VAT and removal of 50% cap on scholarships

I was at a dinner party about five years ago and this women said she was so pleased that she never had to go to a 'council school' and that her husband earned enough so that Tarquin and Jocasta (not their real names) did not have to go to the local compost heap and mix with all the mutants from the estate. I am not suggesting she is typical but people like her do exist. Personally I believe that people have the right to spend their money how they like whether it is cars, holidays school fees or whatever.

At the independent schools of which I have most knowledge, scholarships are based on academic or other abilities and are less about discounted fees and more about prestige whereas bursaries are given purely based on need, up to 100% in some cases.

I doubt they are calling state school people lesser mortals. It appears that the only judging going on are those in state schools/parents who don't afford state schools, judging those that do.

I went to a 'bog standard' comprehensive but a few of my friends were privately educated. Some of them had a really miserable time. Generally speaking I neither envy nor pity privately educated people and I don't understand what they are to blame for. As far as I can see, there are good and bad schools in both sectors. I suppose private education gives a certain kind of individual the illusion that they are envied and they can look down on us lesser mortals.

Less bursaries will create even more of a separation. This has not been thought through at all and all it does is get them votes from those who can't see beyond their envy and blame.

"the quality of teaching could go down as the more able teachers will be tempted to go into the state system to ensure an adequate pension when they retire"

Mon dieu! 🙈😂

I was talking to my father in law, who is a retired head teacher, and he said that years ago children could have a direct grant, subject to suitability, which meant that the tuition fees were covered by the state and the child could attend a private (or a public) school as a day pupil if they earned a place there. I know this would only benefit academically able children and not do anything for the less able children whose parents didn't want them mixing with the scum from the local estate at the local comp (ie me several year's ago). This is a far more complex question than it first appears, on the one hand, it seems anomalous that a fee paying school is classed as a charity but on the other hand, parents are removing their children from the overcrowded state sector while still paying into the state coffers for (other people's children's) education. I get annoyed by the fact that private education fosters the rampant snobbery that besets this country. Being privately educated does not make you superior in itself. Parents worry about drrrrugggs, bullying and loose morals in state schools but all these things go on even in the top public schools. King Charles was bullied at Gordonstoun and Prince Harry did drugs at Eton. I think that if more state funded children were given places at private schools it would help everybody and go some way towards ending the awful, inequality and elitism.

Another problem is that many cash strapped private schools are opting out of the national teachers' pension scheme so this means that the quality of teaching could go down as the more able teachers will be tempted to go into the state system to ensure an adequate pension when they retire.

You’re correct. Some of them are. I think it varies between schools.

I think a lot of bursaries are provided by old students who want to help people who not well off financially.

I don't know if I understand correctly, and tbh there's so little detail about how this would work I doubt it'll happen, but Labour wouldn't remove charity status. Therefore the schools who still have this, would, using my common sense here, keep whatever benefits that brings, aka VAT exemption.
If my understanding is correct, it would be the for profit schools that are effected, which is only fair as they are quite ruthless businesses.

Ah sorry, yes I see what you’re saying now! I too have wondered if they’ll decrease bursaries and move more money into scholarships to help fee paying parents. A few schools have been doing the opposite over the last few years (channeling funds away from scholarships and into bursaries). I wonder if that trend will start to reverse.

There’s a difference between scholarships and bursaries. Scholarships are awarded based on merit and often have very little, if any, financial benefit. Bursaries are means tested. Some schools have already said that they’ll stop bursaries going forwards if VAT on fees is brought in.

I would doubt it - scholarships are paid for by other parents, who are now being squeezed out by VAT - I would assume the opposite - less scholarships to lower the fee burden. A very sad outcome of the policy.

I don’t know what the 50% cap you’re referring to is. However, the Labour Party have already said that they’re not removing charitable status from schools. Charitable status and VAT are entirely separate.