AIBU to think that Bridget Phillipson is exaggerating the level of middle-class support for VAT on school fees?

[TepidWatersOfManagedDecline]

Bridget Phillipson has been quoted as saying that the policy is supported by "middle-class parents in good professional jobs with housing costs who just can't afford that level of fee" and want "brilliant state schools". www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c86wd1y7v2xo

Is this true, in your experience? Most middle-class parents with professional jobs who I’ve discussed this with think that it’s a spiteful policy (including those who don’t use the independent sector).

AIBU to think that Bridget Phillipson is exaggerating the level of support for the policy?

I support VAT on private schools. I can't remotely see why they should be exempted. A lot of the online noise around objections to the change has seemed not to be fully organic - it has often looked to be at least partly the result of manipulation by anti-labour bots and agitators

The only people I know who can afford private school are above average middle class. While I realise that there is a minority of cases where the parents have little choice but to send their child private, I can't find massive sympathy for those claiming they can afford £20k+ a year for a school but can't pay £24k. No one I know is taking their child out of private school due to the VAT. Maybe one less holiday a year could cover the extra cost.

These threads are started like clockwork on here it seems - I’d imagine by some of Badenoch’s cronies. Anyway they always go the same way. Lots of vocal support for the policy.

I agree with that. I have always said if you can “sacrifice” aspects of your life, you’re privileged.

@Losingtheplot2016 you are spot on with "you only really know what the schools are like when your kids are struggling".

Yes, thats exactly what we paid for Cute Uniforms.
if only our failing State Secondary made the kids wear cute hats we could have saved a fortune

Possibly people could be behind it but I can't when it's a policy built on lies. Independent schools don't get a 'tax breaks'; has nothing to do with charitable status; is not going to raise the many different figures Labour have quoted; is not being ring fenced for state schools; cannot be spent multiple times for different things as Labour have quoted; will not improve state schools due to former independent school parents demanding better in state etc etc

A favourite has been the parents who will now have to move to a home near an outstanding school. One parent on a local Facebook group was up in arms because they would need to "downsize" in order to only spend £1m near the local outstanding school - surely using the £50k it would cost to move towards school fees would be more sensible. 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

I've never spoken to anyone who is against the policy. Most people are largely indifferent I think - most middle class kids aren't in private school so most people don't really care in reality.

I’m not sure state schools will benefit from the money. I know people who use private who are quite blasé about the increase and people who use state who are fine with it. I don’t know anyone who thinks it spiteful, that doesn’t really make sense to me.

I know plenty of people who support it. Time we advocated for 93% of children who don't go private. Private schools have yanked up their fees far above inflation for years and years. They should learn to tighten their belts like State schools have had to do for years. And they are not obliged to pass on the increase.

I am proud to come from the only country in the world who chooses to tax education. (Not!)
This is a slippery slope as Universities and education over 16 is luxury and will soon be in the sights.

Private schools had become unaffordable to the majority of the MC before the VAT increase…

It was extensively talked about pre election and documented in the manifesto. It didn't happen by stealth.

I think most people don't care either way. They don't think it will result in huge amounts of money that will transform the state school, and they weren't particularly bothered that the fees didn't have VAT before, but they also aren't bothered if they do have them now.

Agreed the truth is if you’re paying for it out of earnt income, you can’t afford it

Agree with you OP. She's also saying the tax policy won't result in any significant increase in state school numbers. I think she's in cloud cuckoo land. I fear a significant increase, to an already stretched state system

Well rolls are already declining & certainly grammar applications haven’t increased.

Where will the money go

I predict that house prices near well regarded state schools will sky rocket further. Fewer children from less affluent families will then get places in such schools.

In London prices are already high near good schools & plenty of families in my area pay more to live here but use private schools often in areas with cheaper prices.

I mean, we are so short of projects that need funding. It will probably just sit there in the Bank gathering dust.

A friend told me that they’d have to not going skiing at Christmas now. They will still keep their second house in Spain though. And only her husband works not her. If you can afford private school in the UK you’re rich enough to absorb this.

BTW they are Labour voters and support the tax!!

If you ask a majority if a minority should pay more for the majority, then I suspect the majority will say yes; especially if they assume they won’t have to put their own hands in their pockets. I don’t support the policy because of the fact that the private sector picked up plenty of SEND DC. I also don’t support wide sweeping reforms for my Covid generation DC in state schools either. On a personal level, I am worried about the increased competition in Sixth Form for the subjects my DC want to take where there is already a shortage of teachers. I don’t think any of our local schools will say no to a bunch of ex private school kids with a string of 9s, why would they and so I do fear that for the high birth years 2011 and above this will have negative implications. And these are the Covid kids.

It's a policy of jealousy and the middle are being pushed further from the top.

Yes, those now priced out are very angry about the elitism!

Exactly, all it will do is price out people looking for homes near the best state schools, therefore contributing even further to inequality, as good state schools will become the new private schools for those who can't now afford private.

Where are all these excellent state schools in cheap areas?