To be gleeful that most of us were right

[Wranglestar]

https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/news/adding-vat-to-private-school-fees-has-had-no-obvious-impact-on-state-sector-applications-390546/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2ATdaVlNkJsbtC-KizuW4Fw41obnpvezxnFv4IAFwzJPHXmU90Awr5eqAaem9tMIsn9I0vHSC4jrdYONIA#0rd9makyd4264nstc4us9j77yk5kaoswtLondon Economic

And that private schools has had no impact on state school places. The rich have simply - paid more. Excellent news!

a bit of an odd thing to be pleased about, in my opinion

Taxing the rich is always something to be pleased about!

Everyone I know who sends their kids to private school has just tighten their belts, not sure how sustainable it is for them long term though.

These are families who are doctors or highly skilled professionals, ranging from lawyers to trades, not mega wealthy by any means, I am not gleeful about the choices they have had to make re what to cut back on v. completely disrupting their child’s education, moving them from there friends. I imagine a lot of money is being borrowed….

Before the VAT change our local state secondary made cuts to the number of admissions for year 7 and 6th form, we have two private secondary’s in the catchment, so I am more interested in seeing the impact this September. As this change will likely prevent more parents choosing private than moving their children.

Well. to my point you did want more money so you went out and earned it, good for you, you do not sound bitter like OP. You happen not to think it was worth it - fair enough. I wanted more money too and also went out and earned it. My sons both got scholarships to top public schools but obviously you still pay, and I do think it was worth it, not for education alone but (the earning money) just for the fact that having money buys your way out of all sort of problems in life. And I have lived in Scandinavia for years so don't really need to read up on how they do things in Finland thanks for the tip though.

As per previous, gloating only shows envy, and green is not a good colour to match an outfit to.
Why be so dismissive and nasty, calling people idiots? Such behaviours di not covering anyone in glory and are hardly traits one would want kids repeating

Parents must be so proud...

Didn’t read the article as I am not in London, so didn’t realise it was based on September figures.

I just checked out local high school, re my comment above, in 2023 and 2024 all applicants to the school were admitted, this year they have had DOUBLE the number of applicants than places available.

Well it's not really my loss is it? It's a loss to the small and large businesses that won't get my pound.

Gosh, you are really quite bitter and grim, aren't you???!!

I agree and that’s why my DC both went to private prep rather than our local state primary. I went to state primary and secondary. Like me, 99% of the pupils were from white working class families as the schools reflected the area that I lived in. My brother teaches in a school similar to the one we attended, my nieces attend a similar school. You are wrong if you think lack of diversity emanates from private schools.

Yes this is true. Our private school has circa 600 children, 30% of whom have SEN. The school has passed on 15% of VAT. They are mitigating By cutting peripatetic staff (aka- job losses) - by cutting staff at various departments such as in the dining hall and kitchen; the grounds and maintenance staff and some staff in teaching (aka job losses) and by cutting numbers of TAs (aka - job losses). They always provided a very wide range of full and part bursaries and have said they are reviewing those going forward because they have long term parents / grandparents who will struggle with the rise and so some will be supported by the school and those funds being removed from the bursaries (aka- loss to the community). They are also mitigating because they used to host local schools for many extras - useage of the sports pitch and tennis courts (which was provided extensively for free, and which require staff to be present to supervise open and shut etc plus dining staff as food provided afterwards ) - aka- loss to the community. They open up the grounds and many of the facilities at weekends so local schools can use our theatre for example for free for their productions and of course our staff would have to be provided to facilitate that - these will now mostly go (aka- loss to the community). We are in a rural area and our school is actually by quite some margin the BIGGEST employer of local people. Yet- job losses directly and the knock on affects to money coming into the local community.

That's all an odd thing to be gleeful about tbh. It's almost like- I dunno- people are so blinded by hate and spite and ideology that they fail to understand the logical, forseeable, predictable consequences of policies born out of spite. (aka Bridget Phillipson and alot of people on this thread).

Bewildering that anyone could be so spiteful and nasty. Whilst simultaneously not knowing the actual figures yet.

The impact will be seen over the coming years. Many will find the funds to avoid disruption to their child’s last years. But those finding it a stretch will be less inclined to use private in the first place. My child recently left school. Fees were £14k a year when they started and £19k when they left. 2 years later those fees are now £27k. My salary is the same as what it was when we were paying £14k.

The only idiot on this thread is you as it’s been pointed out multiple times to you that this article and application figures don’t prove what you want them to prove. It’s too early to call.

Yep. Are you gleeful about those too op?

You sound dreadfully jealous and bitter.

I can only assume you are giving away every additional penny you earn that is spare?

@1sttimeforeverything2 because private education is a luxury. If the state didn't provide education to every child then I'd agree with you. If education was means tested and only provided by the state to lower income families then of course there shouldn't be VAT on private education.

But the fact is that private schooling is a choice.

Taxing the rich is always something to be pleased about!

Even when that taxing is removing jobs from very ordinary people?

And whilst I think it's important that we look at ensuring huge corporations are paying adequate taxes, continuing to tax people who have done well for themselves at an individual level will only ensure that more and more choose to leave the country and live elsewhere. Which is yet more money that never appears in the government's coffers. So less for the NHS, Social Services and Education. Bravo.

Yup OP! I was never on the side of those whinging about losing a tax break and didn’t think it would have much impact either.
perhaps more private schools will lose pupils in the coming years, but that’s a good thing and with falling birth rate we need more pupils in state schools to stop them from closing.

so all good.

‘Even when that taxing is removing jobs from very ordinary people?’

if you’re referring to teachers and support staff - there are plenty of jobs available in state schools and the education sector - better pension too… at least for those actually qualified.

Why is it all good when Labour are wiping out funding and now going for welfare cuts?

The issue is that the education provided by the state is a postcode lottery. We have local schools with negative progress 8 scores and less than 30 percent getting a grade 5 in English and maths at a gcse level. It doesn't feel like much of a choice at this point. It's either private or relocate.

Isn’t it interesting that all those gleeful on this thread seem to be determined to demonstrate their incredibly weak knowledge and understanding of basic economics.

Perhaps their minds have been unbalanced by the chips on their shoulders…

Any chance you could explain how not adding VAT to education is a “tax break”?

Teachers and support staff are leaving state education in droves as I am sure you know. For many, if it were a binary choice of a job in state education or leaving education altogether then they'd choose the second. Or they'd go and teach in China or Dubai.

I’m not sure we’d miss the type of people who would uproot their family to go to UAE for tax breaks anyway. The wife can’t drive there? Thats ok! We can afford a driver and a bodyguard and a maid and a nanny, and the good news is, we keep their passports! So they can’t just up and leave if they don’t like working for us. So hard to get good staff these days.

I personally know four young people (under 40) who all trained and worked as teachers then left state education after less than 5 years each because they hated the working conditions. They all work in jobs loosely connected to education now, but not in actual teaching. The other young woman I know (30) who has been a teacher her whole career is thinking of leaving.