Dr Simon Hinchliffe, headteacher of Bradford Grammar School, said many parents would not be able to afford the fee rise.
Independent school Leaders warn of a North-South education gap if the Labor government continues to introduce controversial value-added tax (VAT) on tuition fees.
There are concerns that many schools in the North and the Midlands are already in trouble and could come close because the planned 20 per cent tax will hit them harder.
Dr Simon Hinchliffe, headmaster of Bradford Grammar School, said it was «a matter of deep regional concern point of view.»
“We're in the middle of a city that is historically underfunded and underserved and struggling economically in many ways,” he said.
“That would be a tragedy.”
“We really know our parents very well, and I don't think many of them will be able to afford the inevitable fee increases.”
And he warned VAT. the plan worked «the opposite of everything this country needs.»
“If you're interested in the education gap between North and South, compare the per-pupil spending of pupils in an area like Bradford with that of London.
“If anything were to happen that threatened the breadth of education in areas such as this, where there is high demand, high need and a serious problem of social mobility that needs to be stopped and changed, it would be a tragedy.
» The entire nation must be balanced, be it the economy, industrial policy or education. Anything that crystallizes this gravity in the South is bad for the nation in the long run.»
'Horrified' at the thought
Tony Oulton, headmaster of Hulme Grammar School in Oldham, said his school served one of the «most deprived areas of the country» and that parents were «flabbergasted» at the thought of a tax raid.
He warned that potential school closures would «really tear the heart out of many communities in the North and Midlands.»
“One of the strengths of our education system is its unique mix and rich structure, and something may be lost forever if schools with a long history in communities like these are forced to close,” he said.
He also warned of a “North-South gap” in education as “significantly lower household incomes” are reflected in pay.
“The outlook is alarming”
“The North-South gap is real. Our fees are affordable for parents who, if we moved them to London and the South East, would not be able to afford the fees.
“The vast majority of our parents have to tread very carefully. budgeting and then the looming prospect of a 20 per cent VAT on collections is alarming.
“I have sat around the table with other leaders and we are all united in our very serious concerns about the impact on this region.” , he said.
Parents are “already stressed to the limit”
Dan Machin, principal of Queen Ethelburga University College in York, said many schools in the area were already facing «severe financial problems» and that parents were «already at breaking point.»
«We will see some closures,» he said. . “Particularly for rural schools, it will also mean a huge impact on local economies and supply chains.”
In Hulme, Mr Oulton accused Labor of “appealing to the fact that most people, who have had any interaction with independent schools, think of Harrow, Eton and Winchester.
And he said it was ironic that Hulme was in a Labor constituency where «many of our parents would be natural Labor voters, but by doing this at the next election they know they will be voting to push themselves out «It's driving out of the market the very families that Labor is supposedly standing up for,» he said.
Private schools could «go back to the wall»
Patrick Roach, general secretary of teaching union NASUWT, warned Labour's plans would lead to some private schools «going to the wall», leading to increased demand for state school places.
Speech at annual meeting NASUWT At a conference in Harrogate on Saturday, he said: “The implications for many independent schools — and many of them, by the way, are relatively small organizations — they may be struggling to gain enrollment and maintain attendance anyway. Then when they go to the wall, there's less money coming into the exchequer and there's more pressure on public services because those kids will have to be educated somewhere.»
A Labor Party spokesman said: «Labour will invest in providing an excellent public education for all our children, wherever they live, funding this by eliminating tax breaks for private schools.
“Independent schools will not have to pass these changes on to parents, and a high-profile independent The school has already stated that it will not do this.”
Свежие комментарии