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.

If the government were funding/subsidising private education, I would understand.

But a child in private school is taking NOTHING away from a state school child. They are in fact, freeing up a space in state school, and subsequently saving the government money. This is a FACT THAT CANNOT BE DISPUTED.

Truly, if someone can articulate EXACTLY what a privately-educated child takes away from a state educated child, aside from perhaps having a better opportunity, let me know.

Because if the argument is: "It's not fair they get ahead of my child/gain opportunities that my child doesn't get" then I suggest you don't book a hard-earned holiday or an extra curricular activity or a private tutor, ever again. In fact, dont put money aside for something that benefits your child in ANY way. Dont try and give them the best. Or at the very least, just pay an extra 20% for all of the above because well, that's fair then, isn't it.

My DC is still a baby. But if we can't afford to send DC to private school then we will be buying in the catchment for the best secondary school in the area. We aren't rich and we are both from council estates. We have experienced rubbish secondary schools and want better for our child.

I haven't really looked into the details but how will this change fees for other types of education? I found this online "Education provided for a charge by eligible bodies such as private schools, universities and further education colleges is exempt, as are ‘closely related’ services such as school dinners, transport, field trips and accommodation."

I have saved the taxpayer approx £100K by educating my two DC privately at primary level, whilst being a higher rate taxpayer for most of those years. I have paid my fair share of tax.

What does thriving mean out of curiosity? Academic grades not an allowable answer as that is only a small part of what school is about

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When Labour put VAT on private healthcare I’ll be more supportive of this policy.

Exactly. My DD’s private school is over subscribed - 4 applications for each place - and that didn’t change this year with the threat of a Labour government. I suspect what will happen is some parents will be pushed out due to cost and they will simply be replaced by wealthier parents. We are hedging our bets by buying a house in the catchment area of an outstanding state school - if we can’t afford to continue sending DD to her school for secondary she will go to the outstanding state and we will supplement her education with co-curricular activities. It won’t be the same as DD goes to a private school that manages her disability well, but we will do what we can.

Why wait until January? It seems an odd time to do it. Either do it straight away or wait a year until the end of the next school year

I think it's a crap policy by the way. The optics are terrible, no other country in Europe taxes education, but I will be interested to see the outcome.

I wouldn't have said "jealous". I'd have said "spiteful". There is no evidence that this policy will improve matters for poorer kids, nor that it would have any significant net financial gain for the Treasury. So it's purely out of spite.

By the way I have no kids in school and was state-educated myself.

No, I didn't expect that at all😆 It would be terribley outing to tell me which city/county you live in. I've had it asserted a few times here that there are areas with no school places, and I know that not to be true.

Care to explain why you have a problem with people freeing up space on the NHS for your healthcare?

Didn’t Greece try this and it didn’t work?

That's ridiculous.

Private school parents pay the same amount of tax as everyone else. VAT isn't charged on education and while we were still in the EU it was illegal to charge VAT on education.

No one has been dodging paying tax. VAT us now going to be added where previously it was illegal to do so.

Care to explain why you have a problem with people freeing up space in overcrowded state education?

Because it's not overcrowded???

I agree with private education, used it myself.

@Runbunny I’m in Hertfordshire and I know that Daisy Cooper had to intervene to create an extra classroom in a state secondary school as so many local children had been allocated schools far away from home. Some primaries do have capacity but not secondary schools.

Where did I say that?

I’m amazed that you think the possible 3% of former private school parents (out the current 7% of total privately educated children) will be able to achieve what the existing 93% of state school parents have been unable to do over decades. Who knew??

In a few years time, house prices around the best state schools will have rocketed and the schools become private by stealth. Has already happened in a lot of places. You are utterly deluded if you think one state school is equal to another. There are some that are way better than private schools. Inequality will prevail.

Exactly this. Our youngest is in private school and we rent out properties. We'll be increasing rents on property that is near sought after state schools to cover VAT on our child's fees. Our current tenants won't be able to afford the rent and will probably have to move their children out of the school. It's sad but the alternative is our child will have to leave their school which we won't let happen.

WTF. We pay for some private healthcare for one of our children because the NHS would provide the medication she needs. You actually want us to pay thousands more for her medication for what reason exactly?
Isn't it bad enough she has a chronic, life threatening illness the NHS isn't great at supporting?

I’ll remember that in September when I return to teach the 33 children in my GCSE class. Some schools have space but some areas have no space at all.

I was being flippant. Sorry if I wasn’t clear. Both private healthcare and private education should be exempt from VAT. The fact only private schools have been targeted makes me question the true motive of the policy.

I’ve 1 left in private, going into year 11. I never once thought of moving my DC until Labour put the idea in my head.

I told DC it’s their decision, and they can go where they like. I took him to 2 open days for 6th Form college, and he’s decided he wants to move to the college to do his A’levels. All his friends were there from his school checking it out, and have said they want to move too.

So, thx Labour. You’ve saved me circa £40k over 2 years, and I also feel I am getting a tax rebate from the government who now have to pay £6 a year to educate my DC.

I dunno, my son was suicidal after years of failing to get help in the state sector. I still worry about him every day, but since being in his tiny independent school I no longer have to get up the courage to check if he's dead each morning. It'll cost me more now, money I can't afford but will gladly find. I'm glad you enjoy gloating at my situation.