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?

Imagine allowing your child to be around the spawn of a person with a social conscience!

🙄

Yes that’s right. This year.

who was I talking about?

But why is it worse that some people who could have afforded it now can't, than that some people could never have afforded it?

I don't mean where a child has had to move from a school they were happy at, but on a moral level, as that seems to be what you're concerned about.

But were the kids stabbing each other because they’re from different post codes?

Isn't she going to get a bit lonely? Polling consistently shows that the majority agree with the policy.

Lol, this is too funny that you’re asking me who you were talking about. Er, your daughter’s schoolfriend’s mum?’

If the private school system were entirely closed and all schooling state funded all children would have the same access to education. Parents who wanted to improve their children's schooling would have to lobby the government and look for policy change like the other 80% of parents. 20% of kids wouldn't be benefitting simply by having parents with deep pockets.

And we are in the top10% of earners in the UK. I'm not destitute nor am I bitter, however I grew up very disadvantaged and clawed my way out. Id very much like it if the playing field were more even so noone has to claw anywhere. All kids get a decent chance at social mobility.

Currently a fairly average child from a well of family is likely to still end up well educated with a good chance at a career while only theore exceptionally bright kids from deprived backgrounds will be able to do the same. You can't make everything fair, I still worked 2 jobs at university and sent money back to my family while the others on my course had 50-100 a week into their account FROM their parents. To be able to pass exams, get good grades in a hardcore subject etc while working 20-30 hours a week is extremely difficult and I couldn't have done it if I wasn't the kind of person who picked everything up first time and didn't need to revise, who could do a day at uni, a shift in a call centre followed by a shift in a bar, roll in and do an essay, submit by 6am, sleep 2 hours and be in a tutorial at 9.

It's not that I begrudge it, it's that I was LUCKY I was able to do it. Poor kids need a lot more luck than rich kids. Their shouldn't also be a 2 tier schooling system to give the already advantaged a leg up

OP: This is your comment about alcohol abuse and smoking by the mum in question. The one we have repeatedly been asking you to evidence.

Agree
Thats why our state schools need to massively improve
So everyone gets the same level of education

You just asked this question regarding your alcohol abuse comment, OP. It was in reference to the mum who had asked DD for the playdate, but supports VAT on school fees.

I think you are very wise to make sure your children don’t mix with the Great Unwashed.

Well done you!

It’s worse because fewer people can afford it and it was a deliberate act of sabotage aimed at children’s education.

Ok.

Faux surprise. You know what you said and you've repeatedly failed to respond to questions about it.

The policy was long over due.

I disagree
It was deliberate to get votes

Labour were warned of the potential fallout and chose to ignore

Are you going to answer then?!

No it wasn’t it was vat on a non necessary luxury service. Free education is there for every child.

You don't care about all the children who could never have had a private education though.

She is the one you accused of alcohol abuse. We are still waiting to hear why.

That doesn't happen at most state schools either. I'm sorry you've sent your dd to a state school where they do that. How awful. Parents' views on private school VAT is the least of your worries 😟

Very rare? Where do you get that from? You’re making huge assumptions about the kind of people who agree with VAT on private school fees.

Oh give up with the wide eyes. It was obvious who you were talking about. You're not going to explain it though.

The 94%!

Only the other 6% matter. Those whose parents can afford a luxury service that costs more than some people earn.