Ratcliffe College's decision to replace all its pianos with Steinways highlights an increasing trend in the UK's private school sector. Schools are investing heavily in top-tier facilities, including sports centers and theaters, to attract wealthy students. This 'arms race' for amenities contributes to rising tuition fees, which are set to increase further with a planned 20% VAT charge on independent school fees starting in January. Critics argue this tax will make education unaffordable for many families and question the ethical implications of taxing education, while government officials point to the ongoing surge in independent school fees as justification.
At the start of this academic year, Ratcliffe College had an exciting announcement: its pupils would no longer have to play ordinary pianos. Instead, every model in the music department at the private school in Leicestershire would be a Steinway, the brand that adorns the world’s great concert halls and starts at about £10,000.
The school noted that the theatre was used by local state schools and the community. Millfield School in Somerset, which charges fees of up to almost £60,000 a year, boasts “state of the art polo facilities, with both grass and all-weather pitches”. Eton College built the rowing venue in its grounds for the 2012 London Olympics. Eton said that it “invests . . . to provide various sports facilities for our boys but also the wider community”.
Private Schools Tuition Fees VAT Facilities Arms Race
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