To think taxing private schools...

[maddening]

I have no skin in the game, my dc is at a secondary state school. I have no strong views on private schools - although I think state should offer the same level for all dc.

However, looking at the maths I am not convinced the cost and benefits of this proposal works out - apparently vat will bring in 1.3 billion - however if the 554,000 children in private schools had to be schooled in state schools that would cost 4 billion - aibu to think this is not the win that many are led to believe? It is more divisive imo and driven by ideology.

If the private school parents are saving the state 4 billion a year then I don't have an issue with the vat personally.

I think that there could be more requirements placed on private schools in order to retain the vat free status, such as sharing facilities with local state schools and more subsidised places perhaps, or means tested vat relief for parents?

Isn’t CEA becoming harder to claim not least because of the various court cases about fraudulent claims.

What we, and others will do, is move to state school and get the taxpayer to pay for our children's education but then supplement with tutors and extra curricular activities.

Ok. Sooooo not a big deal. Those things won’t cause the inequalities private education but you know that already dont you hence being up in arms at your child joining the ranks of everybody else.

Ooohh la-di-dah!

You couldn’t possibly have people think you were like those other parents, who send their kids to state schools and do nothing else.

Speaking of threads that suit more posts, how about the twenty other threads on this identical topic?

Scroll by/hide.

What we, and others will do, is move to state school and get the taxpayer to pay for our children's education but then supplement with tutors and extra curricular activities.

Don’t forget the weekly Kumon lesson and holiday coding clubs.

Sure:

Here is the HoC answer on the MoD students:

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2023-04-17/181073

Also detailed in this FOI request:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65bb740221f73f0014e0ba4d/FOI2023_15358.pdf

Here is the HoC answer on FCDO students:

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2023-07-11/193338/#:~:text=Answered%20on&text=In%20Financial%20Year%202022%2F23,1188%20children%20in%20education%20overseas.

The table referred to in the MoD written reply is an Excel spreadsheet showing approx numbers of MoD pupils in a list of schools. Most schools on the list have less than 20 MoD pupils - notable exceptions include Barnard Castle School (50), Bromsgrove School (130), Cheltenham College (80), Clayesmore Blandford Forum (100), Dauntsey's Devizes (110), Dean Close Cheltenham (130), Gordon's School Woking (state boarding 150), Hazlegrove Yeovil (50), Kings School Bruton (50), Kingswood Bath (60), St Ethelburga's York (380), Queens Taunton (50), Royal Alexandra & Albert Reigate (state boarding 160), Sandroyd Salisbury (50), Stamford Endowed (60), Taunton (90), DoY Royal Military Dover (state boarding 210).

State boarding schools are popular, as are ones that are close to military bases.

Interestingly, St Ethelburga's (which has 300 milkitary boarders) offers a special deal to CEA recipients so that they only pay £1385 per term.

https://www.qe.org/forces-families

That's pretty mean.

In general we just don't want to have to uproot our kids who are happy. I know people on mumsnet to call them 'little Clemmie and Charles' and make fun but they are just normal kids who don't deserve to be pulled out of schools they have settled into. Fine to be awful to kids in private school apparently though here...

This is a pretty targeted policy affecting a small group of people, it feels quite odd to be the recipient of such vitriol.

VAT wasn't something we were counting on when we signed up.

I have a really good paying job (sorry) but I would still need a pay rise of £20-25k pa to cover 20% more for my 3 to stay at their schools.

Oh. The Torygraph quoting the opinion of a Tory, doesn't think it's a good idea. There's a surprise.

Its main success seems to be increasing levels of spite, a bit sad when it’s children at the end of the political gimmick

This all day long.

Not being mean but expecting posters to feel sorry for somebody paying upwards of £45k a year on school fees is a little over optimistic. 🤔

Actually isn’t £20k 20% of £100k a year !😱

Kids move schools all the time. It’s not a hardship and it’s down to your choices, nobody else. Staying in a private school isn’t a right.

Dc schools have small class sizes in state schools. Average is 16 but DD has 8. Normal comp.

Very fortunate it's free.

The same spiteful group who are celebrating this policy, don't understand there will be no net gain from a tax take perspective, given the many variables.

An entitled bunch, already in receipt of free education, hate the fact that others "have it better".

Their entitlement is laughable, as most parents at fee paying schools already subsidise the state system by freeing up places, and subsidise the economy with over double tax percentage bracket.

Many of this group can't wait to get their entitled mits on the latest BMW/Audi, on a PCP deal of course...whilst booking their next holiday to the Canary Islands.

The many posters here are incorrect, a core group will simply pay the uplift. I have 4 in private school and won't be moving any of them. Many others won't be able to afford it, and as someone said earlier the VAT reclaim implications must be in the hundreds of millions.

I for one, have been laughing at all these threads, as I didn't quite grasp the level of envy people have. It is now a fringe benefit I will savour, every time I pay the fees.

As for the core entitled bunch spitting venom, I guarantee this will have no positive effect on the state education you receive by the grace of me, others like me and others who have no children!

This is the latest variant of "I'm a remainer but... posts brexit supporting thread"
Or "lifelong labour voter here but .... posts labour bashing thread".

Tory HQ must think we are stupid.

You think the op is ‘Tory HQ’?

She’s likely just someone with an opinion you don’t like and go for the attack on hearing, plus it’s majority yanbu

Most people on here earn >100k apparently. Most will send their kids to private school. It’s a self selecting thread.

What is accurate?

That people are really bad at hearing anything not pro Labour

For sure.

Sadly, the masses here must be so disappointed with their lot in life....they feel the need to attack others who they perceive as having more.

Genuinely, I had no concept of the sheer level at which these people resent and envy others.

It's added real value to the next school bills!

Your post is rather spiteful too.

Ooh the politics of envy 😂 Never has such a small minority made such a loud noise. I guess it proves how powerful they are.

I can say that all this spite and jeering won’t help. Some online attacking won’t make the policy work better ;

@LittleBearPad Sadly, yes it was intended to be. The comments here have motivated a defensive position on behalf of us who are being ripped apart on this enlightening thread.

People just want to tax the ‘rich‘ and if you can afford to send your kids to private school then they believe you need to pay over and beyond - because you know - you have more money so….its just going to make private schools more elitist…