AIBU that VAT on school fees makes no economical sense?

[fuckwitery]

Trying to research what it costs the state to put a child through school each year. Figures I've found show between £6 - £8k. We pay £13k per DC per year. That's prep, so will be more for senior school. So at the mo introducing VAT on these fees would add £2,600 to the state coffers. £4k for senior school.

We, and lots of others who just about manage to pay for private schooling, will be forced to take their children out. Therefore it's a NET loss for the state?

Or am I missing something.

Financial Lois to the state, but socially all kids would get a "equal" education.

From the socialist point of view equality trumps economic balance

All kids wouldn't get an equal education though, because some schools are loads better than others.

I think energy (and money) should be put into making all school as good as they can be, rather than burdening the education budget with thousands more children whose parents can no longer afford to educate them privately.

Trying to gain cheap votes without thinking it through.

If all the private parents put their children into state and also put in the 13K a year, plus the time and energy they spend for the schools, the states schools wouldn't be in the mess they're in.

Wouldn't work but it's nice to think about.

Life is about choices. Some people choose to spend their money (having already paid tax) on educating their children. Others buy lots of holidays/flash cars etc.

It is ridiculous to suggest that people pay tax and then an additional £13K for education, which people making other choices have for no additional cost.

Maybe all schools should receive the same level of funding as private schools get.

I seem to remember someone saying that. Was it Cameron or Blair?

Maybe all schools should receive the same level of funding as private schools get.

From the magic money tree?

From the magic money tree

Invest in education today and the investment will lead to increased growth, investment and a better educated work force.

Or shouldn't we invest in our children and education?

Increased economic growth from a decent investment in education will result in higher returns from taxes and less being spent on benefits and unemployment - which will pay back the debt from the initial investment.

To be honest a VAT increase won't make a difference to me. I'd still send my kids to private because the local schools are rubbish. Having said that however I can afford to do this - if I were just getting by after paying fees I'd just send the kids to local state schools and pay for extra classes.

Actually state subsidises private education already. It costs a lot to keep kids at private schools from charity tax breaks, assisted and armed forces payments, teacher initial education and CPD, CCF subsidy (independent get CCF free state schools have to pay a very significant amount).
Private education is a luxury and should have VAT imposed.
Most good independents aka public schools were set up as endowments to educate the poor but that's been taken over and manipulated by middle classes.
If all children were state educated in comprehensives we would have far more of a meritocracy instead of dim but rich being able to outperform and become higher earners themselves because they had the silver spoon passed down.
Education is the greatest social equaliser and we should value a fair and solidly good education for all our children.

Crumbs do your children go to state schools?

In state schools it costs the tax payers around £5k a year.

And when a certain number of children leave the private sector they will have to put fees up and sack teachers. Making even more pupils leave and the cycle repeats until the school itself closes.

[hmmm] could this be a plan to actually end private education in the UK?

And where is the money (if there is any) from this going? To pay for wealthy and middle class parents to get free school meals .

The more I think about it the more it does seem like a plan to close schools to pay for something that doesn't need paying for.

It is a ridiculous policy - my DC will be taken out and put in state school if this happens as a 20% increase is not affordable for us. What is affordable though is increasing our mortgage to buy somewhere close to a state school of our choice, which I am sure others will do too and all that will serve to do is drive up house prices further near good schools. Well done Jeremy.

could this be a plan to actually end private education in the UK?

I think there could be some truth in that.

Biggest problem is that residential schools for children with SNs would also have to have VAT on them. As their fees are paid by local authorities and usually £50K + per annum, fewer children with autism, hearing loss etc would be able to attend. Same would apply to specialist dance schools.

A private school near us has just announced they'll be closed from July leaving 250 kids without school places for September - including yr 10 and 12s half way through Gcse and A levels! Some will go to other private schools nearby but many will go into State system. Imagine that x many more and the impact it will have. Crazy idea!

Or shouldn't we invest in our children and education?

We absolutely should.

But I am not sure it actually needs to be funded to the levels of private schools, that isn't an efficient use of resources e.g. having 25 football pitches that lay empty a lot of the time. Those kinds of resources can be shared between schools.

As usual, it's been trotted out without any thought for the practicalities!

No, it doesn't make sense. But it's a vote winner for those who are jealous that other people can provide their children with something more than they can provide for their own.

I thought it was usual for VAT to be levied on luxuries?

20 posts to jealous! That might be a record.........

Actually state subsidises private education already. It costs a lot to keep kids at private schools from charity tax breaks, assisted and armed forces payments, teacher initial education and CPD, CCF subsidy (independent get CCF free state schools have to pay a very significant amount).

Of all of those, the only one I agree with is the initial education and CPD.

And maybe imposing VAT will be an easy way of getting back the money private schools "gain" by having charitable status?

My ds attends a specialist dance school. Even though his place is already subsidised through the music and dance scheme we couldn't afford our contributions if they went up another 20% and I suspect there are many others who couldn't either.

As an aside, as a pp said about the free school meals for middle class/wealthy families. I completely agree that this should be scrapped - I wonder how much this would save?