To be glad that the VAT on school fees

[Shaketherombooga]

Is now going to be happening in January? what’s the point in stalling it? I think it’s one of many decisions that we just need to get in with.

YABU - it’s SO unfair. Labour hates ‘strivers’ etc etc

YANBU - Yup, Labour said they are taking away tax breaks for private schools, so let’s get on with it.

It will be hilarious if they don't do it.

They've kept silent on hunting as well.

Oh darling I am sucking it up buttercup- (Whilst sipping my Dom Perignon in the Med in our summer house during our 8 week school holidays) . We don’t really mind that much- I think you think you’ve won something by saying this comment…. We will still have an above average amount of money , it really isn’t going to change much at all. Private schools will be able to get the VAT back on building work, they will stop bursaries and scholarships and the use of private school facilities. Most private schools won’t be increasing fees - in fact they will reduce fees and put the mandatory 20% VAT on so the fees are the same as we pay now.

( I do however feel sorry for those who put their children in due to SEN needs etc and will struggle if the school don’t reclaim VAT and the overall fees are increased but I think they will be looked after by the school regardless).

What I would suggest @mm81736 is that you go and get yourself educated , maybe even go to one of these schools you detest so much and maybe mix a little more with people who have high aspirations and don’t rely on the state and then maybe you’d be a little bit more well rounded and less hateful. Aim higher OP , stop punching below.

And once they wake up and realise how much greed motivates the building sector they are going to regret that huge promise as well.

Why do you all have to be so horrible to each other? Some of us are really suffering.

Ah the irony. You can't even spell Dom Pérignon!

It's strange isn't it, as the government haven't been aware either of exactly how privileged state school children are either, its been a real eye opener. Given all the perks of state schools I think private school children should be compensated.

“It will be hilarious if they don't do it.

They've kept silent on hunting as well.”

What have they said about hunting @Wendycoping? I hope they ban that asap.

OP..very simply please can you give me your factual reasons and ways in which this policy will improve matters for the state sector. Just that please, no hyperbole about poshos being taken down a peg or fairness. Just facts please. Why is this a fiscally advantageous policy? Thanks.

Not exactly a positive all round when the nhs is already short staffed. And it will be those middle earners - nurses,teachers, drs, who this policy will hit. All the lawyers and bankers will be fine.

So when people are moaning about not being able to get a GP appt or and nhs dentist, I'm sure they will see this as really positive....

They've said nothing about it. Season starts in about 6 weeks.

Yes why are we obsessed as a country about punching below? Why can’t people do better, achieve more without others wanting to drag them down. I mean they won’t be dragged down , there’s no worry in that, the people who aim high have attitudes that will do them well for life, but you can see on here the comments and jealous jibes and you think wow maybe concentrate on yourself and not others and you’ll do better!

If the fees are added on-

-Some will pay it- no problems
-Some will move into state schools
-Then some will struggle who I really feel for who put their children in for personal reasons like you say SEN , or work for the NHS and need the wrap around cover to to their job. I agree though that I imagine the schools will look after these children and can reduce their fees in line with what they pay now. So this group is the group the smug posters seems to be targeting and it’s like bullying . They are trying to make them feel awful/ bad they will need to move their children schools and these parents are already worried about how to afford their children’s fees and are doing the best for them. It shows a lot about the posters though who target them and seem to be smug- not the kind of people you’d want to be around!

Plenty of us have had to suck up Tory policy and Brexit which we didn’t agree with for 14 years.

Brexit only happened in 2020. But I presume you now support Brexit for the freedom it gives Labour to impose VAT on education?

@PenNirvana

"Whilst sipping my Dom Perignon in the Med"

"Ah the irony. You can't even spell Dom Pérignon!"

With the exception of the accute accent you have both spelt it exactly the same.

Not that it matters and I have no idea what meaningless point you are trying to score.

It doesn't matter if it takes 6 months to register for vat the rule is you start charging at the date of registration.

No but it's one step towards it which is one step better than now.

I'm not convinced Labour will do much for those in the middle or not very well off either

Yes, it’s long overdue.

I hope there is legal challenge after legal challenge.
Meanwhile, we'll now be paying for other kids' breakfasts too, as well as paying in for a State system we'll never use.

Look again, the poster edited it to a more correct (although not totally correct spelling) after my comment?

The irony was that the poster was being all sniffy telling others to get educated and yet she can't even spell the name of the champagne she is claiming to be currently quaffing.

I think she was being ironic? Making a mockery out of the posters who seem smug and happy and making a point thinking private school parents are struggling …. When they really probably aren’t.

All the lawyers and bankers will be fine.

I presume you mean city/magic circle lawyers. The average (median) salary for a UK lawyer seems hard to pin down but various figures are quoted between £50,000 and £70,000. You couldn’t afford private school on that income alone.

There are inequalities, but much of this is based around effective leadership rather than taxpayer money.
Our daughters primary has higher than average SEN and higher than average FSM. And also higher than average attainment. With lower class sizes so more limited income. So our very child focused, very aspirational headteacher looked for alternative income streams - they rent out unused classrooms to a local nursery, offer teacher training places (double benefit as more money and more staff) and recognised lack of SEN provision so offered to set up an extra SEN unit in return for enhanced funding from the LA. The result is classes of 20 with experienced teachers and 2-4 TAs per class, lots of enriching activities, great facilities and a greater awareness of SEN amongst mainstream children. So it's not sharp elbowed middle class parents, or funding from private school VAT, it's effective leadership which builds positive relationships with families and engages them in their children's learning, whilst supporting struggling families with a school social worker.

So sad to see these comments saying state schools will massively improve due 'to sharp elbowed middle class' being forced to attend them, it won't. In our school it's the parents on lower incomes which have the time and inclination to support the school with PTA, reading, helping on trips etc. Without identifying the real issues, the children at the struggling schools will continue to be failed, but the smokescreen of the 'heroic rescue of schools by private school VAT' is what is grabbing the headlines.

It will be interesting to come back to this in a couple of years to see if the massive promised improvements have come about. But there will be of course then the cop out 'well it takes much longer to see change'.

What have they said about hunting ? I hope they ban that asap.

@anothervoice do you hope they will also ban salmon farming? Or does that not count as there aren’t any poshos taking part?

What a tone deaf post.

How awful are DH and I for prioritising a roof over our heads and food in our mouths over private schooling.

Most people don't have the ability to choose private schooling. If I chose to send my DC to private school we wouldn't be able to live in our basic house with our basic car.

We don't claim benefits and we both work full time in schools. In case you judge further.

It's posts like this that rile people up unnecessarily.