VAT and removal of 50% cap on scholarships

Totally agreee. My neighbour has not worked since she was 20. Her whole philosophy is that why should she when the rich get everything for free. She absolutely doesn’t see the irony in that. She is not alone in her thinking!!!!

All pay for education - and no not the £50 tax if that, you pay a month for education and many none at all their whole lives.

I disagree. It will disproportionately affect those who are on the low middle scales. And have zero impact . Let’s bet our salary on how it impacts our classroom?

The political will is not there because the general population will rightly prioritise many more important over and above aesthetics in schools. And parents (state and private) need to take personal responsibility to provide extras for their own children. We have a low wage economy with many people requiring benefits to survive whilst working - they will not tolerate their benefits being reduced so children can have a plush carpets in class. And rightly so. Parents can and should provide these things for their children. The government's roll is to ensure the quality of core education is solid and comparable to the very best there is out there. People talk about scandi countries all the time - their schools are not luxurious and a larger proportion of the population pays larger proportions of their wages in tax. Private parents should pay VAT - no problems there. But real change will come when everyone realises we will all need to do our bit. Not just the 'rich'

British parents are not the same mentality and upbringing of other countries. You cannot compare apples and oranges.

Is tooth decay down to school’s fault? Is not knowing what food to buy down to schools fault? Is not caring about not studying down r school? Not getting enough sleep? Not reading enough? Not playing an instrument, not watching a child’s nutrition? All down to school? Knowing why work matters? Fixed by giving an extra £5 a head? Well —- I reckon the thinkers will say, hang on this is billions and billions to solve. Why are labour saying it is all sorted with 1 billion?

Adding VAT is something. It's a step in the right direction and certainly better than where it is now.

Are you being deliberately facetious...

I disagree we should be aspirational for all our children! If the political will was there it could happen. Now would be a good time to do this especially as so many schools need rebuilding due to the RAAC scandal - we could definitely make a start!

Earning low wages? Did you ever not inform them as a teacher that if they work hard at their grades, it gives them choices? Including not taking jobs that pay low???

That’s the point though. Adding VAT to private school fees isn’t going to raise enough to fund investment in the state sector.

Even the Director of the IFS (the organisation which published the report which Labour are basing their figures on) has said “But don't be fooled into thinking this is going to make any real difference to the amount of money available for public services.”

If a kid is going to do well, they will. If the family are struggling to understand why they need education, work etc , then no amount of money is going to propel them into stardom - you know that!!!

There are many benefitting like him, but not for long. If you then say why can’t all benefit? Well because they might not be ultra talented naturally in an area.

I agree, taxes need to be raised too. But the fundamental fact is the system is not fair and needs addressing and VAT on private fees is a step in the right direction in my opinion. Personally, I think Labour should be more bold and find a way to abolish them but I happy for this as a start.

Interesting you point out the high benefits - most people on benefits are in work!

Because it is impossible to provide such a service for the population at large. Simply impossible. And not just in the UK. Countries have to sort Healthcare, defense, pandemic preparedness etc. No sane government (Labour, Tory, Green whatever) will use those funds to provide fancy aesthetics for all children in a country of 66million people. Not least because those are nice to have for sure but do not influence academic outcome. They likely do result in more rounded and exposed kids but parents can provide that themselves if a priority. These are our kids - so they are our responsibility. The government certainly needs to do more but private school standard for all is not pragmatic

They are already cutting bursary places. This creates a massive elitist issue that currently has grey areas. My nephew secured a bursary - no father and social housing. He is talented at sport- will the govt support him on that at £5 per head? Two schools said no bursaries due to predicted vat.

As usual the govt let the masses go off the real scent by presenting an alternative one that serves them better

This argument is quite depressing and been going on since I became a parent. It's fine to have choice and if you want to send your kids to private school, that's ok. However, the majority of kids in this country go to state schools and if we want to have a better country and thriving economy etc it needs to be invested in and if that means raising VAT, if Labour do that, on private schools so be it. Private schools are businesses and like anything, if they pass that cost onto their customers, the consumer will be able to decide if it's worth it for them or not. The percentage of shared grounds and resources argument is a drop in the ocean in terms of charitable impact on the state sector. I never feel that argument sticks. The current government has not invested in the state sector. I want a government that will make those kids, who are the majority of society, a priority when it comes to education, not an afterthought.

Because !!! State schools have to be paid by taxes. We have high high benefits draining the system, we have so many things draining the system. Billion £ earners not taxed properly, dodgy govt giving contracts to their mates but you want to penalise the junior doctors who can just scoot afford private, etc? Nothing positive will come of it except the glee of everyone trying not to drown in the sh** filled pond

Ok I was over exaggerating - I am aware that not everyone who goes private has inherited money but this idea that you can choose to go private if you make sacrifices is nonsense - lots of people could work three jobs and give up holidays and never be able to afford private school.

The system is unfair and to say otherwise is to be in denial.

As long as we live in a capitalist society, money will provide access to commodities and the more money you have or prioritise for a thing the more of it you can access. Building a society that is more meritocratic is the goal - where people are rewarded for the effort applied. Whatever school you go to, presumably you still have to understand what is taught, study and apply that knowledge and pass exams. Most private schools I know, still have parents pay for tutoring when their kids struggle so I am not convinced the teaching is better in private. The environment should be, the 1-2-1 attention should be, the extra trappings (trips, concerts etc) and usually all parents are aspirational if academically selective so less likely to be fighting with the school about not wanting to do homework or kids being bullied for being studious for example. But similar can be replicated at home if lucky enough to have aspirational parents who are not overworked!

I grew up in council housing, state school, I studied, family wanted me to do well. Thousands like me. Nothing about the independent sector affected my outcomes.

I do agree with you on the government being to blame massively, but I still strongly disagree regarding private education - it should be the same for all children regardless of background - state schools should be aesthetically pleasing nice environments, small numbers in a class etc. - why is this only for those that can pay! There should be no need for private schools.

Achievement is all about family life and social issues. Benefits culture etc. It is not the fault of those who achieve. The doctors who révises exams for hours, the lawyers who got there through study etc. Come on. Do not perpetuate these false myths

Stereotypes - so so many are not there on inherited money. Are you only thinking of ETON?