Houses

lostinrates

dopester wrote: »

A lot of that red tape needs to be cut imo.

Well I agree, but Dearest Dopester, while here is money for education from overseas why would the big schools, or those seeking to move into that market (which could be anyschool that offered boarding) drop fees?

Our education, much dismissed by us, still is something other people aspire too.

fc123

dopester wrote: »

A lot of that red tape needs to be cut imo.



Yes but not so long ago, Cleaver couldn't really imagine living anywhere but within the vibrant City itself. Maybe he should prepare for the unexpected, or for his original plans to change with a bit of time.

About your daughter's school closing. I remember your original post on that clearly. Your daughter coming home with her friends.. letting you know. You having to weigh up things for future decisions (think it included relocating elsewhere from where you were living most of the time).

At the time I felt annoyed (for you) that the school closed without much/any warning to parents.

Has the school reopened at all? Is it just there empty?

It was actually very sad but I am a bit cross now as I can see the last year was pretty awful. A lot of teachers jumped ship a year before (the really good ones IMO) and I remember DD complaining about the lunches and taking a sandwich in....I think cook had to make meals from nothing as there was hardly any budget......and it showed.
They had just run out of money. Nothing left for decent art sketch books etc.

It had a 'To Let sign up over the summer and had foreign students for language courses booked in (as did every year). Apparently it is now being taken over by the council ~who are renting part of it from the school that took it over. Thye may take all of it over.

It is a beautiful building too....like a gothic xmas cake all painted candy blue.
The new primary school (built in grounds) is still open, renamed and, so, has expanded school who took over.

The last prize giving said goodbye to many back up staff (cook, cleaners etc) , many of whom had been there 40+ years.
The great grandson of the original founder spoke also. One person set it up years ago.
It was the oldest girls school in UK.

fc123

lostinrates wrote: »

Well I agree, but Dearest Dopester, while here is money for education from overseas why would the big schools, or those seeking to move into that market (which could be anyschool that offered boarding) drop fees?

Our education, much dismissed by us, still is something other people aspire too.

There are a lot more bursaries and scholarships than are advertised also.

But you have to ask for them and some people are embarrassed to. Not me.:D Both mine got discounts for the full innings. 30% for son and 25% for DD.
There should be an MSE sticky on it like getting deals on elec etc.

lostinrates

fc123 wrote: »

There are a lot more bursaries and scholarships than are advertised also.

But you have to ask for them and some people are embarrassed to. Not me.:D Both mine got discounts for the full innings. 30% for son and 25% for DD.
There should be an MSE sticky on it like getting deals on elec etc.

Yes, I had a scholarship, as did my sister. There are lots of options for funding, including charitable ones external to the schools. some friend's son ha two, an arts and an academic. some are as little as 10% some are total fees.

dopester

lostinrates wrote: »

Well I agree, but Dearest Dopester, while here is money for education from overseas why would the big schools, or those seeking to move into that market (which could be anyschool that offered boarding) drop fees?

Our education, much dismissed by us, still is something other people aspire too.

Because not every private school can rely on big foreign money/students to exist. For private schools popular with the very wealthy it may be less of an issue (cutting fees) but I still think they will also be impacted and will have pressure to reduce fees. A lot of the rich have seen big changes in their fortunes too, and the aspiring rich who've relied on house price wealth.

Not all private schools can rely on an foreign students rolled by foreign wealthy parents. If they don't lower fees to the prevailing rate affordable by the wider market, they might get fewer applications from parents, or kids being withdrawn. Lower profits or maybe eventually running out of money and closing.

I look at it this way. If I was selling something which didn't sell well enough because it was now over-priced for the market, I'd cut the price, restructure and cut costs where possible, and be happy with a lower margin of profit. Not keep price high, not sell enough, not change with the market whatsoever, and risk the business failing.

Can you remind me about any official reason given for your daughter's school closing? Did they admit it was 'They had just run out of money.' Sounds like they managed their finances badly or were hurt with expensive red-tape costs (which I don't know much about.)

Anyway some indicators suggest it is already beginning to happen. If you don't adapt to market changes then you have a greater risk of failing imo.

Private schools adapt to survive recession doubts

• Credit crunch yet to trouble Eton, St Pauls and Winchester
• Other schools offer discounted fees to attract pupils

Polly Curtis, education editor
The Guardian, Friday 2 October 2009

There have been a number of indications that the recession has hit private schools, with reports of about 30 closing and others offering discounts and other incentives – including free uniforms and laptops – to attract students.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/oct/02/private-schools-recession

lostinrates

again, I agree dopester, but its not just the big name schools that have existing boarding facilities, and its not just the uber wealthy from abroad, its the ''normal'' better earning middle class who hope to help their kids, and make similar sacrifices to people like my parents. If I were a strugling school I'd look to this as a possible.

But yes, I agree, I'd cut fes where possible too. There is a problem relying on foreign income in schools, and tht the same problem we have in mainly city centre state schools: there is neded MORE mony and time to get English up to scratch to learn in. I already felt the impact of this from Korean and Chinese students when I was younger. Littlest neice, two room mates are russian, and thus dpeak in russian a lot, negating a big part of the benefit their parents want. So, its a short term solution unless British take up remains proportionate, I agree.

fc123

dopester wrote: »

Can you remind me about any official reason given for your daughter's school closing? Did they admit it was 'They had just run out of money.' Sounds like they managed their finances badly or were hurt with expensive red-tape costs (which I don't know much about.)

Whilst she was there they built a primary school on their land. I have no idea how they funded it but imagine that it may have been a dodgy MEW of some sort and repayments based on future income from the extra pupils.? I can't be sure so wouldn't like to speculate.

They also owned the large church next door which was given to the council for community use a couple of years back as they couldn't afford any urgent repairs....I think it had a problem with one of it's walls.
They used to have assembly and events in it.

The official line was that they lost a few pupils due to crunch and it tipped the school into loss and they couldn't balance the books.
It was only about 220 pupils.


The school was donated many years ago so shouldn't have had any mortage but you never know.


We were lucky as the GCSE girls were sorted out but it was a nightmare for a lot of parents.

dopester

Dearest Lir, I seem to have hastily answered your question above in the belief I was addressing a question from fc. Apologies.

Interesting points of discussion you made though about foreign students.

I've just been doing some digging about, and it seems the Conservatives have some plans they'd like to set in motion for schools.

Partly it seems to support my opinion we might see new private/independent schools (for profit and non-profit).

That will be in no small part will be to reduce the current cost-burden on the state (which I expect to be cut) + parents wanting to ensure their children receive a good standard of education without having to pay ridiculously high private school fees. To mix things up and add some competition.

In his speech, Mr Grant was also critical of the Conservatives’ plans to follow the Swedish education system – and fund parents’ groups, charities and private companies that want to set up schools.

“I really don’t believe there are gangs of dissatisfied parents roaming the country looking for opportunities to set up new charitable foundations with all the attendant effort, additional star-up costs and, most importantly, lead-in time – which would mean their children would be past school age long before the schools were functioning effectively,” he added.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/6261746/Private-schools-are-victims-of-medieval-attack.html

Mr.Grant may be correct in his call about Labour (their attack on charitable status), but he may soon find there actually are increasing numbers of "dissatisfied parents" stuck in-between falling levels of funding and standards in state schools, and private schools which are out of their reach for affordability.

He seems to think it would take years to implement, but Conservatives can cut lots of red-tape and make it easier and practical to set up new independent/private schools. When you've got limited money to spread around you're forced to find practical ways to get things done (although I'm not suggesting they'd skimp of fire-safety and stuff) - unless of course you're Labour where they don't see the money ever running out, and want to tax anything for short-term gain like private schools.

Generali

A mate works as a TSOL teacher in a UK private school and they are getting a lot of European pupils in as a result of the pound falling in value.

dopester

Generali wrote: »

A mate works as a TSOL teacher in a UK private school and they are getting a lot of European pupils in as a result of the pound falling in value.

So in the new world private schools all around the UK are going to be full of foreign students with wealthy parents taking advantage of the falling pound.

Other regular parents around the UK who are hit with severely changed financial circumstances will somehow have to find the same fee level as before or remove their kids.

Private school fees aren't being reduced in any of the private schools around the UK, and there will be no movement to create new and affordable private/independent schools. Nor will public funding drop to the very good state schools.

KK - I got it. :rolleyes: