To think that improving state schools needs people to pay an e.g. a state school tax?

[Theyhadsomehoneyandplentyofmoney]

What with the current hoo ha about VAT on private school and commentary about equality and privilege.. wouldn’t it make sense to vastly improve state schools? And in order to do so obviously the government needs more cash.

Isn’t it reasonable therefore to ask anyone using state schools, to pay a bit of tax for that, in order to improve all said schools from their (often) current dire state?

Maybe it should be means tested and everybody over a certain threshold pays a little extra to help fund improvements in state education.

Of course, private education is a choice/luxury, but how many people are sitting there comfortably letting the government/rest of us pay for their kids education while pocketing the money they could've spent on private schooling?

Often this will be families in posh areas where the schools will generally be decent as no riff raff can afford the local property prices.

Yes but it’s our money .. you think we should give the money we would spend on uniforms to the school ?
I like uniforms, it’s easier .
People who are on a very low income won’t do this.
Its a tax by the back door.

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When I’ve voted, I’ve only ever voted for Labour. This time. Will definitely not vote for Labour. Not on this private school issue (though that pisses me off), it’ll be on the women’s rights issue.

Labour don’t actually recognise women. They think some women have penises. They’re going to allow predatory men to self id as women, following a GP appointment. So no thank you Labour, I won’t vote for a party that don’t recognise my sex, and that put my daughters in danger.

I’m always amazed by the ‘ludicrous, unenforceable’ ideas on here that are the norm for most European countries.

People never have an issue with tax increases until it's them paying it! 🤣

You’re right.

Those with children in state also value education you know?

Quite. Particularly when there’s no justification for it.. I can see why tax increases (for all) used to improve all state schools would be acceptable. It is probably quite justifiable. Many people don’t seem to like that, though they are happy for others to pay tax on private education. It’s a puzzle.

Someone just sent me this. Couple of days old I think. Who knows how accurate it is 🤷‍♀️. Certainly not Labour. Not sure they’ve done any research at all.

Most people aren't objecting to paying more tax towards education on this thread. they are objecting to the idea that only those with children in state school should pay more tax

I have no children (although my nephew currently lives with me) but I see the need for education for all so a universal increase to the tax I pay specifically for education I can understand

But your argument seems to be "as a private school parent I will have to pay 20% more so I am going to throw my toys out of the pram and demand parents in extreme poverty also have to pay 20% tax"

You are complaining about other people's entitlement but yours is palpable on this thread

@Theyhadsomehoneyandplentyofmoney politicians never do! Education have had some shit, completely unthought out policies under Tory Government and now this one from Labour! They need someone in charge who understands Education, the churn of Education Secretaries in the last few years has been horrendous and the only experience they had of education was going to school, and most of them were probably private or grammar.

I bet very few, if any, senior politicians of any political persuasion send their kids to failing schools

Who knows how accurate it is not very as it’s the Daily Mail 😆

@Pollipops1 it's based on a poll of parents of children at independent schools (not conducted by the Mail), so is being reported in other papers too. It does say that 40% would be over the next 5 years, but 14% would be immediately

So the headline is misleading then? Pretty standard for the DM

It is based on a survey by Baines Cutler, a for-profit consultancy whose entire business is providing financial advice for private schools.

For more information see this thread

https://x.com/Samfr/status/1795376680334495932

Would be even better if the current tax system stops being embezzled and avoided in favour of various crony tax havens, so all the money education is entitled to actually gets where it matters.

And is that survey based on VAT rises alone as fees in general have soared in recent years, add in COL, higher mortgages Im sure some can no longer afford it even before any VAT increase. Plus birth rates are surely impacting rolls as they are in state schools.

be "as a private school parent I will have to pay 20% more so I am going to throw my toys out of the pram and demand parents in extreme poverty also have to pay 20% tax"

No. Your conclusion is incorrect. Not much more I can tell you.

That is very true. Agreed

The legitimate concerns around this will only affect parents for the next five years (four really, as the year 7s haven’t yet started secondary and all the primary kids will have had the chance of a natural break point). I do feel for those feeling like they may have no choice but to remove children from a school they have settled in, as those families at least have a legit reason for concern. So perhaps there will be a ramped up approach over a five year period.

After that you make the choice about private school knowing the cost you are facing (as you do now, but a bit more expensive) and make the same decision as everyone else - can I afford it or can’t I?

The Times were reporting 26% would leave in a poll in April if this policy came in, don't know who did that poll

@Tiredalwaystired there will probably be fewer private schools to choose from then, as I am sure more will close in the next few years

So the equality gap widens. Only the particularly wealthy can afford private school. Well done Labour, bringing people in again 👏🏻

They’re not biased at all!!

What do you suggest the government does? Be specific. Because I cannot see how it can do more than it currently is to maximise the tax take.