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?

My DS1’s state school is higher performing than my DS2’s private. It’s not “better”, it’s “different” and suits DS2’s needs.

Even the company that published it said it didn’t support the Daily Mail headlines.

https://x.com/danneidle/status/1798275101391278471?s=61&t=U51Ei5mR4NNC__n1uWi7Gw

They aren’t penalising private schools because they are selective. All private school fees will be subject to VAT

Really? I thought it was because most kids can't attend them, like grammars.

It depends on how you define ‘better’. Regardless. It is still a luxury.

You’re mistaken. Grammars select on intelligence using the 11+. Some private schools also select on intelligence with entrance exams. Lots don’t. Selection is irrelevant here.

My child can’t attend mainstream school despite what you think it’s not open to everyone and some mainstream schools make some people’s already difficult life so unbearable that they have no other option. When my autistic child was in mainstream the head said to me on several occasions that mainstream schools are busy noisy places and if a child can’t cope with that they shouldn’t be in one, yet try and get an ehcp from the local authority and they say they don’t need to provide funds as child can manage in mainstream without any support even if the overwhelming evidence is that they aren’t. I went in the direction of going through tribunal and got my son into specialist which took 3 and a half years overall, and it was an incredibly stressful time it nearly broke me. My son’s current school is funded by the taxpayer and costs £30k a year plus transport.

Some parents choose other options such as sending their child to a private school which better meets their Sen needs at their own cost or homeschooling which means may mean giving up their jobs (and the tax they pay) and having to rely on government benefits like universal credits.

you have the luxury of being able to send your child to a local, mainstream school with their peers for free.

You were the one that used the word “better”. Education is never a luxury.

Why, selection involves luxury.
Your grammar is just as segregated if not more than the privates, who at least allow SEN and poorer children in on full bursaries.

My grammar? I don’t have one.

Luxury is also irrelevant. VAT isn’t a luxury tax.

Grammars select on intelligence

They select based on who can pass an entrance exam which is easy to tutor for; selection is often based on who can afford to pay for a tutor, sometimes combined with selecting based on who can afford the high house prices falling in catchment.

Grammars really really don't select on intelligence....

This is spot on

Yes they do, if you don’t pass the tests you don’t get a place

And the places go to those with the highest marks.

But they’ll be along in a moment to say that maths, NVR and English aren’t measures of intelligence.

Except Labour are introducing the concept of certain types of education as being a luxury

Of course it was because it doesn’t work for labours narrative for it to be true.

No they aren’t because VAT isn’t a ‘luxury’ tax

No because it was bolllocks.

The firm that commissioned it said it was misused.

You are correct however that's how it is being sold to the public as many, many posts on this forum ie private education is a luxury so is getting VAT added.
I have tried to point out that but still the misconception is that VAT is a luxury tax.

Private education is a luxury.

But that’s not why it is having VAT added.

No, it is having VAT added as a class war offering

Ah yes the narrow middle class focussed class war. Is that the second verse of the Internationale or the third?

Well it is from all the comments on here ie "rich", "wealthy" etc that's exactly what it is! Labour know that and are capitalising on it the same way the Tories do when they bash people on benefits. It is mean spirited populist politics.
The fact they exempted state boarding schools from VAT yesterday just proves that, parents still pay at state boarding schools but thar is acceptable. That's the "right" sort of privilege, an acceptable form of privilege.

A state boarding school is £12-18k a year, so around the same as a typical day school. There is no logic to taxing one and not the other.