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Original poster

Is Bridget Phillipson's tweet accurate?

186 replies

Seriouslyy · 09/10/2024 14:33

VAT debate aside - can someone please explain to me why Bridget Phillipson has linked more teachers to embossed stationary or more mental health support to pools?

My first thought was its just propaganda, but surely the Minister for Education would post something that is accurate so I am wondering what I have misunderstood?

I thought private school parents themselves are paying the VAT rather than the private schools? Bridget's tweet seems to be suggesting private school parents are paying for pools and stationary but now instead will be paying for teachers and mental health support? I'm very confused.

Bridget Phillipson's twitter post
"Our state schools need teachers more than private schools need embossed stationery.
Our children need mental health support more than private schools need new pools.
Our students need careers advice more than private schools need AstroTurf pitches."

Education Secretary’s private schools tweet ‘propagates class war’, says Tory MP | Evening Standard

Education Secretary’s private schools tweet ‘propagates class war’, says Tory MP

Around 5.8 million social media users have viewed Bridget Phillipson’s post about VAT on independent school fees.

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/bridget-phillipson-luke-evans-education-secretary-secretary-of-state-vat-b1186661.html

OP posts:
sunbum · 09/10/2024 17:02

They're clueless. Private schools dont send letters anynore, they send enails, like everyone else. Stupid woman.

Redshoeblueshoe · 09/10/2024 16:56

I don't understand the astroturf comments. Several of the local state schools round here have them (working class area)

hydriotaphia · 09/10/2024 16:55

Isn't the context of the tweet the suggestion by certain private schools that their income will be reduced because there will be fewer parents able to fees when VAT is applied to them? So she is saying they don't need the extra income and spend it on luxuries anyway. Hard to argue with the idea that the average private school budget is not as tight as the average state school budget - increased per pupil spend is the attraction for most parents.

Setyoufree · 09/10/2024 16:52

Yep utterly bizarre. My school is passing on the cost to parents. Not sure why anyone thinks the stationery used at the school is of relevance to anything to be honest. They've got their way, I'm paying more money. Why are they still banging on about this?

MummyJ12 · 09/10/2024 16:51

Hilarious that she uses an Astro turf pitch at an independent school to play hockey on herself! Typical hypocrisy from this lot.

Boomer55 · 09/10/2024 16:50

She’s a politician. They are rarely truthful or accurate. 🤷‍♀️

sunbum · 09/10/2024 16:50

Stupid, chippy, mis-informed.

dottiehens · 09/10/2024 16:48

A dumbass that should not be in charged of anything. She reminds me of AOC and the other squad members. Troublemakers more than anything else. She will not last long but she already has done quite a lot of damage.

noworklifebalance · 09/10/2024 14:39

She is stupid at best.
The vast majority of the tax burden will be taken on by parents (approx. 15% added).
The private schools will continue to have astroturf pitches, which her daughter will (continue) to use.
The tax raised won’t be enough to pay for teachers, mental health support, breakfasts, fix leaks, buildings etc.

Zimunya · 09/10/2024 14:37

Well her tweet doesn't make much sense, I agree. To answer your question, "I thought private school parents themselves are paying the VAT rather than the private schools?" - the schools have to pay the VAT. Some schools are passing the full amount of this cost onto the parents via a rise in fees, but some schools are only passing on some of the cost. Hope this makes sense?

AllTheChaos · 09/10/2024 14:36

It seems like she is saying that some of the costs of the imposition of VAT will be met by private schools, either directly or through reduced pupil numbers. In turn, she plans for any money raised through the imposition of VAT to be spent on things like teachers and mental health support in state schools. No idea if she is correct, but it seems pretty obvious what she is hoping will happen.

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