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.

For a variety of reasons. They can still decide to do whatever they think best.

Actually apologies "The Treasury is reconsidering parts of Labour’s manifesto plan for non-domicile tax status over worries that the reforms will bring in less money than expected". So the Treasury was advised, they didn't do the advising. My error

And ‘may’ not ‘will’. So nothing like what’s really happening.

So you choose to have your children's education funded by the state when you could afford to fund it yourself, despite knowing that the sector is struggling? That's your choice but I find it very hard to see how you now think that the people who choose to fund their own children's education owe more taxes to pay for your children to be educated. If you can afford to NOT burden the state education or healthcare service and to pay for that yourself, then that's the right thing to do imo.

That was foreseeable, as is the other nonsense they sold in

VAT is the last thing they’ll cling on to but they shouldn’t

Why would you want any top talent to leave the UK regardless of their background? It’s a crazy suggestion that would harm the UK.

PS only make up 7% of pupils anyway. The 93% of state pupils already massively dominate university entry. Removing 7% of the competition would barely be noticeable for the 93%.

Except it won’t be ‘best’

That list is correct in their views

People agree with a policy to make others pay more to keep their own tax bill down despite them being in a position to pay more themselves.

The definition of selfish?

I was astounded pre election that anyone thought the vat on private school fees would happen, so many threads about it, when it was clear it was never happening due to the fact it was on legally dodgy ground and starmer is a lawyer and knew that. He simply wasn’t being honest.

and I’m still astounded any one actually thinks it will happen;

by the time the law cases are resolved Labour will,be long out of power.

I’d love you to be right but I’m not sure

So you think a sensible policy would be to give a student from a top performing selective grammar, whose parents have paid for tuition and extra curriculars on top, bonus UCAS points than an SEN child whose parents chose a basic, non academic, private. Yes, that will definitely level the playing field…….

The privately educated dominate the top unis even when state educated students have the same grades!!! That needs to stop. Why is it ok for state educated students not to get the places they deserve but not ok for the privately educated? The privately educated roll out yet more blackmail when not being able to use their privilege gets challenged?🙄

We have so much top state talent shut out who are more than capable of doing an equal if not better job. Somebody who has achieved the same grades from a state school as opposed to private has oodles more resilience and ability to put up with achieving in more challenging circumstances.

It's not "only available" to the top 7%. Two parents on just above average income could pay for private education, and a lot do. I know tons of families who could afford private education, but they'd rather spend their money on other stuff. That's fine, but you can't then moan that you feel like kids who went private have advantages. I'm sure yours also benefitted from the £15-20k you didn't spend.

If both your parents are doctors and you live in a leafy suburb with 2 annual foreign holidays, an outstanding state school, and every extra curricular you've ever fancied doing, you'll probably have just the same options in life as your parents' colleagues' kid who lives in a less nice area, rarely goes on holiday and puts the extra funds into private school. The first family isn't somehow less privileged than the other because they made a different choice.

University and job applications are about a lot more than looking at 3 A Level grades. You can’t say that one student with 3 A grades, a heap of work experience, extra curriculars etc is the same as another student with 3 A grades and nothing else.

Anybody could access the bonus points- just stay in the state system as the vast majority do with SEN or otherwise. Most grammars aren’t in deprived areas so pupils wouldn’t get the additional bonus points on top.

Something needs to be done to ensure that state pupils with equal grades get the same opportunities.

This point is often forgotten.

it would be hilarious if after all this, money raised is peanuts or even worse a massive loss.
then what?? This govt should focus on making State Great.

Unis should no longer be looking at extra curriculars and internships mummy/ daddy and the old boys networks have bought .

They are meaningless. State pupils do better at uni than the privately educated.

I’m sure you would.

It would be very punitive given that 18% of 6th formers are in private schools, and near 25% of the A and A* a-levels are from private pupils.

But then, you don’t really want to be “fair”. You want to be authoritarian and tell everyone how to live, and spend their money and raise their kids.

Basically you want to reshape the world for your own convenience without the humility to consider that you may not know what is best for everyone else.

internships mummy/ daddy and the old boys networks have bought .

These myths which keep being peddled are getting beyond ridiculous. I am state educated, had no parental connections, and easily managed to get work experience/placements/internships in traditionally hard to access careers, as did my partner. It just takes a bit of initiative, perseverance and patience. People need to stop stamping their feet and wailing “it’s not fair” and actually do something about it.

Nope I’d like the 75% of A and A* at Alevel achieved by state pupils being reflected in top uni and job and admissions instead of it being the wealthy 25% who are massively over represented .

Pretty sure I’m not alone in this and it will be looked at by the current government.

It’s well known that’s it’s easier to do something about it when privately educated. So much easier when you’re paying a school to do it for you which is why parents do. Kids struggling with a myriad of issues in the state sector don’t have additional free time or connections to get grades and a foot in. Getting the grades is enough.

So much easier when you’re paying a school to do it for you

So you think private schools arrange all of their pupils’ internships? Of course they don’t. The assumptions about private schools is ridiculous.

I can’t believe there keep being threads and articles on this! It affects such a tiny minority of wealthy people!

I guess they’re the vocal minority…

Well, that’s something. You’ve moved from 7% to 25%.

The universities are actually moving away from this idea after finding it wasn’t working out as they hoped.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-68545303

As many posters have pointed out state vs private misses a lot of nuance. Universities want to make sure DC who are capable but have been truly disadvantaged get a chance. Not to swap deck chairs between different groups of middle class kids. And BTW, I am very much in favour of well taught middle class children continuing into tertiary education and going on to contribute to society. I think there is room for everyone.

You’re coming across as being quite bigoted.