Private Education Policy Forum

@dick_taylor Hello Dick, thanks for this. Apologies for the slow reply, we're not on Twitter so much these days. We don't owe anything to HMRC in taxes - before registering as a charity we owed full corporation tax, and all our corporation tax payments are paid and up to date.

Just read @pepforum accounts & astounded any director/accountant would sign these off They show £3109 owed for taxes & social security but have zero employees & don’t make a profit And who are the £16793 of debtors? Complaint to CH & HMRC on way & hope they have D&O insurance🙄

If you missed our report last week, this podcast is a great opportunity to catch up with the authors:

"If they can’t afford private education long term, they’ll opt for a window of it – the GCSE years, for example, or sixth form," claims the headteacher of Sherborne Boys School Anna Tyzack in @theipaper How would this trend impact the private sector? inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyl…

The 27 independent schools that converted into state schools sometimes struggled to adapt to the demands of the state sector, but they rapidly improved after their conversion. My new @PEPForum report explores what happened to these pioneering schools: bit.ly/4rM5WgW

If you think private schools are elitist then take a look at this: The private schools that converted into state schools from 2007 to 2016 have become far more representative of their local communities. Find out more in my new @PEPForum report: bit.ly/4rM5WgW

Listen to this fascinating discussion of the history and experiences of converting private schools with authors Tom Richmond and Tilly Clough here: Inside Your Ed podcast - insideyoured.com

1. A permanent conversion route should be established by the Department for Education, with the final decision taken by government 2. A ‘peer mentoring network’ should be set up 3. The proposed permanent route should be based on the processes previously used 👍

Our new report is out! State Expectations: The history and experiences of fee-paying independent schools converting into state schools. After VAT, will more private schools want to become state schools? The THREE recommendations are: pepf.co.uk/publication/

📝 Read our new report on the history of fee-paying independent schools switching to the state sector - and it’s implications. By Tilly Clough and @Tom_Richmond 👇

@marioledwith @thetimes "An analysis by The Times has revealed how private equity funds have gained a footing, controlling close to a third of the private market through 15 companies that run independent special schools." To what extent can this be read as anything beyond a profit-driven approach?

"Private equity companies linked to Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan, the billionaire Manchester City owner, and Bono are making millions in profit through taxpayer-funded special needs schools" @marioledwith in @thetimes [PAYWALL] Scandalous? thetimes.com/uk/education/a…

📢 Final tickets for tonight! Should we make it easier for private schools to become state schools? What happened to the private schools which decided to scrap their fees? Come and swing by, Westminster, 6pm! We're headed to the pub after... Tickets 👇 eventbrite.com/e/state-expect…

"The school cited the introduction of VAT on private school fees last year, falling numbers and a slowing birth rate in the area" @johnscheerhout in @MENnewsdesk How much weight should be placed on the VAT factor in such cases? manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-m…

Private schools accused of placing ‘profit before children’ as government announces plans to cap SEND fees at £60k. Profiteering, or are the amounts being charged justifiable? schoolsweek.co.uk/private-specia…

"Matt Wrack, of teaching union NASUWT, said some private school teachers faced the “impossible choice” between remaining in the scheme or taking a paycut" @robwhitepress in @Telegraph [£] Should there be a focus on wider financial issues aside from VAT? telegraph.co.uk/money/tax/news…

VAT could mean that "a whole part of the sector... the smaller, private primary school, will just cease to exist," says @ISC_Schools' Sarah Cunnane on @BBCRadio4 Over a year on, is the role of VAT in private school finances overstated? bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00…

'Councils also pay independent special school fees for around 38,000 pupils, partly because of a lack of specialist places in the state sector,' as in @BBCNews What role might private schools play in SEND reforms, considering their high fees? bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

Following a presentation, a panel will discuss and debate the findings, witH audience Q & A to follow. Book your ticket and come along! Thursday 26 Feb, 6pm, St Matthew's Conference Centre, 20 Great Peter Street, SW1P 2BU. eventbrite.com/e/state-expect…

Twenty-seven independent schools in England have moved into the state sector since 2000. What were their experiences? Did it go well, or turn out wrong? Should more schools do that same? What policy recommendations are there for government?

We're launching a report we're excited about - on the experiences of English private schools that converted to academies! Come and join the panel chat and audience Q & A in Westminster, Thursday 26 Feb, 6pm onwards...🧵 eventbrite.com/e/state-expect…

Co-authored by @Tom_Richmond (former DfE adviser and EDSK thintank founder) and Tilly Clough (@QUBelfast academic and specialist in private schools and charity law), this report launches some meaty policy ideas for the Department for Education.