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’s laughable to suggest there is any sort of level playing field.
There will be those that pay for fees, pay for house in the catchment or find religion.
Those that will pay for extracurricular lessons in academics, music, sport.
Those that go on trips home and abroad, holidays, museums, experiences - “capital culture”
Buy books galore, kindle, audible, fiction, non-fiction

I have no doubt that those that pay for education now, but are priced out of it when VAT comes in, can and will happily sink the fees saved into the above and have plenty of money to spare.

So whatever the reasons are for imposing VAT on fees it certainly won’t level the playing field.

Friend works in a state school in a deprived area of our city and their facilities are amazing. They get lots of funding and support.
She jokes that if it wasn’t for where the school was situated they’d have the MC parents beating the doors down to get in. it’s a good school. she’s a great teacher. They have plenty of spaces for when the private pupils start leaving their schools looking for council places…

I haven’t complained once- I’m rich it’s nothing us so please please don’t spend anymore time worrying about us than I spend worrying about you. I think you need to relax abit more 😅 you seem highly strung OP and slightly angry and unhinged. But amusing! I do find you rather amusing and your posts give me a giggle.

Yes, details can be found using this link @GrandmasMeatloaf.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupil-premium/pupil-premium

Schools in poorer areas already get more funding, it's called pupil premium. They get a top up for every child whose parent earns below a certain threshold.

But there is a difference between giving a school more money because it's pupils have additional challenges to make a targetted difference(poverty, SEN) and giving a school more money because it's underperforming.

How about my daughters school? Leafy suburb, very mixed catchment of professional parents together with higher than average FSM,pupil premium and high level of SEN. It acheives higher than the average attainment in all areas. Would you give this school more money or take money away, and why?

Ok, let's see what happens when things go this way, but don't be angry when your kids* school can't use the swimming pools, theatres, sports fields, halls on a weekly/termly/annual basis etc for free anymore.

And kids from poorer backgrounds don't get bursaries any more... And that kid who is a great musician/artist/linguistic/sportsman etc isn't in a funded scholarship with the opportunities schools hive to perform/show/network. 🤷‍♀️

• Any local state school that benefits directly from the facilities.

If there is vaguely decent housing and transport then house prices will shoot up and locals will be priced out. Seen that happen in many previously deprived areas of London

With respect, I'm not sure you're a great poster person either for state schools or for those working in education. Or for those from working class backgrounds.

You seem very angry and very bitter and I'm sorry that your background has made you so. I hope that you find peace.

Or, like me, give up my clinical NHS job. I’m devastated about the whole thing TBH. I feel like I failed. - but looking forward to never having to be a midwife ever again.

You haven’t failed.

However it is less income tax available for the government and a loss to an already depleted workforce.
Plus taking up a state school place but sounds like they are in abundance.

But clearly not enough? Some schools are full of middle class children from stable homes with really good grades. Other schools have a higher proportion of children from lower socioeconomic groups, many with English as a second language.

I think the equalisation should go further than it currently does if this is picture of today’s schools.

No but it is a step in the right direction.Its good for your kids too. They will have to stand on their own merit instead of you paying for advantage for them

If you think most people will be priced out of independent schools, you're very wrong.

I know rationally I haven’t, but I do feel like I should be able to rustle up the extra. The reality is, my DC is on a bursary from a private charitable trust & they have said they cannot continue after this coming academic year due to a combination of fee increases and VAT. So I’ve got a lot of money to magic up, and I just can’t.

You’re right though. I won’t be paying much income tax and I won’t be contributing to the workforce. I actually cannot imagine how my new life will look. Friends in the same position (all NHS) were chatting last night and we can’t fathom what it will be like to not have to work those hours.

You obviously have no idea what you’re talking about on the subject of charitable status and charity law, which suggests to me you’re equally ignorant on the rest of your claims. I’m interested in some of the points made by other posters but honestly OP you do talk some drivel.

It’s not enough. I know firsthand that it’s not enough.
It is supposed to help level up but it doesn’t. It partially fills the gap in SEN funding IME and that’s it. Schools don’t have to spend it on the individuals entitled to it for those that are and I found it very difficult to get any kind of transparency from DDs school on where her PP was being spent. It’s supposed to be written but it doesn’t have to be specific.

But this is just for the poorest children? What about all middle class parents who move close to certain high performing schools? Why should those schools get the same funding per pupil as lower performing schools with less wealthy parents?

Maybe should be linked to parental income (loosely)? Those parents could support additional activities/ tutoring outside school anyway.

the system needs revision.

I don’t pay but thanks for thinking about my kids

That is what I thought. Hopefully Labour will review this as well.

I think this will need to be reviewed. Underperforming schools do need more money though- and that needs to come from somewhere. All children have a right to the same standard of education.

This is hilarious.

I think we may have misread OPs intentions and rather than stirring up the pot with Ill backed up “facts” she’s in fact a modern day martyr striving for child equality. I think she would have had more luck posting about how the English education system in general needs a complete overhaul and she would have had much more support! Instead she has lowered herself to the old VAT on private school discussion. Which isn’t really even a discussion; it will either go ahead or it won’t. If it goes ahead people will pay it or move. We pay all our other taxes without crying about it so I’m unsure why OP thinks this will have a reaction she would like it to. Instead she should go in to championing child equality and shouting it from the roof and then everyone would back that!

So I walk around a lot of the time thinking, how can we make this better?

Honestly OP, you sound so high on your own supply

Why do you not include extra curricular tuition, music lessons, sports coaching, books, trips etc as paying for advantage and preventing kids from standing “on their own merit”?

Why is state school good for them to be able to stand on their own merit?
Is it only certain state schools in certain postcodes that will do? What about those that are effectively like private schools due to catchment?

It’s a populist policy with little merit and the sums don’t add up, although I do hope it does for the children who need it most

It doesn’t take 6 months to register an entity for VAT, and the chances are that the schools are already registered anyway for other purposes. There’s other things to consider before it actually gets implemented, so may or may not be January…