To wonder if Private School parents think we can’t read?

[Captainmycaptains]

Work/volunteer in Education so following the whole VAT debate.

SM is full of private parent groups ‘organising’ to get the proposed VAT on fees cancelled - fine you would, wouldn’t you esp.if you’re used to getting your own way.

They’re advocating hassling local schools, councils, demanding stats and figures that don’t exist, wiring to MPs - telling people to ‘claim’ their state place to ‘disrupt’ the ‘system’ while also saying ‘ Obvs we won’t be taking Charlotte and Hugo out of school, we’ll find the money’ etc strive harder, getting granny to chip in’ but this might make the council ‘panic’.

Do they think that people in support of the VAT aren’t seeing/hearing/reading all of these plans???

the funniest one yet is the poster who said ‘ well going to claim our state school places then! See how they like that! We’ll going holiday, pay the mortgage down, shop at Waitrose and save £700k in the process, ha!’
I. no you aren’t 2. Okay - go for it! Who on earth would think £700k is worth it?? Behave like a normal person then…

YANBU - yeah, they’re noisy as expected but the rest of us are as think/ concerned as they seem to think. Also - it’s too late for Sept - waiting lists only…

YABU - applying for school places you have no intention of using is daft, and of course everyone can see what they’re trying to do.

Yeah they're showing their true colours really.

It's just another example of a small population paying the majority of tax. It's yet another example of people having to pay more than their fair share.

Not only do they save the state money by not taking a place in the education system, they are expected to fund state education too.

And I'm sure they can read. They're just pissed off at having to pay more than their fair share.

you don't win an argument by mocking the other side, do you? It's just childish behaviour and puts you in exactly the same position. And it's horrible to be mocking the names of children in that way.

I do believe independents should be permitted charitable status, as they are clearly not businesses and are not making profits for shareholders. However, there needs to be stricter criteria that needs proper monitoring to maintain the status.

VAT should not be put on education of any kind and I am of the opinion that it will be private schools first, and who knows what could follow but obviously university fees, nursery fees, swimming lessons, music lessons, tutoring etc. etc. are all up for grabs if this one goes through.

Labour need to get in and rip that Band-aid off. No messing around.

@C@Captainmycaptains
"they’re noisy as expected but the rest of us are as think/ concerned as they seem to think. Also - it’s too late for Sept - waiting lists only…"
I do know of a private school (in this case a catholic school attached to a convent), that closed quite suddenly many years ago.
Local authority were obliged to find places for the affected children in state schools. (however late in the year it was)
Of course, the places may not be where the parents expected them to be, and children may have to go to a school that is NOT their nearest.
Of course the vat on fees will have some affect, but no one knows how much.
I think the labour party (expected to be the next Gov with a very large majority), have costed this as between 3-7 %, or with an average of 5%.
It may be that some schools are affected more than others, and forced to close.
Some of these children may be found places at other private schools, but some will enter the state system.
Personally, although all my DC went to state schools, I think the labour party have not actually considered any unintended consequences.
Dont forget, that all these parents will also have paid their taxes for state schools as well as for private education fees.

What do you want the VAT imposition to achieve?

Equally, do "state school parents" think parents using independent schools can't read? So many rude and ill mannered posts about the VAT and private schools in general with the OP being a prime example.

I think that most of us are in support for VAT being added to private education since it's a luxury.

First world problems. There's kids going hungry all over the world, including in the UK and these people are worried having to only have 4 holidays rather than 3 (an exaggeration I know.)

I suspect it only impacts a small number of families anyway. It's tough, but the rest of us have to cope. They don't get any sympathy from me.

I would love to be able to afford private school for my children. I'm working hard and it could be a possibility one day, perhaps secondary if they want or need it or it could benefit them. Maybe. However, VAT would put that even farther out of reach.

This assumption that if some-one COULD afford private education for their children then they would it annoying.
I’m one of many, many high earning households who pay a ton of tax and don’t believe private schools are better, and/or worth the money…
Its not just private school parents who contribute to public taxes.

What does that actually mean though?

Why exactly do you support the policy? I am genuinely interested in why you believe in it.

Labour are basing their calculations on the IFS report which is full of unrealistic assumptions. They’ve assumed pupil numbers falling 3-7%. They’ve already fallen by around 3%, so that estimate is already looking optimistic.

www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/biggest-fall-independent-school-pupils-numbers-isc-report

But private school parents both contribute to taxes and save the tax payer money.

”Most of us are supportive of tax increases we don’t have to pay”

God, cringe! The entitlement is strong... 🤢

I do believe independents should be permitted charitable status, as they are clearly not businesses and are not making profits for shareholders. However, there needs to be stricter criteria that needs proper monitoring to maintain the status.

That. The private schools in my nearest town are there due to a historic family trust. It is a genuine charity in that it contributes hugely (and quietly) to charitable work in the town. The non profit organisation that I volunteer with benefits (alongside a dozen others) by having a large office at a peppercorn rent in a building owned by them, as well as generous funding for our work (which is as far from what I'd would expect private education to be funding, as it could be).

I have absolutely no problem with those schools benefiting from being a charitable trust. It genuinely is one. But others need to shape up in the same way if they want to remain charities.

don’t believe private schools are better, and/or worth the money…

No one is forced to use them. Many people do believe they’re better and worth the money.

Its not just private school parents who contribute to public taxes.

No one is saying they are. Private school parents don’t use the state system which costs the taxpayer £8k per year per child though.

Yes if there were a war or something they have identified themselves as the worst ever group to undertake underground espionage!

So you are trolling a SM page of independent school parents? No other reason for you to be on that page if you aren't supporting the concerns against the policy.
Troling them to then paste it all over SM?

Wow what a delightful person you are.

There are plenty of us but it doesn't give bitter people with a chip on their shoulder anything to rant about so we don't generally make the headlines (or Facebook)

My friend’s DS goes to a private school. Fees of over £100,000 are paid for by the local council. No EHCP (cos not England). How will it help my DD in the local state school for the council’s education budget to be reduced by an additional £20,000 on his education alone?

Yes, I am in support for VAT being added to luxury items. I would also be in support for NI to go back to 10% which would impact me. What's your point?

I think that some people believe that all private schools are charities. There are lots of posters who say “my local private school does no charitable work”. That might be true, as around half of private schools aren’t charities and don’t enjoy the benefits which that status brings.

@Captainmycaptains my little Charlotte and Hugo left school in 2013 and 2016 respectively. They both went to Oxbridge. Their fees came to about £350,000 combined. Every single penny was worth it because the local state schools were dire. Every penny spent on school fees was from taxed income and we paid tax in spades.

The only impact on us if this were happening to us now would be that their expensive schools became a little more elite and the gap would widen further. This is so overlooked in relation to the argument.

Rather like universities, the poorer performing schools will flounder, not the high performing ones.

A better position would be to improve state schools and differentiate the offers, recognising that that not all children are EBacc or even university material and enhancing the standing of a narrower curriculum preparing for vocational roles.

As a State School governor I am really concerned by the imposition of VAT and removal of business rates exemption for independent schools.
Not because of the demand side (can parents afford it - estimates show maybe 7% will leave because of this, about 45,000 children), but because of the supply side which no-one is talking about at all.
If the new government is basically telling these schools they are businesses, then don’t be surprised when they act like businesses and stop providing their services to loss making ‘customers’.
So that’s 103,000 SEN children and roughly 150,000 who receive bursaries.
If private schools withdraw their services from these customers where they lose money (EHCPs don’t come anywhere near covering the full cost of a SEN child’s education), then the State sector is in a whole world of trouble.
Forget the aim to recruit 6,500 teachers, we’ll need 50,000 plus new classrooms and facilities.
It’s a massive concern.