford them once 20% VAT is being charged need to look at the admission criteria of any state school, that you maybe able to send your children too.

Yes, thanks for bringing this to our attention

Sick of political party bots on here

Do you get this concerned about oversubscription every time a new housing development is built, or a small school (state or private) closes too? Or do you just assume that the local schools will fit the extra pupils in and not give the matter much thought?

It is in Edinburgh where 25% of children are privately educated. https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/columnists/politics-of-envy-is-driving-labours-disastrous-private-school-vat-tax-pledge-murdo-fraser-4661060

There’s too many variables it case by case has to be right location and some years in the school with be full some won’t

Say what? Can you rephrase that please?

Easily. Schools are struggling to fill places now the 2012 baby boom has passed. Once we hit the 2016/17 benefits cap (which also started off a huge increase in terminations at the same time as a further drop in conceptions), there'll be state funded schools closing all over the place.

It's lucky that you mentioned this as I don't think anyone has even raised this.

Plenty of space at our local comps and UTC.

🤣🤣

Edinburgh is about the only place in the UK I can imagine it being a real problem. But then the situation that city has been in for decades with state/private schools is truly bonkers.

I was thinking that as well 🙄

Well what are the plans to educate these kids? Even our local Labour MP is against the policy!

Closest primary is at 2/3 capacity with 70 places available.

We have local schools who are undergoing consultations on closing/merging so there is plenty of spare capacity.

Oh @Macaroons really have a think of your life choices.

Tory stooge is not a good look. The Tory party have broken this country. Nothing works. Do you want to keep them in?