VAT and removal of 50% cap on scholarships

https://www.theguardian.com/education/article/2024/jun/03/society-is-unequal-but-this-is-regressive-parents-on-private-school-fee-vat-plans-labour

https://www.theguardian.com/education/article/2024/jun/03/society-is-unequal-but-this-is-regressive-parents-on-private-school-fee-vat-plans-labour

Cough (bullsh*t). Dream on!

None for purely academic reasons. Parents who would have been able to afford private school tuition will be able to afford tutors. And they will find that one-on-one tutoring supplementing a state school is actually much more cost effective in terms of achieving academic outcomes.

However, DC with SEN may have difficulties at state schools for other reasons.

Slagging them off for what?

The judging is definitely not only coming from state school parents towards private school parents. It ABSOLUTELY happens the other way round (private schools families judging state school families). I have heard private school parents slagging off state schools and their pupils and parents many many times. Definitely NOT nonsense.

Fair share is relative. I would say over 50% in tax is more than fair if on PAYE. Self employed/company directors employ people, create jobs, take more risk - and are needed to grow the economy so one needs to incentivise them. Otherwise, the rest of us that simply show up to work and do our jobs and get paid - can get up and go and take the risks they take. I know I'm not keen!
And then there are able-bodied people not working - what is their fair share? Granted - many in those scenarios have multiple social determinants contributing there. Another reason why we all have to contribute to lift everybody up so all benefit. No one is coming to save us - no point looking for the so-called rich to come and do it. Won't happen and other countries know this hence changing policy to attract them over

So you believe schools are not helping them currently? I honestly don’t understand what you think the extra £5 per head will do? Parents who are crap, kids who don’t get it (tons of those thanks to a curriculum that is too hard now and too full) so you think a bit of vat will solve this? Are you for real?

This is the pattern in most countries so I don't see people leaving the UK. Other taxes should and could be explored more needs to be done so those with the most wealth pay more.

Yes I agree. We need to discuss this more but action needs to be as fast as possible, as children are suffering with an inadequate education. Sadly, it seems people look out for their own interests in politics rather than getting stuff done it seems - and that comment is not aimed at any one political party, as it seems they have all been guilty of that on occasion!

The top 10% of taxpayers paid 60% of all income tax in 2023–24. There comes a tipping point where other countries start to look more appealing to those contributing the most financially.

I'm not talking about getting rid of the wealthy...just making them pay their fair share, which many do not in my opinion.

Because no government in the UK is going to function by getting rid of the wealthy - how will they run the country? They have to grow the economy and if they don't, it will be a terrible time ahead and more so for those with less

VAT should happen - that is a policy point. Tick
But from speaking to tonnes of parents, what they want is improved education for their children. So the next government will have to do more, much more than VAT and I really believe if we really want equity in outcomes - we should all be campaigning to contribute more.
For many of us - the VAT makes little or no difference to our kids outcomes. So if it is about equity and improved experience for all - let's start having those conversations

What about the children who have crap parents who don't support them at school, what about the children who did not chose to go to a crap school, there is very little choice when it comes to schools etc. You are in denial to think this is about envy of wealth - it's about fairness and stopping people from being selfish. Almost a quarter of all household wealth in the UK is held by the richest 1% of the population - something needs to change.

It looks like Starmer is going to win so regardless of what you think looks like the VAT on fees will be happening.

I have actually and know those schools very well. I know families currently at CH and former students. But, I think kids in Yorkshire, kids in East London, in Devon and Shropshire etc, and up and down the country have a right to quality education from their local state schools. And I'm voting for a government that understands that need for the country. As a society we should want that for all our children not just the select few.

So Starmer now stating he is supporting building wealth. Of course all the numpties out there, so so jealous of wealth, want vat added, how dare they have anything, they want money. You see, all of it is about money. Wanting money. But… did they think of that when they were making their choices. Choices to work hard at school, choices how to parent, choices in jobs, whether to bother getting up? But don’t worry, vote Starmer, he’ll make you instantly rich- so he says

We are already a highly taxed nation. If we carry on being a place that taxes highly but has poor services, it’s not a place where companies want to invest. Nor have DC it now appears. Sweden has substantial private healthcare and a decentralized public system running alongside it. We cling to the failing NHS.

@Begsthequestion You cannot look back and think things are the same now. I live in a grammar county. DC are tutored like mad to get to the grammars. They don’t always have the brightest dc, they have the overtutoted dc. In my day, we did all the practice at school. Every day. The exam was in March. Now it’s September and parents panic.

Have you ever looked at Christ’s hospital school or Reed’s in Cobham? Or do you only look at harrow and Eton? The former are life changing schools.

And it isn't just how schools look - that is just a simple example. In London, many state schools were I live have similar or marginally better academic results than local private schools but the school experience and rounded experience is still worth paying for

You can only tax the 'rich' so much before there is not enough of them to tax. Tax + NI for many is already over 50%. Some in the marginal zone pay over 60%. And the proportion of rich in the UK is tiny and median wages are low. I Lead in the NHS - personal responsibility is extremely low in the UK. Rich companies need to pay but a large proportion of the population will need to pay more in tax to have enough to transform education. Otherwise you will just tinker and the gap will continue to widen. The buck stops with all of us - not some

You're missing the point it isn't just simply how schools look. It should not be the lower waged people who get taxed more to fix the system. I am all for a wealth tax to sort this mess out. And some better laws to stop big companies from avoiding tax for starters. Then you might have the political will and public support to make these necessary changes.

Yes - it will hopefully help a little. For the rest, everyone will need to roll up their sleeves. At least private parents have the opportunity to supplement for their kids. The economy needs to grow so more people can do more for their kids. Any government can only do so much

Totally agree with you and I'm so glad you brought up the Scandinavian model. If Britain wants to progress as a nation, it has to invest in the core education for all. And, I will say, there are a lot of great state educators and schools out there doing a fantastic job in buildings with bad carpet and leaking roofs. It needs to be better for all. I'm in total support of Labours idea. It's something.