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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think private schools should be banned?

933 replies

BethanyBoobs · 31/03/2014 22:40

Why should someone have a better education just because their parents have money? Why should someone have a better chance of getting into university because their parents paid for their education? It makes me feel uncomfortable that people can buy their kids an upper hand when it comes to education.

I feel the same way about private health care too.

IMO private schools should be banned. Everyone should have the same chances when it comes to their education.

OP posts:
ComradePlexiglass · 01/04/2014 00:52

I really hope he will get a better wheelchair soon, joni. It is rubbish that he doesn't have what he needs to have the best quality of life. If and when I win the lottery I will buy him one, I promise. I did put "lucky" in inverted commas, btw, very deliberately as I wasn't suggesting for a second that he and you are not going through the hardest of times. Many, many good wishes to you both and I'm sorry that we've clashed a bit on this thread. Just shows that the personal IS the political, I guess, and probably good that we all do have such strong, passionate opinions.

jonicomelately · 01/04/2014 00:54

Smile Plexi. I suppose when you've been on a tough road, nerves get easily frazzled. I'm hoping to get back to my normal sane self soon!
Best of luck to you too and I'm sorry for my earlier rudeness x

Apatite1 · 01/04/2014 00:55

Er, paying for school is no where near the realm of buying toxic waste! FFS that's not a cogent argument.

BritishGirl · 01/04/2014 01:06

Don't forget- there are some children in private schools who are lucky and privileged to be there and gain great benefit from it. There are also children who are just stuck there for the convenience of the parents. There's one girl at DDs school who boards full time - and yet can see her family home from the boarding block. She's 11. I think that's virtually unacceptable. But then you never know what people's circumstances are...............

Mimishimi · 01/04/2014 01:07

YABU but I do think they should not receive any public funding above and beyond the collective tax contributions of the parents for the year.

mumminio · 01/04/2014 05:47

While you're at it, ban parents reading to their children too, to ensure that everyone has the same start in life.

meditrina · 01/04/2014 06:25

What public funding? Assisted Place Scheme was scrapped in late 1990s.

Is HEd being banned at the same time, BTW? Especially HEd in groups or with tutors. For that's just mini private school.

meditrina · 01/04/2014 06:30

"If I had the magic solution, Responsible, I'd have posted it. However, I'd remove charitable status from private schools. The fees would then become VATable."

No they wouldn't.

Fees for education are covered by EU tax law and are exempt and whether or not you think they are alike, it's the same exemption that makes univerity fees VAT-free.

Financeprincess · 01/04/2014 06:55

Read VAT notice 701/30, which makes it clear that VAT exemption for education providers is contingent on non-profit making status,which includes being a charity.

meditrina · 01/04/2014 07:00

Agree - crammers (run primarily as businesses) have always been excluded from the exemption. Schools and universities, whether charitable or not, are covered.

It does not however extend beyond that, and non-charitable providers (including all universities) are covered.

The removal of charitable status will not bring VAT on fees.

meditrina · 01/04/2014 07:03

(sections 3.1 and 3.2 for definitions, btw)

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 01/04/2014 07:04

I actually agree YANBU in an ideal world.

And I went to private school (with a scholarship)

TruffleOil · 01/04/2014 07:10

You can't dictate to people how they educate their children. Ban private education and witness the birth of home-schooling consortiums that will evolve into... private schools.

OwlCapone · 01/04/2014 07:12

For instance, would a selective private school (or any private school for that matter) admit a student if they were a child of a gay couple for instance? Probably not. I don't think they're covered by the same discriminatory laws as state schools. Unfair for everyone

You are wrong.

Likewise would people with disabilities and learning disabilities be admitted to private school? Highly unlikely.

You are wrong. Although clearly someone without the academic ability to pass exams is not going to be admitted to any academically selective school regardless of whether it is state or independent.

Private schools are allowed to discriminate, no?

So are state schools. They can discriminate on the basis of religion.

Why should someone have a better education just because their parents have money?

Or because they live in X rather than y. Or because they are X religion instead of Y. Or because they have involved parents.

OwlCapone · 01/04/2014 07:14

Ban private education and witness the birth of home-schooling consortiums that will evolve into... private schools.

This. Although it will not be the seriously rich who can afford it, thus creating a bigger divide. It will also shove the less well off parents out of the outstanding state school catchment as they won't be able to afford a house there. Which raises the point that some state schools are only available to the "well off" anyway.

OwlCapone · 01/04/2014 07:17

I still don't agree with private schools though.

If, in an alternate universe, your sister offered to pay for private education for your children when they ended up at a failing school, would you turn her down?

Enjoyingmycoffee · 01/04/2014 07:19

Why should there be value range food, and premium range food? I

Why should there be polyester cheap clothing and high quality designer clothes?

Why should there be small basic cars and high spec luxury car?

Why should there be 1 star hotels and 5 star deluxe hotels?

Because that is the world we live in. In the vast vast majority of cases, money gets better things. I have no problem with it whatsoever.

midnightagents · 01/04/2014 07:20

Yanbu. Agree so much,

Aeroflotgirl · 01/04/2014 07:23

Yabvvvvu we live in a democracy with the right to choose, not a communist country. If someone has tge money why not pay to go private. Whilst it is great we have an NHS, it does fall short, because of financial constraints you might not get the best healthcare. if people want to pay for example to get a scan and op they urgently need that the NHS won't provide, it's their right! If someone wants to pay to help their child walk and NHS dies not fund the Dorsal Rizectomy (sp) op than so be it, it is not for you to say!

TruffleOil · 01/04/2014 07:24

It would literally require a fascist state in order to ban private schools, for the reasons noted above. My children go privately and if they were disbanded tomorrow, they still would not wind up at the local state comprehensive because it's not a good school & I'm not willing to let that happen.

Unless, of course, someone is willing to send an officer of the state to my home, forcibly remove my children children and drop them off at the local comp instead of me home-schooling them with the aid of a tutor. Who would probably work with other parents from the recently disbanded school and form clusters of study groups.

Aeroflotgirl · 01/04/2014 07:25

It's absolutely a parents right to pay for a private education, sometimes the state system is just not good enough, especially they are closing down Grammar schools.

Delphiniumsblue · 01/04/2014 07:25

It is just jealousy. I would still use state even if I had the money. (Unless the state schools were dreadful in my area , but then if I had the money I could move).
If people have the money they should be free to choose how to spend it. Communism failed. People do their best for their children and for some people private education is their best.

Delphiniumsblue · 01/04/2014 07:27

I don't see what grammar schools have to do with it, only a small percentage get a place. I should think there is far more need for private education if you have the grammar school system. Thankfully there are only about 164 left and they won't return.

JassyRadlett · 01/04/2014 07:28

I'm chortling at the idea that, as a straight PAYE taxpayer in the 40% bracket, I somehow have access to an accountant who could reduce the amount of tax I pay, if I wanted to do so.

I would prefer to send my child to either of our local state schools, but because they discriminate based on parental faith, the chance of him getting in are extremely slim. Our other options are a local private school or a school 5 miles away - the nearest. So he's booked in to the local private school as a back up option.

You'll forgive me if I don't see the presence of private schools as the biggest problem in the education system where I live.

The state system discriminates massively by income or demography - whether it's your ability to buy a house in catchment (pushing up house prices near good London schools by as much as 30%) or by whether you attend church. You're naïve if you think that's not the case.

Minifingers · 01/04/2014 07:30

Most parents these days would trample over the heads of other people's children to ensure a better future for their own kids, AND believe it's morally justified.

Which is effectively what you're doing when you choose to educate privately.

The private school system is divisive and unfair to the majority of children who can't access a privileged education. It sucks in the brightest children and many excellent teachers whose training is paid for by the tax payer. These children and their parents are a loss to the state sector.

But people generally care nothing for social fairness and equality if it interferes with their right to shove little Felix and Coriander to the front of the cue when life chances are being handed out.