it's daft to think parents with kids in private school have money to burn?

[Popgoestheweaselagain]

Just got asked by my school what would be the impact if they had to pay VAT, adding 20% to fees. My response was 'I'd try to keep my child in the school, but ....'. I think almost all parents would respond this way. Alarmed, did a quick google, and found this is Labour policy. Next time they come knocking at my door looking for my vote, I'll be telling them why they can't have it!

Now, I understand why some people are ideologically opposed to private schools, the unfariness etc. But when I hear this argument that goes something like 'Those people must have loads of money because they send their kids to private school' it kind of annoys me. Money is finite. If you've spent all your money on school fees, you obviously don't have it anymore!

Oh, I genuinely though you were addressing the people who think private schools are unfair until your last sentence.

People are mad if they genuinely think that moving a load of wealthy kids into the state school system is going to do anything other than drive the standard of state schools up. If all rich people had to send their kids to state school they wouldn’t be so accepting of all of the cuts that keep being made to state schools.

I am very much in the higher pay category - I get significantly less free childcare hours than most, no child benefit, no tax free allowance, and I pay a lot of tax. I’m still outrageously lucky. There is no part of me whatsoever that thinks that I should get what is effectively a subsidy if I choose to send my kid to private school. That is an ultimate luxury, and should be taxed accordingly!

Have they finally lifted VAT on tampons?! If we’ve had to fight for that for all these years, I’m stunned people are arguing that private schools should be VAT exempt 😂

Is the state system ready for a large influx of ex-private students?

I'm past the point of putting every fucker else in front of me and my kids.

I got kicked out of school at 15 for being pregnant. Life was really shit for a long time before I sorted my own shit out. I now have two kids in private school as my husband and I started off our own businesses.

I am sick of being made too feel guilty about other people who dont have what I have even though I bloody worked really hard for it.

Yes, I think that is fair. It could be phased in somehow. Also, schools could have the option of becoming state schools with the children staying on.

Really rich people will send their kids to Switzerland or other countries. The ones who can’t afford it will go to state schools. Keep me posted.

Taxation does not equal hatred. It is also very strange to assume that "anyone who does well for themselves" sends their DC to private school.

If you can afford £20k a year for your kid’s education you can afford another £4k. Private schools are businesses, not charities. Of course they should be paying VAT. It’s bizarre that they’re not.

You would always have the choice of not paying at all.

Your implication is that those who don't have what you have didn't work as hard as you by definition. Do you really believe that? That it is as simple as effort in = money out in this country?

I agree with you that not all private school parents have money to burn. Our catchment primary is awful, so we went private and with fees rising at between 5-7% a year it is fairly crippling. Quite a few parents really stretched themselves, needed help from parents and limited themselves to one child to afford it. Loads of parents were loaded though and did have money to burn!

However, our high school is better so we pulled the eldest out and the youngest finishes up primary in just over a year....can't wait!!! We could afford it with big sacrifices, but frankly it benefits aren't worth the sacrifice.

I'm not actually keen on private as a concept (I know that makes me a typical middle class hypocrite), I can see it gives huge opportunities in music, sport etc. But it grated on me, the attitude of some of the parents and kids. My kids became quite bratty and ungrateful, which was quickly shaken out of my eldest at high school and she realised how flipping lucky and privileged she is. She is a much kinder person as a result.

So basically you are unreasonable to say you wouldn't vote Labour just for that reason.

If your children are in a private school, of course you're not going to like this policy. It's a bit chunk extra to find.

If your children aren't in private school, because there is no way you could afford it, you're going to think it is fair enough that tax should be paid on what is undeniably a luxury. The revenue could go into ordinary state schools who really do need every penny they can get their hands on.

I guess they would argue that they do charitable work in giving out bursaries to children who couldn't otherwise afford it. But unless it's a buy one place, fund one place kind of arrangement, then I'm not sure this argument is really viable.

Good for you!

But that doesn't negate the fact that the state has not had to pay for it. It's a monetary saving for the tax payer which some people still manage to frame as a subsidy.

If everyone took their children out of private school and into a state school it would be wonderful. The current buildings could be opened up as state schools with a local catchment.

Only if the government was prepared to pay out to buy the buildings and fully staff them. The schools we already have aren’t fully staffed and they struggle to recruit so I’m not so sure that would work

All those rich parents could instead contribute to state school fundraising events. Their obvious investment and involvement in their children’s education would aid state schools to improve facilities greatly.

If they stayed in the country after such a ridiculous injustice against them, they’d move to areas that already have state schools with supportive parents paying to prop them up. There would be no effect on the schools on deprived areas that need the extra investment the most. And maybe they’d put the money they save into extra curricular activities and extra tuition and childcare instead of giving it to the school they’ve been forced into using.

Childless people also pay a lot of tax including for the education of everyone else's children.
I don't want my tax burden to increase but nor do I want to support a state that feels it can ignore poverty whilst increasing the wealth of the rich. If that includes VAT on private education then so be it.

Why is it bullshit?!? You know where I live? You know which schools cost what where I am?!?

Exactly this. And the argument they take kids out of the state system and save it money doesn't wash, either.

Although I have a bigger problem with the unfairness of state funded faith schools

If they stayed in the country after such a ridiculous injustice against them

I think "injustice" is a bit strong. VAT isn't a form of oppression.

Also. It’s not the only choice. My child is also ND. We also gave up with state. I hone educate and pay privately for tutors and what I would of paid again IN MY AREA!!! For private. I pay on tutors per month. It’s been the best thing I ever did

You can't just say it doesn't wash. Why is that argument wrong?

The private school system perpetuates massive inequality with its closed shop. It's no coincidence that the tiny percentage of privileged people who go through this system have disproportionate success in politics, the arts, sports and business. If VAT increases redress the balance, bring it on I say.

VAT isn't a form of oppression.

There are swathes of the country for whom paying tax - any tax - is equivalent to worshipping Satan and all his little minions.

Education is provided by the state. Choosing to pay for private education is a luxury.

I agree. I really do believe private schools should be taxed but you have to consider the needs of the kids who may be forced to leave due to the increase. Maybe two academic years' notice so that kids entering their exam years can complete them.