To think that improving state schools needs people to pay an e.g. a state school tax?

That is not how tax works. Tax is based on ability to pay. You don't pay more NHS tax if you get cancer, or more defence tax if you live closer to a boarder.....

The tax that private school parents are complaining about is VAT, which we all pay, every day, on goods and services. So if you can't pay the VAT, you don't get the goods or service, whatever that may be

Well, I certainly wouldn’t be suggesting a separate tax for users of state education. This would simultaneously drive more people into poverty, increase levels of crime and antisocial behaviour, reduce productivity levels in this country (thus reducing GDP and our tax receipts) and basically take a huge step back from civilised society. The consequences would be enormous and your idea is very short sighted and, frankly, ridiculous.

I would instead do my very best to lobby people to vote so that a proper, sensible government can start to fix the fucking shambles that this country is in. For the last 14 years we’ve had a government which doesn’t invest in education and healthcare because the money is wasted left right and centre on corruption, cronyism and piss poor management.

I would also look to impose windfall taxes on corporations and wealthy individuals and crack down on tax evasion.

But actually none of my opinion really matters because funding public services is absolutely not my area of expertise so I don’t present any of my ideas as a bulletproof solution to a complicated problem. Unlike you.

This.

My children are at different primaries, both state, but one mainstream and one specialist. Both absolutely fantastic. They could do with a lot more money, but what they do with the little they have is absolutely miraculous. They have the exact same problems as all state schools, and constantly strive to keep abreast of the latest cuts.

Because of the PP's last paragraph. The narrative on taxation in this country is deeply entrenched and Labour are keen to get elected.

I'd expect a significant shift in narrative over the next few years and suspect a major restructuring of the tax system as a first term design project and second term implementation.

Q

Our school asks parents for donations on a regular basis, and it’s an affluent area so they receive a lot of funding. To be honest I think it’s probably the most equitable way as parents give what they can afford. But it does feed into the house price issue. The more affluent an area the more the school and students will benefit. If you start taxing parents to use state schools across the board those already struggling will only struggle more.

Since I have absolutely no professional background or knowledge about education, I am not proposing anything. Other more knowledgeable posters have made useful suggestions. But I do live in a democratic country where we vote in a Government who are responsible for education so I will use that vote. Your suggestion would further contribute to a system whereby the more money you have the better education you can buy. We are a wealthy country and it is about the redistribution of that wealth and how that money is used rather than a specific tax for education. Your resentment at having to pay more for private education is coming accross strongly.

No I didn't think it was either.

This is the issue, not VAT

The irony ...

Vehicle tax is based on emissions. Nothing to do with covering the cost of your road use as some cars are zero rate.

No it isn't you're not suggesting that we all pay more for education you're suggesting that the parents of the kids in the schools pay more. That's not the same as us all paying more tax to improve education

Our state school is genuinely very good though. Mixed demographic but most parents value education. Lots of teachers / doctors / lawyers kids.

I'm not actually all that against increasing taxes, but I'm not sure having a tax just for those with children at school makes sense. In a low birth year, it will surely impact school funding. Plus throwing cash just at schools is unlikely to change some of the issues schools are facing - particularly around behaviour, SEN provision and teacher retention. Also, the cost of administering this to ensure that only parents of school age children are paying this tax, will probably wipe it out - or you're essentially giving child benefit with one hand and taking it back with the other.

What makes more sense, is increasing taxes (even by a small amount) on everyone (bar those earning below the threshold), and ensure that money is funnelled towards helping to reduce poverty, bringing back sure start centres and a lot more support for children in school in terms of massively improved mental health provision, smaller class sizes, more TAs and better working conditions for teachers.

I think we've somehow come to believe in this country that tax = bad, and increasing taxes = very bad. Which is crazy really seeing as this is how successful countries (at least those who aspire to have a good standard of living for all their citizens) function. No tax or very low tax = the poor get shafted.

And a lot more will be coming down the track with the rapid shrinking of the pupil population.

It does make me smile seeing all the articles about private schools enrolments being down a tiny amount and the claims that it's all the result of the threat of VAT. As if the actual decline in the number of children would have no impact (even if you ignore the cost of living crisis and the rapid increases in the school fees/earnings ratio.)

I don't remember threads about state school closures

https://x.com/andrewoneillHT/status/1795394091532034447

Since there seems to be a lot of talk about schools closing, I fired up the Lighthouse databases to see how many state-funded schools have had to close in the last 14 years. A lot is the answer - 380 in total. 139 primary schools, 99 secondary, 39 special plus a range of others…

Education for under 18's MUST stay free or as it is funded by the taxpayers.

We already have a 2 tier Education system.... I don't want to see another tier added.
Imagine the sudden increas in home schooling, followed by illiteracy a few years down the line. No thank you.

As well as paying absolute shed loads of tax myself!

Child benefit is means tested.