To be completely shocked by this - Bridget can’t tell us the impact of the government’s VAT on Education?

[Sasskitty]

Bridget Phillipson dodges question on impact of private school tax raid

As parents and schools complain of chaos, Ms Phillipson refuses to spell out details of the assessment made by the department for education

Bridget Phillipson failed to spell out the full impact of the government’s private school VAT raid, dodging the question when asked about the possible implications for special education schools.

While she said the government has “looked at all of the potential impacts”, her answer failed to provide any real detail on the expected consequences.

It comes as parents and schools complain about the implications of the tax raid, which came into force on New Year’s Day and is expected to raise £1.5bn for the Treasury.

YABU - Bridget Phillipson has it all in hand. She just didn’t feel like answering the pesky question. The point is to piss rich people off. Leave Labour alone, they want nothing but erm oh I’m not sure.

YANBU - Phillipson clearly has no idea what the impact of VAT on Education will be. Nor does she really care as long as she’s seen to be punishing those horrible rich people. Or even better (it seems) the not really rich ones just trying to improve the education of their children as the available state schools were not suitable.

https://apple.news/AO7fcmrzuRaik4stLaPQxwA

(sorry paywall but there’s not much more in the article)

PS. I’ve removed the poll tally, no one needs to see real data. Do they?

I believe it is. Since there are no statistics on the numbers of privately educated children with SEN/ALN who have no other choice than to access paid for education and since the stats you’ve provided aren’t from a neutral source, I continue to believe that focusing on a relatively small group of people as justification for continuing to make private education VAT exempt is a red herring (and rather unedifying).

No. I’m accurate in my use of language.

My children have SEN so I’m used to fighting, but I would never consider private education. That particular battle would not exist for me.

I really don't care what you think. Some of us have actual experience of the sector so see what the impact is.
Do you only believe what you see for yourself?
Even Labour accept that state SEN is in crisis, there are daily reports of it across all sections of the press. Why you can't accept that some parents feel forced to find alternatives to woeful state provision is your own problem.

That is your choice though, why you can't see that other parents make different choices is ridiculous. Or do you apply that logic across all areas ie you refuse to believe anything that you yourself wouldn't choose? Because in that case you have an extremely narrow world view.

If you don’t care what I think, there’s not much point continuing to engage with me! Have a good day though.

‘The general public got tricked ’

Nope. The question is - do you think private schools should continue to have tax breaks or would you support these wealthy institutions catering to the wealthiest people being taxed accordingly? Incl. paying proper business rates?

This policy was overwhelming popular for a reason.

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/jan/15/send-crisis-in-england-risks-creating-lost-generation-of-children

https://ssslearning.co.uk/safeguarding-articles/send-crisis?srsltid=AfmBOorerR3F7w-7wAIDlG2B5T7yt7NJ6RzPp-p6UgRhcp1L8zVURosT

If Labour want to effect a change in the system, targeting the richest is the way forward. Off shore account holders who don't pay tax already would have been a centre left thing to do, rather than start taxing education for parents struggling with the state sector because it has been underfunded. Would you say taxing families educating kids over billionaires hiding assets is a leftist position then? Or is that where the "centre" left comes in? We should have gone more radical if we wanted to actually address the issues?

No. I think adding VAT to private education is a leftist position. Ensuring the wealthiest pay their share in taxes is also a leftist position. I’m as disappointed as the average person that our government is so wishy washy.

It will take £45 billion just to get funding of state schools to where it should be. You'd need a further £270B to correct the historical shortfall. Therefore as 93% of parents choose state then the only way of funding this required increase is to tax everyone. That would be fair ie an Education Tax out of income tax. Low earners wouldn't pay because they don't pay income tax but all the millionaires who use state would have to pay a higher rate linked to their rate of income tax. That would be fair because then the 93% would benefit most.

What do you class as wealthy? What income? Because that's the key when talking about taxing the wealthy.
Reeves is having to dilute the nom dom proposal because if really high earners leave then you need 100s of 1000s more lower earners in order to replace the amount of tax those high earners no longer pay.
Taxing the rich only works until the rich leave and therefore stop paying tax. Who do you tax then?

Taxing education over non-doms is not merely a "wishy-washy" position, it stinks of corruption.

Taxing education is deplorable. That's why no other country in Europe does it, and very few countries across the world. That's why there are legal challenges.

I haven't seen a single cogent argument for the VAT policy. It won't raise any money. It will cost money. It won't increase "equality"(whatever that is) it will decrease equality as private schools will be the preserve of the very rich. Typical leftist contradiction. I suppose we can't hope for any intelligent thinking from them which I never realised before.

I see US military families won't be charged VAT on school fees. Just our own military families. That's going to help the recruitment crisis. Another case of leftist spite ruining something that is good.

I think they are going to have to back out. I really cannot see this being workable as regards to SEND families in the private sector. It’s more of a question of how they will wangle out of this one and when, as far as I am concerned. If they wanted to make this work they would have bothered to do their homework, which they didn’t.

And then watch for the civil suits against them by parents who have withdrawn kids already

Why are you on this thread?

They don't have to get this stuck. They got it wrong on the nom dom stuff, which was also said on here to usual backlash

They've rowed back and can on this

VAT on private school fees encapsulates current leftist thinking. They won't back down on it. Despite it not working the way they hope. They haven't got any other ideas about how to solve the UKs problems and it's a good distraction for lefties. You can see it on this thread where posters who have no connection or interest in private schools are spending their time arguing here. Pathetic really as the policy will cost money and increase inequality but there's none so blind that will not see.

Why do you ask?

I suppose what I mean is that after the last 14 years, I’d have preferred to see a radical left wing government, one that’s really committed to equality. Not one that does a little tweak here and there.

Just interested. You're on a thread where you.have no connection or experience of the subject.

This is a popular policy, I doubt they'll row back on it.

There's no such thing as "equality".

No such thing as equality. Your version of equality is to squash excellence and restrict creativity, you want everyone in a little box receiving exactly the same. 1 size fits all simply doesn't work and I'm shocked you think it does, as a parent pf kids with SEN.
Parents need MORE choice in education, not less.