Allow a play date where mum unapologetically supports children’s education tax

[GigglyOrange]

Just this really, our local independent prep school closed due to the education tax earlier this year and has caused absolute chaos for lots of families, including my own. My dd (6) has been invited for a play date with a girl she seems very friendly with and who seems very sweet, but I’ve since found out from another parent that the mum is an ‘unapologetic education taxer’. My instinct is to cancel the play date, AIBU?

She isn't going to answer that. She hasn't got the guts.

Poor people 🤯?

What else would you call a tax on education?

Yes there are, but the private school parents are going to be targeting the better state schools generally, so there is going to be an impact.

We were catchmented for 2 secondaries, 1 decent, 1 awful. Due to the increase in applications, the decent one has reduced their catchment so we are no longer in catchment for that, so only have option of awful one. So we are trying for grammar, but that has also got harder due to more pupils moving from private primary to grammar rather than private secondary due to the VAT.

The tax is nonsensical and will cost more money than it saves. I have opposed it from every angle from economic to ethical. However the one thing I would hope a good education would give anyone - regardless of which sector delivered it - is the ability to engage in debate. This cancel culture is far more aligned with those who want to indoctrinate us into the big statists’ world view. I’m surprised at the OP and wonder if this is someone who opposes private schools posing as an uptight parent? For what it’s worth, I know parents in the independent sector who blindly supported it initially … After a few choice debates, they suddenly saw the light. I can see how someone with zero experience of independent schools would back it (perhaps until their DC misses out on a school place as those priced out move into her catchment).

For the avoidance of doubt, I can’t back this government knowing it’s their most cherished held policy. If this is for real, OP needs to unclench.

Guts? Quite obviously it would suggest a bitter person, net tax recipient, easily misled to blame children for their failings and likely lower than average intelligence. The numbers don’t lie on this.

And me!

You will get reported and deleted for that sarcastic comment. Mn does not recognise Scottish sarcasm 😂

That’s a pretty mental stance to take, OP.

And I say that with 2 kids in independent school and working in the industry. I am 100% against the VAT on school fees. It will raise very little tax revenue compared with the impact on working families.

But… I don’t penalise my children for having friends with parents who have different political views to my own. In fact, I don’t discuss politics with mum friends (I.e. people I only see via my children). One of my mum friends is an American Republican Trump supporter. Our DD’s have been besties for years.

😂😂

So mean to the children! They have no control over their parents political views.

DDs best friends mum has some extraordinary views but she’s very kind and a lovely mum.

Choked on my diet coke there 😂

What’s an “education tax”? Oh, do you mean closing a tax loophole on private education?

I am vehemently against tax on education, but I also think it’s important to discuss different views with different people and it’s not possible to do that if you demonise people.

I also think this level of vitriol from the OP, and assumption that any character tests she dislikes must be lumped in with a single political view, is really disturbing! (if true)

Tax on education and vocational training services of children aged between 5 and 18

VAT on private school fees is not an act of cruelty and spite to children. Don’t be so silly.

Currently, 97% think you’re being unreasonable. Do you accept this result, OP?

Only education that is in business, not education itself.

That's true, but made it even more romantic to me 😁

It’s not an education tax is it. It’s taxing private companies that happen to offer education.

It's VAT on private school fees, so let's call it "Private Education Tax". Private Education is a choice, it's a luxury not a necessity so it should be subject to VAT

I thought this was a reverse but maybe it's more of a 'gotcha'?
For threads where people say they wouldn't let their kid hang out with Reform supporters? And VAT on school fees was the most extreme left wing view they could think of?

FWIW OP, virtually none of the rest of us are paying this education tax, you must be very unlucky. Maybe speak to your accountant and see if there's any way to avoid it?

You've missed out in "Tax on Private Education" it's not "Tax on Education" I really hope you didn't go to a private school, if be asking for my money back

It’s not taxing companies. It’s taxing individuals.

Independent schools that have long waiting lists and do not struggle to fill their places even after adding VAT onto their fees have actually done very well out of this VAT change as they now get to reclaim all the VAT on their expenditure and massive capital projects.

It's hilarious that the OP is claiming to be private school fodder but is unable to understand that there is no education tax in the UK. State education is free and tax free and always will hem if you want to buy a "superior" education then you pay tax on it because it's a luxury. I would expect the outcome of that luxury to be the competence to understand that.

It's been a long time since an OP has made themselves look so stupid, I'm enjoying it 😂