To think that those private school parents banging on about their fees

[Thegreatergoodgerald]

Seriously have misjudged how little anyone else gives a stuff??? NHS, social care, state education, public transport, bloody potholes everywhere - that’s what matters to everyone I know.
Not whether or not VAT is added to a business.

YANBU - it’s hardly the end of the world if Clemmie or Charles end up going to a state school. We have bigger things to worry about in the U.K. right now

YABU - of course everyone cares private school parents might have to pay more

Just googled. Ipsos has it at only 18% opposed.

It seems cut and dried for the general public.

I can absolutely guarantee if all the private schools changed tomorrow the way things happened would change.

in the most polite way, it’s naive to think people wouldn’t be able to bribe and by their way in, through whatever means necessary. If someone is saving 100k a year or whatever on school fees they are going to have money to burn on all sorts of things which will increase inequality.

That’s because the general public have no idea of the impact on their own children.

Is that due to the school or due to parental involvement and network? The biggest determinant of future wealth is the wealth of your parents, NOT school. On the other hand, when disadvantaged children are given access to schools with a wealthier demographic (private or state) they are more likely to achieve upward mobility. If you care about lifting up the most disadvantaged, the data would support efforts to bring more of these students into private.

You are absolutely right.

But who are they asking?

also I don’t really think it matters in reality how many people oppose or not. It’s like how the majority voted for brexit but that doesn’t mean it was a good idea.

someone needs to actually do the maths on this, rather than just trying to get voters on board.

Think you're forgetting NI

absolutely

Because people can’t think it through and of course get the rich works

It doesn’t mean it will be good for state education

Will look forward to threads after this policy to see how improved state schools are and how inequalities have been ironed out. I would really love to be proved wrong but this policy is not going to do what people hope it will

I agree too. The race to the bottom is pitiful. Who the hell do they think is paying all of the taxes for schools, hospitals, benefits etc ??? What happens when these very people decide enough is enough en masse?

Thank you for this - I agree and it’s given me the motivation to get myself off this thread and off MN this evening😀 echo chamber of bitterness and resentment. I’ll try not to let the chips on the shoulders hit me on my way out!

You think these well paid professionals are going to commit fraud or bribery en masse to get their kids into a state school?

indeed. and who benefits from these hypothesised wads of cash from the rich and over privileged PS parents? How much will it be and how exactly will it be spent?
I’ll tell you. No one knows and there won’t be wads of cash going into the state system. It’s the f’ing Brexit Bus bollocks all over again….🙄

You don't know many private school parents, obviously. Or you imagine they are all millionaires, all private schools are like Eton, etc.

The reality is very different at many schools. Actually, many parents are immigrants. We have several friends who (like us) grew up in council houses. We all know the vital importance of education, because it changed our lives. Many are doctors, accountants, dentists, plenty work in the trades, or are small business owners. Many are self-made and lots work long hours, or more than one job to afford the school.

No one is saying that people on lower incomes do not work hard, but the reality is that many people could afford the fees, but prioritise different things. Holidays, cars, sky bundles, eating out etc.

It is the same posters sat in their echo chamber of jealousy. If people spent more time actually studying or something instead of being on MN - they may find more opportunities. The Open University exists.

It’s a nasty spiteful agenda that achieves fuck all and will impoverish more working class children.

Lets raise the bar - what is wrong with that? Why can’t labour invest in schools - why can’t they promise to deliver for all children?

This is just a cheap shot at working people that will only serve to create more inequality.

My dd goes to a private secondary school and I haven’t complained once about VAT on school fees as I realise how lucky I am to be able to send her, and not everyone has that option. Not everyone sending children to private school is rich though. We are a very average income household, pay taxes (so are already paying for state education that we don’t use), live in a small, run-down house which was the first and only property we’ve bought, haven’t holidayed abroad since 2009 and are very careful with money. If I didn’t send my (SEN but bright) dd to her small, nurturing private school I am 100% certain I’d be trying to home educate her (so would have to give up work) as she wouldn’t cope in any of our local state schools and they couldn’t meet her needs. The very rich won’t be affected at all - it’ll just hit those who are making huge sacrifices to stretch to private school fees.

I've seen some fucking horrible posts on MN over the years but bloody hell....WTAF?

I'm not pretending everything is rosy. I've acknowledged that previously.

But I'm absolutely fed up with sweeping ignorant statements about state schools - appalling behaviour/poor results/large class sizes/lack of SEN provision.

Its not representative of my experience. Or some others judging by this thread. There are many fantastic state schools that equal and indeed surpass some private ones.

I went to an independent school and yet I've never once been offered a job or interviewed with anyone I knew or met through private school. I once had an interview with someone and realised part way through I went to Sea Scouts with her son. I didn't get the job. Should my parents ask for their money back, because it seems like I didn't get into the old boys network?

You’re very welcome.

So unpleasant. Really no need.

AlwaysMeDoing · Today 19:51
When you read threads on state schools, there are terrible stories from established teachers about violent behaviour, shitty parents, crumbling buildings, staff leaving and lack of resources. Go to a private school thread and state schools are heartwarming melting points of diversity where kids of all backgrounds mix happily together and thrive academically, with a varied programme of extracurricular activities. It’s fascinating.

I agree. And when questioned that if state schools are better why object to private schools, the only answer seems to be the old-boy network.
As a pp has pointed out, networks exist all over the country in all communities. It’s not only privately educated people who pull strings.