To ask if anyone is clued up on the challenge this week to VAT on school fees?

[feesss]

we went to look round a school this morning and we obviously asked about VAT and the lady showing us round said there has been a challenge this week so it may not happen? Is anyone aware of this? I can’t see much online about it?

I think it very much depends on the school on both sides. Mainly independent schools tend to be academic and are results driven but there are some small nurturing schools less focused on academics which some Sen children can thrive in whilst mainstream can’t meet needs. Having had an Sen child in mainstream all I can say is that it was horrific so I can understand why parents choose to pay for a small nurturing school if it is in their means rather than spend years fighting. My son is in a small school for children with autism, it is state run so I don’t pay but my son had issues major issues in mainstream from year one and it took us until year 4 to get specialist including going to tribunal, that was quick compared to most.

Strange because the ISC challenge is being lead by Lord Pannick who advised the then Labour government that it would be inadvisable to do so. He is extremely knowledgeable about the issue. Labour previously accepted his advice yet now ignore it.

I’d imagine they have had a fair bit of legal advice themselves.🙄

They have had advice from lots of people that this won't work, including their own MPs + civil servants, but they choose to ignore it. Don't for 1 minute think that this government actually spend time consulting, you only have to look at WFA + Farming tax to know that. They don't consult or do impact reviews prior to announcing policy.

MPs aren’t legal advisors. Nothing wrong with WFA being means tested or farmers paying tax. Being unpopular with a minority doesn’t mean measures shouldn’t and don’t happen. Look at Tory policy which favoured the rich and was unpopular with the majority hence them no longer being in power.

Ah right so this is revenge?
You may not care but we are seeing kids in GCSE + A level years being withdrawn and 0 state places available OR places which don't offer the same subjects.
In 1 term the number of withdrawals = the number predicted for the whole year. State schools aren't prepared and ultimately it is kids who suffer.
At the very least this should have been phased in over a 2 year period and current Yrs 10/ 11 + 12/ 13 exempted.
FfS Starmer was gifted free fees when his school turned from grammar to private because it was understood that existing pupils wouldn't have to pay yet he doesn't afford that concession to other kids now in the same position.

The Labour Government is unpopular with the majority, only 20% of the electorate voted for them and Kier is polling at below -30.
‘Nothing wrong with WFA being means tested or farmers paying tax.’ is about the level of analysis the Government has conducted on their policies. They’re aimed at the people who are unable to understand the consequences and are easily led.

Bit like the Tories then the past 14 years 😂 Big difference is labour policies suit the majority and not the minority a la the Tories. Polls are meaningless at this stage as we have 5 years until the next election. Let’s see how the public feels when services ( and just about everything else given how much the Tories screwed up) are in a much better place. The only poll that matters is the one before an election.

What a ridiculous comparison. He was in a state school that turned private . Privately educated kids are in private schools by parents who chose to put them there and pay fees. If they now can’t afford it( like the vast majority of the country) tough luck.

Exactly, tough luck and screw the kids affected. It isn't a ridiculous comparison at all, same as the whataboutery of what the Tories did.
Go to any indy school and look those kids in the eyes as you try to defend the policy to those who are being withdrawn and have no state school to go to or face having to start GCSE + A levels from scratch!

That is incorrect - private school pupils have a human right of non interference by the state in their essential education. They are learning Maths, English, Science like everyone else.
State schools are not “free” by the way either, they are free at the point of delivery, that is it.
Either all education is VATable or none.

“MPs aren’t legal advisors. Nothing wrong with WFA being means tested or farmers paying tax.”

MPs have basic literacy skills and can create the legal notes and links we posted. They were simply whipped as is always the case. This is a breach of human rights of children they are now complicit in, as a group.

You’re right there, the election is the only opinion poll that counts. Time will tell, but not looking great for Labour so far.

No it wasn't simply a risk pointed out. The post I referenced stated "If you want to tax education then do it fairly ie private nurseries + universities". If one group were to be taxed, others should be too.

Not at all. No twisting of anything. Just facts that seem distorted if vision happens to be tunnel.

Facts are facts. I've presented previously and you have denied them.

In many cases they are less needy with some “SENs” having only been diagnosed by parents

A diagnosis is not required in order for a child to meet the legal decision of having SEN.

The sector does a far better job with Sen provision.

Such a sweeping blanket statement cannot be made. Some DC’s needs cannot be met in the state sector.

“No it wasn't simply a risk pointed out. The post I referenced stated "If you want to tax education then do it fairly ie private nurseries + universities". If one group were to be taxed, others should be too.”

@BotanicalGreen - it’s still a simple legal point and ground 1 of the claim.
Essential education is not a commodity to be taxed.
Some of us were just highlighting what may have to happen to make it legal. Like it or not, it’s simply stating the obvious.

We do understand that it is going to be very embarrassing for Starmer to lose on ground 1 when this was so obviously a legal risk to any lawyer in the first place. There couldn’t have been naivety on their part. They chose to ignore it deliberately and whip their MPs accordingly. The private school sector will have already spent millions on this- let’s just hope they can’t claim damages.

Your “facts” are presented through the prism of your bias. An example is your comment on Starmer’s education. The “facts” are distorted.

www.lifeconnect24.co.uk/blog/top-15-hobby-ideas-for-older-people/

It’s the parents that need to look them in the eye. Don’t start private education if you can’t guarantee that you’ll always be able to afford it which the majority can’t and sensibly don’t start.

Because we are all able to predict the future. That's like saying don't do anything in life unless you can guarantee you will always be able to afford it. We can afford fees + yearly rise, we can't afford fees + yearly rise + 20% tax

How do you know you can afford yearly rises- cost of living, jobs aren’t secure, fee rises are not mapped out and can increase massively at any time… Signing up to paying fees that are more than many people earn is ludicrous unless you are very wealthy of which the majority of fee paying parents are. The majority will simply pay.

Parents taking a foolish gamble are not the tax payers problem.

You not being able to afford private education makes you the same as the 94% majority. 🤷‍♀️

Because we spent primary years saving up. We can't afford it out of our wages so saved up 3 years of fees before she started Yr 7.
The majority won't simply pay hence why more than predicted have already withdrawn. Unless obviously you are privy to finances of over 300 000 parents!
Stop telling us what we can and can't afford. Thr arrogance is outstanding