Doubts grow over Labour’s VAT plan for private schools

[Blanketyre]

Article in the Observer here:
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2024/oct/05/doubts-grow-over-labours-vat-plan-for-private-schools

I must say they've gone very quiet on it.

The inequality is no where near the same. It’s private schools that are massively over represented in all sectors of top jobs and completely unaffordable to all but the rich .

Do you not think that a more sensible answer to this problem would be to improve the state sector? Or is it ok to manage with crumbling buildings and less money as long as the private sector has to do that as well?

Well they are. They’re not closing and 90% are proving a good and above education. Not societies fault if the private sector can’t do the same on massively more. Do you really expect people to weep?

Of course it is happening to the same extent. Or haven't you read the 1000s of posts on MN about tutoring for grammars/where to buy a house to ensure catchment of the best state schools. There have been 2 threads running today about exactly such things.
State sector is a complete postcode lottery and perpetuates inequality

Or those that are paid for by local authorities, or receive bursaries.

The same way state schools do. When I did a management course, staff costs were a way higher percentage in a state secondary - because lots of other stuff had gone. There’s room to make cuts.

They’re not closing and 90% are proving a good and above education.

If this is true, why are the Labour Party insisting that the entire state sector needs huge investment? If they’re providing great education, what’s the problem?

https://amp.theguardian.com/society/2019/jun/25/britains-top-jobs-still-in-hands-of-private-school-elite-study-finds

Stats disagree with you. It’s not ok and needs to stop.

It’s demonstrating that private ed buys advantages, and that’s not equitable. What I want is to raise up state ed. If some of the money comes from removing some of the advantages the private schools have, I’m fine with that.

I'm not asking anyone to weep. Ask any teacher in a state school if the state sector is working. If its so good why did 44,000 teachers leave the sector last year? Ofsted ratings are no indication of whether the sector is coping. State schools are on their knees with lack of money and resources. VAT won't do anything to address that

Oh Lord, you really have no idea. I went to an “outstanding” school but it still failed me and destroyed my mental health.

You don’t think there’s inequality in some families being able to afford thousands of pounds for tutors and £2m to be able to access the very top state schools?

Because staff are doing an amazing job on very little and all in the sector deserve more. The squeeze private schools are feeling is zilch in comparison .

Ah well you must be an expert because you've done a management course

Because they are doing it at the expense of teachers’ well being and it’s unsustainable. Hence the retention crisis. Plus the fabric of the buildings (not just the RAAC affected ones) needs investment now.

But to get a lot the top jobs you need a few bob anyway because the university courses and training are so long so just getting rid of private schools isn't going to change that

Oh ffs where did I say that?
I know from the course what percentage of a state school budget goes on staff. It’s more than 75%.

Tutors are way more affordable than private education and many are shit.There is no comparison.

That’s the point. The money isn’t going to come from private school parents. Various bodies are increasingly warning that the policy could do exactly the opposite; harm the state sector and possibly produce a tax loss. Many of us could understand the policy if it was actually going to raise a meaningful amount of money, but it isn’t.

Of course there is. Which is why Labour are saying they’ll invest in state education. There shouldn’t be such a difference, of course there shouldn’t. That there is still doesn’t make buying privilege another way, through school fees, right.

Of course there’s a comparison. Paying thousands of pounds from Y2/3 for tutors, to access an excellent state academically selective grammar is far beyond the reach of many families.

You skipped over the £2m

How exactly are they promising to invest in state education though? Specifically how much (not including VAT which is most definitely not a serious investment as it is a policy of diminishing returns)?

So it’s ok for private schools to cut costs at the expense of their teachers’ wellbeing, but it’s not ok for state schools to do the same?

Wait for the budget?