To think that the private school VAT case is a waste of time and money?

I think they really do. The fact we need Europe far more now and that the great US trade deals Farage and the Tories promised along with gazillions going into the nhs on the back of Brexit were all lies is as clear as day.

Am not sure British people see the link

Nah the job market was stalling before they came to power. All the measures they’ve brought in are needed.

Not a chance of them getting in power after seeing how the US is fairing atm.

Reform is leading in the polls. I think there may be a coalition between them and the tories or a confidence and supply agreement a la dup

Things change when it starts to hit people in the pocket. It could be due to Trump as well but there is no doubt that the unpopular NI and other tax grabs by Labour are hurting businesses and jobs. The British public are not the most discerning.

I don’t think the uk will be in a rush to vote in the Tories after the last 14 years .

We now that a lot of those sent to ‘borstal’ were undiagnosed ASD and ADHD. The outcome was poor. Those that can afford it now send those same undiagnosed DC to private school (who can’t attract the aspirational mc) whilst others muddle along in ms. The diagnosed also muddle along in ms until failure where parents are forced to tribunal.

There are already state special schools for severe LD and severe emotional and behavioural need. There needs to be state funded special schools for those that can’t cope with ms but are of normal (or exceptional) intelligence who are also autistic (with or without ADHD). Maybe a EHCP would still be needed for admission but maybe it would be easier to get an EHCP if there was a middle ground of provision.

I know the difference it can make. DS2 was crashing and burning but he had an EHCP. I didn’t want special or private because they didn’t suit his needs. So he was HE with internet school and tutors. It was cheaper for the LA. He is now at uni with DSA (no fight needed).

This was a needlessly stressful and expensive workaround for a currently failing system which hindered the ability for an ND child to thrive.

It’s not a tax break. I hope it does succeed, if not where does it stop. Surely the next thing should be private health etc.

OP, this is what should happen in a democracy where there is 'rule of law'.

Unless you want a Trump-style regime in which case you and your interests will be next whilst you are still gloating at the latest victim of an arbitrary ideological-led agenda.

What's so funny about borstel style boarding schools for kids who cannot behave?

Why should other children have their learning constantly disrupted? It's not fair. You shouldn't have to pay just to get an education without disruptions.

As someone with children in each camp (state secondary and mainstream private secondary) the biggest difference isn’t the facilities, or the teachers, or the ‘connections’ or the extra curricular, it’s the ability to chuck disruptive little scripted out of the school if they are at private that it the difference. All the other factors are much of a muchness. The discipline factor is VAST.

their money to waste then, why do you care if you didn't contribute?

I can see WHY they've implemented the fees, and am not totally against it, but the way they have done it is wrong.

They have literally moved the goalposts and disrupted the education of children.

To make such a change, they should have given at least 3 years notice, so parents have time to look for a suitable alternative, or find sufficient money so their child can finish their education in the same setting.

It's a bit like Labour getting into Power in 1997. I was just too young to vote, but I know so many parents voting because Labour's anti tuition fee policy to abolish the Tory's tuition fees was very popular. Then not only did they renege on their policy, they then trebled the fees! I remember Tony Blair turning up at my university, and we all turned our backs on him in protest!!

Anyway... Private schools need to re-think their business plan to survive. Perhaps lower tuition fees, more bums on seats, focusing on good quality education and no disruptions in lessons.

I've worked in a state school for nearly 12 years and if we didn't have to deal with the disruptive rude self entitled children (mostly caused by poor parenting), then state schools would be just as good as private.

In fact, get rid of private schools altogether, encourage wealthier parents to invest in their local schools, and bring back borstal style boarding schools for those who need some discipline and respect instilled in them.

Usually incoming governments are reluctant to change the policies of the outgoing government if those policies are revenue generating as they’d have to find an alternative way to raise the cash. This VAT policy raises a minimal amount if any - it might even make a loss - and seems entirely grievance driven so I can see it being overturned.

It will be changed anyway as labour will probably lose power next election. Tories/Reform are in favour of axing vat on private school fees. I am not a supporter of either but lots of people will vote for them.

It’s not a tax advantage. Nearly nowhere in the world is education taxed. You sound bitter that her friend has kids at private school (why does it matter if they have SEN or not?).
what will happen is the same as it already has at universities. Locals are being priced out and the goal will be to attract more overseas students and kids.

Are you talking of the case currently being heard around SEN kids having to pay VAT and whether this affects their right to an education? This is not going to have an affect on their fees paid by those without SEN kids.

I am unaware of any arguments proceeding through the courts with respect to the VAT on fees more generally.

And as we have left the EU the last court who will hear any case is the Supreme Court. Charging VAT on private school fees is banned by the EU as abhorrent.

I agree OP - the chance of success of this legal challenge seems extremely low. I'm in favour of government being subject to the law, and being able to be challenged when they do something illegal, but I think it's a shame that this case was brought, as all it will achieve is wasting public money.

It’s not going to impact those currently paying fees, but could impact those in future.
Charging VAT on education is, to me, as abominable as charging VAT on tampons.
Why not direct taxes towards more destructive things like gambling etc?

Imo, it’s not a waste of time to explore its morality/human rights implications.

I've never understood the argument that VAT is an unlawful tax on education, when free education is available for everyone.

I do agree that schools themselves could do plenty to mitigate this if they wanted to. The private school I went to was at the time pretty basic and had quite low fees; subsequently they have gone down the route of spending millions on state of the art stuff - swimming pool, library with extensive IT, music school, drama theatre, art studio, chapel, you name it. So they now charge hefty fees and seem to be doing OK in terms of attracting pupils. If they're worried about losing pupils, all they really need to do is put the next expensive development project on hold.

People should always be able to challenge their government.