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?

I mean if you aren’t getting value for money from a service then you ditch it. Schools are no different.

If you feel that the parent could talk to your child about her school, the education tax etc in a derogatory way
Then I’d opt out for your daughters sake

My db was nasty about us sending our sons to Indis and took every opportunity to slag off their schools including to and in front of our kids.

We avoid now and are down to just putting up with him at funerals.

Don’t invite people who could upset you, your family or are outspoken and potentially toxic into your life

Other people are allowed different opinions to you.

Yes I think people genuinely thought it would raise money and state schools get 6500 extra teachers and all the other stuff. A lot of people, as evidenced in this thread, actually don’t understand the policy and think it’s some sort of tax on massive profits of schools themselves pretending to be charities rather than on children. They probably also believed Labour when they said it wouldn’t close down schools.
Now we no it won’t raise any money, there are 140 fewer teachers (let alone 6500 more) and school are closing at double the usual rate. I don’t blame people for falling for it initially.

What? Please point out where I’ve done that.

Do not limit your DD's social opportunities based on your political views.

What if the parent started slagging off dds school in front of dd

There are People out there who are like that

Is your child now in state school? Just send them to another independent school as the parents at independent schools can afford the fees and the 20% VAT won’t affect them. If your child is at a state school then it isn’t surprising that parents will have different views to you. This can easily be solved by just changing your child to a different independent school. Unless you can’t afford the 20% increase?

You are aware there isn’t an Independent school around every corner aren’t you.

The percentage of teachers who now support labour is down to 18%, unsuprising given their cuts and broken promises

I went to an independent school, and I would send my DC to one should finances allow.

I believe they should be taxed, like other businesses are. That said, I appreciate and accept other people may have different views for may reasons because I’m not so narrow minded and arrogant to believe my opinion is ‘correct’.

In my experience our teachers with PhDs didn’t stay long and got jobs in private schools, usually for a payrise. We also lost some of our specialist teachers in sixth form - we had a few professors for a short time which was amazing. So I assumed (but fully admit I could have been wrong!) that something similar was happening in this school (I don’t think it would be down to demographics as the schools are less than 15 miles apart).

They’re not always the same, actually. Teachers in state schools have to be qualified whereas private school teachers do not.

Yeah but just drive to one

YABU.
FWIW I believe the tax is wrong but many of my friends don’t. We just don’t talk politics.

I have known teachers who left State schools for Private because they were easier to work in not because they were better teachers. I know at least one private Primary that pays its teachers far less than they'd get in state schools - do you think they attract better teachers?

Often hours. OP hasnt stated where they live and at 6yrs they can’t board

Your daughter will meet many people in her life who have different views to you, She will need to negotiate these situations and you’ve removed an opportunity to practice. What type of schools do the two girls attend now?

Its not an "education tax". My son is currently being educated and I haven't got to pay any additional tax.

If you are talking about private schooling - Its a luxury and should be taxed.

No most independent schools don’t make a profit, only 30% do. I don’t think it’s immoral to charge fees, how else do they fund the school and providing education? You have to remember that independent schools or their pupils get 0 government funding in the UK so it’s very difficult.

Education everybody can’t afford is fine, I’m a realist. I think it should be accessible to as many people as possible. If your concern is not everyone can afford it then do you think a 20% has made it more affordable? Do you think there are more bursaries and scholarships now?

So I do see something immoral in making education less affordable, which is why I don’t support education tax.

Thanks for making me laugh.

You could tell her you disagree profoundly with her idealogical views on this issue and you don't want her daughter to associate with your daughter because of her opinions. You wouldn't then be calling her stupid,but you'd be honest. But you won't - you'd rather lie and involve your daughter in lies.

Hi, OP -

You’ve replied to many posts, but never to a request for why you said alcohol abuse and smoking are play date risks. That was back at 12.23, in case it has slipped your mind.

Some of us are interested in your evidence for this claim. Also, at 11.51 you said the playdate mum was ‘unstable’. Was that an attempted joke, or another unsubstantiated accusation?

They have and always were taxed as other businesses are. Well they had a reduction in business rates, which has now gone.

The education tax is a tax paid by children or fee payer, not the schools.