@Barbadossunset - if you want to look at wealth taxes, look at how Switzerland does it. It is implemented on a cantonal aka local authority level but on worldwide wealth, but rates differ massively between cantons (so Zurich, Basel, Geneva have much higher taxes, both income and wealth taxes, but smaller boring cantons have lower rates and special “deals” with billionaires so they pay an agreed rate). It is better to charge a lower rate consistently and it can be a great money maker. Billionaires should be paying a worldwide wealth tax at a low rate every year to which ever country they are domiciled in. Non dom status is ludicrous as well as basically allowing your capital city to be sold off to foreigners. It is really short sighted and our governments should have learnt from other countries. You cannot implement anything drastic to put off foreign investment but you do have to protect your own population and their housing needs or you are screwed long term. However, politicians don’t think long term, especially not in countries with centralised governments. I always follow Switzerland as a matter of principle, because it is fascinating how quickly they can implement changes given the power local authorities have (e.g. crackdowns on Air BNBs if the local areas are suffering). This is another digression - but look what is going on with VAPES in UK right now. Basically, companies making millions and millions at the expense of the health of teens en masse! And the government is not reacting quickly at all, again! https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/disposable-vapes-must-banned-says-27085836 Despite being told it is a huge issue really. I could show you a number of companies massively benefitting from the exploitation of teens in this regard, right now. People again making millions.
Where I live the builders and many professional economic migrants (lots from the Asian subcontinent) send their DC to the local private schools. Lots of yummy mummy middle class types shun those privates and move in to super comp catchments/do grammar/tutor on the side.
Basically, a large proportion of the intellectual British elite now refuses to pay up for some of the quite obscene amounts private schools charge, so I am not surprised we now have a political will to attack private schools. However, I think it is entirely pointless given the rise and trend of on the side tutoring anyway. As some people have pointed out, a lot of professionals using private schools are from households where both parents do work full time. So government needs to be very careful to not incentivise further part time working with their education policies. I am working part time still and managing the state ed and all the clubs etc on the side. If I worked full time and sent my DC to private school, government coffers would be much better off. That is a personal choice I made to prioritise those near and dear to me, but many of my colleagues are doing the latter. We do often question our original choice on both sides, but overall most people are happy.
As regards musical provision for gifted musicians - if you live in London with conservatoires everywhere, music festivals etc then you really don’t need to pay up for private school for music. Same applies to many sports -outside sports provision can be excellent. However, all of this is incredibly expensive and the domain of the well off parent. What we need is funding for gifted children from poorer backgrounds not just in the form of 1 or 2 bursaries. The whole GO FUND me concept is fascinating as well.
Money can definitely buy educational privilege, but it is definitely not limited to private schools.