Private Schools Struggle as Labour’s VAT Policy Triggers Closures

[Bkk Brian]

My daughter here in Thailand goes to an excellent private International School that has the full Cambridge Curriculum, best decision I ever made, had I known the difference in quality of education I would have sent my son and other daughter to a private UK school.

 

Educational outcomes are so much better and a high percentage go onto the University of their choice. 

[nauseus]

18 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

On the basis of probability they exist in the highest numbers amongst the students in State schools.

 

 

 

Of course, because the vast majority of students attend state schools.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

1 hour ago, nauseus said:

 

Of course, because the vast majority of students attend state schools.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I see you’ve grasped the rudiments of probability.

So how is the closure of a few failing private schools impact the next generation’s ‘brightest prospects’?

 

[richard_smith237]

2 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

3 hours ago, nauseus said:

 

That's right. They do exist. Just like in football or most anything else, really.

On the basis of probability they exist in the highest numbers amongst the students in State schools.

 

 

Of approx. 9.1 million pupils in Englands schools, heres a breakdown... 

 

State-funded schools (including grammar schools): 93.6%

.... Primary schools: 50.5% (4.6 million)

.... Secondary schools: 38.5% (3.5 million)

.... Special schools: 1.7% (152,000)

 

Grammar schools (subset of state secondary): 2.1% (188,000)

Independent (private) schools: 6.4% (581,400)

 

You have assumed an equal standards across the range - the 'Brightest' prospects exist in those with the best opporinity. 

 

For example: Gramma Schools requires an entrance exam (11+) and interviews, and take in the top 5-10% of applicant....  the rest go to State School, or if the parents have money, to a private school were they are afforded continued 'better opportunity'... 

 

Thus: the weighting of the 'Brightest Prospects' is by no means proportionately represented equally across the board - its weighted towards the Gramma and Private schools for obvious reasons.

[Chomper Higgot]

1 minute ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Of approx. 9.1 million pupils in Englands schools, heres a breakdown... 

 

State-funded schools (including grammar schools): 93.6%

.... Primary schools: 50.5% (4.6 million)

.... Secondary schools: 38.5% (3.5 million)

.... Special schools: 1.7% (152,000)

 

Grammar schools (subset of state secondary): 2.1% (188,000)

Independent (private) schools: 6.4% (581,400)

 

You have assumed an equal standards across the range - the 'Brightest' prospects exist in those with the best opporinity. 

 

For example: Gramma Schools requires an entrance exam (11+) and interviews, and take in the top 5-10% of applicant....  the rest go to State School, or if the parents have money, to a private school were they are afforded continued 'better opportunity'... 

 

Thus: the weighting of the 'Brightest Prospects' is by no means proportionately represented equally across the board - its weighted towards the Gramma and Private schools for obvious reasons.

Or, there’s a bunch of parents who fear their children can’t compete unless they receive privileged access to small class sizes, and all those other ‘special needs students’ often used as examples of those who will suffer due to the closure of already financially struggling schools.

[Bkk Brian]

11 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Or, there’s a bunch of parents who fear their children can’t compete unless they receive privileged access to small class sizes, and all those other ‘special needs students’ often used as examples of those who will suffer due to the closure of already financially struggling schools.

No, that's your take, the reality is very different. Most parents struggle to afford private education including myself. We provide the best we can for our children. Those young people who need special educational needs and cannot get the same level of service in a state school, well that's just a human right and why they have to opt for private schools. Hence why they are taking the government to court. 

 

As always you dismiss the severe hardship this has put parents and many children under. Shame on you.

[richard_smith237]

14 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Or, there’s a bunch of parents who fear their children can’t compete unless they receive privileged access to small class sizes, and all those other ‘special needs students’ often used as examples of those who will suffer due to the closure of already financially struggling schools.

 

You mention the obvious as if its some kind of win... Pick one parent, one parent in the world who would not prefer a class size of 15-20 over a class size of 30-40... You present your argument as a virtue-signal, when really its simplistically obvious to the point of being dim....

 

 

[Social Media]

A pure baiting troll posts have been removed @Chomper Higgot

[nauseus]

2 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

I see you’ve grasped the rudiments of probability.

So how is the closure of a few failing private schools impact the next generation’s ‘brightest prospects’?

 

 

Oh thanks!

 

I suppose you mean failing economically?

[nauseus]

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Of approx. 9.1 million pupils in Englands schools, heres a breakdown... 

 

State-funded schools (including grammar schools): 93.6%

.... Primary schools: 50.5% (4.6 million)

.... Secondary schools: 38.5% (3.5 million)

.... Special schools: 1.7% (152,000)

 

Grammar schools (subset of state secondary): 2.1% (188,000)

Independent (private) schools: 6.4% (581,400)

 

You have assumed an equal standards across the range - the 'Brightest' prospects exist in those with the best opporinity. 

 

For example: Gramma Schools requires an entrance exam (11+) and interviews, and take in the top 5-10% of applicant....  the rest go to State School, or if the parents have money, to a private school were they are afforded continued 'better opportunity'... 

 

Thus: the weighting of the 'Brightest Prospects' is by no means proportionately represented equally across the board - its weighted towards the Gramma and Private schools for obvious reasons.

 

What are you on about now? I just said that some exceptionally bright kids do exist. 

 

What are these school statistics for?

[jayboy]

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Or, there’s a bunch of parents who fear their children can’t compete unless they receive privileged access to small class sizes,

 

I don't think parents at the top public schools worry very much about their kids not being able to compete. Intelligence is a matter of genetics and environment, and the upper middle classes tend to score highly on both counts.

[rickudon]

I am not a great fan of private schools, because they churn out elitists who look down on state educated pupils. However, yes, we all want our kids to get a good education. In my case and that of my brother, we both went to state grammar schools and then on to university. I have no issues with the education i received.

 

My UK wife wanted to send our kids to private school, but reality was no way could we afford it. When my UK kids were growing up, we moved to a small town with an excellent state secondary school - one of the top ones in the county. No regrets about that, both went on too University and the younger one on to a masters at Cambridge, So state education can compete with private schools, However, not all state schools are good - particularly in cities.

 

My daughter has 3 children but lives in London, and because of the poor schools available locally decided on private schooling  (still infant/primary level) she managed to get part scholarships but still the bill was well over 20,000 GBP a year for 2 of them. Could only do it by living in in-laws home, But now the school is shutting - 20% VAT made the fees astronomical and it was a very small school. She doesn't know what will happen now. 

 

Also a private school near my old children's school is also closing - they have space for 400, actual numbers now done to 100.

 

I do think Labours policy was ill advised - Brexit, Covid and Ukraine war have all caused financial stress to many families, and 17 years of austerity has seen education under funded (especially maintenance). slapping 20% VAT on to school fees will be the last straw for many middle class families; their are many areas with few if any spare  places at state schools. It will also cost at least 500 million pounds to provide for these ex-private school pupils - many will end up being bussed long distances and kept in prefabricated cabins.

 

20% VAT, higher national insurance for teachers and no business rates relief is a triple blow applied all at once, with no time to beef up the State sector. A very poorly thought out policy, which will have effects for years to come.

[Mike_Hunt]

On 3/6/2025 at 7:20 AM, blaze master said:

 

Ya did you walk uphill in the snow both ways too. 

 

 

With 100 lb backpack