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’m sure I could support my children to learn an instrument in other ways if I could no longer afford a weekly piano lesson. Why is that a “gotcha”?

I’m autistic not pushy. We tend to be particularly tenacious.

And there you have shown your fundamental lack of understanding.
Most parents don't choose indy for "prospects", we choose it for our kids having an enjoyable educational experience

Did I?

I meant "gotcha" in terms of "ah I understand" not "got you"

Which is also presumably why you pay for extra piano tuition. And why people pay for 11+ tuition, extra tuition for CGSE and A'levels, drama lessons and the rest.

Maybe you could write to Starmer and explain where they have overlooked equality here, if you can spot it?

You've gone private because the state provision of piano lessons is inadequate thus buying privilege. You can't pick and chose. Although you seem to be which is very Labour of you.

I'm ADHD and I will do whatever it takes to ensure my child gets a decent education, including indy school, because I don't put my own beliefs above the well being of my child.
You are obviously privileged enough to have good state provision near you, maybe we should tax you?

And I’ve said if there was VAT on music lessons, I’d pay it if I could afford it and go without the lessons if not.

I don’t understand where the hypocrisy lies there. It’s exactly my point. If people can’t afford VAT on private school fees, they have to use alternatives.

The only difference is I’m not expecting lifelong advantage from piano lessons, just something for my child to do that doesn’t involve screens or walks in the woods which they find dull!

Nope. We could have had them at school but my child lost the form.

Yes you felt that the current labour government was a bit wishy washy and you wanted it to go further. They seem pretty left wing to me already. Anyway apologies if you are not as left wing as I assumed.

You also said private provision of education would not be someone that you would do. Apart from private provision of music lessons. Which is private education.

Easier to pay for lessons than ask them to print another?

Please show evidence for your assertion that we are "expecting lifelong advantage" from using indy schools? I'm certainly not.

So you choose to pay for private lessons rather than get a new form?

No more spaces this term and I like to strike while the iron’s hot.

Lucky them you are in the position to finance their private music education.

So you are buying advantage ie your child skips the wait?

Is it though? Our tutor teaches adults, it’s more of a business than an education as I see it. Happy to accept if that’s hypocritical though, none of us is perfect!

Yes I am left wing, I just didn’t remember specifically saying “I am very left wing”!

Yes and no, it’s paid for with DLA which I would rather not have to claim.

And many of the parents of the 110 000 kids with SEN in Indy schools would rather not have to pay fees but feel they have no choice!

I can't even engage with this any more.

Ok probably better we don't all know the machinations of the financing of your child's music lessons. They aren't state provided in any event no matter how you spin it. Which is actually perfectly fine. There won't be.many of us on this thread arguing that's a bad thing obviously! You're in the club!

Oh dear! 😂I never imagined it.

Yes it is a bit of a stretch to follow the mental twists required to justify it.

https://www.wired-gov.net/wg/news.nsf/articles/education+secretary+outlines+plans+to+modernise+education+sector+22012025121500?open

AI is going to babysit children with SEND.

I don’t feel I have to try to justify anything? If people can’t afford private education then they can’t use it. And that isn’t an issue that predominantly affects parents of SEN kids so realistically we’re talking about the wider population.

I don’t agree with private education as an aside, I’ve had to confront my use of half an hour’s piano tuition once a week (would that still be private education if my child used it over the age of 18 I wonder?) but on the whole I’m happy with my stance and others are free to be equally happy with theirs. No justification needed, it’s just an informal debate.