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?

IMO its an own goal for labour, they are cutting off their nose to spite their face

Yes, it’s not a lot, but it is enough to improve the woefully inadequate SEN provision in the state sector.

its not, it will never materialise

The money raised (if there is any) isn’t going towards SEN provision though. The Labour Party have said they'll
spend it on 6500 new teachers and mental health staff (they seem to think that this will easy to recruit for, despite the recruitment crisis).

Schools need SEN teachers, that’s who they have had to cut. Many kids on EHCPs with 1 to 1 requirements ether get nothing or it is more like 1 to 3 privision. In addition, mental health staff for schools is definitely SEN provision. SEN includes students with mental health conditions.

Maybe. Politicians can legally lie.

There is absolutely nothing in their pledge about SEN provision. They state “Recruiting 6,500 more teachers to ensure every child is taught by a specialist”.

That’s how I interpreted “specialist” especially since it’s SEN that has been cut. It’s not going to be a repeat of Rishi’s plan to hire more maths teachers.

It says “every child”. That sounds very much like a promise to recruit subject specialists.

On the debate now, he’s mentioned this. He’s given an example of every secondary child having a specialist maths teacher.

Ok, I can’t see the debate rn as at work. So it was vague then.
On my lunch break. Business trip in US.

That poll was found to be statistically useless.

Gambling is taxed in the UK. There are specific duties and in some cases it’s VATable.

What poll and by whom

Do you mean the survey to parents?

According to HM Revenue & Customs, gambling, including betting, lottery, and casino games, is considered outside the scope of VAT.

Because it is subject to gaming duty instead, vat is not the only tax.

Isn't it going on non-existent teachers?

If they are penalising privates because they are selective, why not grammar schools though? It's OK if you take directly from the state to save wealth but not if you pay out of your own pocket?

In Scotland, will the money just be passed the the Scottish government main budget? Because if so there is absolutely ZERO chance of it going anywhere near improving state schools.

The only way you could get an accurate sense of how many parents will HAVE to take their kids out of PE would be to do a forensically detailed investigation into finances. Of course in a survey, parents will say they will leave because they want to paint the bleakest picture because they, understandably, don’t want to pay more. There is no accurate way to predict the impact. I firmly believe the vast majority of parents will adapt.

It’s adding the correct tax and putting right a legacy situation that isn’t fair. It is a luxury so should be taxed as such. Al this handwringing hyperbole about it being about penalising, attacking or about jealousy is ridiculous.

@Haveyouseenmylemons What else do we pay for privately where the state would be obligated to provide it for free? It's not a bloody luxury. The parents have paid tax already on their income and they're saving the state money by educating their children privately.

Oh dear god. This has been covered a billion times. When we have free at the point of access universal education, chiding to pay for a better provision IS a luxury.

And free selective schooling for wealthy parents isn't a luxury?
Some areas don't have grammars. Yet the areas that do have far higher house prices.
They are full of wealthy who can game the system to get in, refuse SEN children and deprived ones on selection. Do the kids going there not get a luxury over the other local options?

That’s a separate issue. It needs tackling but putting VAT on fees because it IS a luxury is fair.

It's whether you see wealthy people taking it directly from the state or paying for it separately as the same. Same issue of selective education being a luxury, different morals as to how they go about it.