Private school fees

[studentandparent]

Labour will scrap charitable status on private school fees when next in Government. Anyone got any idea how much this will increase fees?

No but hooray!

Yep. All of us subsidising private education makes me feel sick. 90% of state schools going to run out of money before the end of this school year. Scandalous that private schools get charitable status for doing a bit of ' outreach work'. What a joke.

I’ll believe that when I see it.

If this is the thing about school fees being exempt from VAT, then I’d guess an increase of 20%?

The unfair advantage they buy their students, and the resulting control those students have over the economy, means the ‘outreach work’ and ‘saving the public extra expenses’ is never worth it, in my opinion.

Not all Private schools are charities so it won’t affect everyone

I'll believe it when I see it. Nearly every one of my friends who sends their children private votes Labour.

How on Earth do they justify that?! I imagine they’ll stop pretty sharpish…

Yet people are paying twice. In tax and fees. So they are funding a system they are not using rather than you subsidising private.

If you make it more expensive people will just use those state places instead. Are the state schools where you are oversubscribed?

I think the vat saving is a fair trade off for how much we save the uk tax payer by not taking up places in the state sector. Which if you haven’t noticed is pretty full. If I’m not paying school fees with the money I’ll be buying a nicer car or holiday AND hogging one of the free places. The catchment areas of good schools will then become even more sought after and the lower middle classes totally priced out. So the wealthy will still have access to great schools but it’ll now be paid for by the tax payer.

I don’t think this is the gotcha that you all think it is.

Well this will stop me voting Labour

Exactly this

i dont think the ‘money saved’ is worth the undue influence that the private school sector has over the economy and politics.

If it happens, I would expect it to be phased in gradually, either for new intakes after a certain date, or with five years warning for everyone. They are not going to want loads of parents pulling their children out halfway up, suddenly requiring places in state schools.

Some schools will just add on the VAT to their current fees. Those that fear that they will lose students and not be able to replace them may look at making cuts in order that the increase is not so big.

So is it assumed that

• private school fees will increase dramatically
• this will result in some private schools going bust?
• the kids whose parents can't afford the increased fees will move into the catchment of high performing state schools (or leave the country)
• and everyone else benefits - not exactly sure how?

Not saying it's right or wrong. Just not sure it will have the stellar outcome on the state school sector that people assume it will.

This, 100%.

i dont think the ‘money saved’ is worth the undue influence that the private school sector has over the economy and politics.

But do you think the fees increasing will stop this from happening ?

What @Emanresu9 said

No one ever seems to address the massive increase in state school places that will be required if Labour make private school unaffordable for the middle class families who can just about afford it but wouldn't be able to with VAT added and charitable status gone.

Where are all those extra state school places coming from?

No, but at least it addresses the ridiculous notion they’re a ‘charity’ which is frankly insulting.

@MarshaBradyo
The state schools aren't full near me, no. But state schools can be built etc. The privilege bought by going to private school is corrosive and deeply unfair. No one sends their child to private school to save the taxpayer money, or alleviate overcrowding in state schools, come on!

The ISI has been polling parents to see how many will switch to the state sector in response to a 20% increase in costs. It would also be good to know how many parents who might have considered private school in future will decide against it if the costs are higher. It’s quite likely that putting vat on fees will actually cost the country more that the tax raised (although of course one might still argue that it’s the right thing to do).

My kids are at an independent school. I vote Labour as do many fellow parents, possibly the majority- it’s very normal. I’d love education to be properly funded for everyone (and vote accordingly) but at the moment it isn’t.

No government is going to do this unless they can magically increased the capacity of the state sector. Given that this will cost billions, it’s just not going to happen.

Also, most private schools make little or no profit so the fact that they have charitable status isn’t particularly lining anyones pockets. As much as I think there should be one good state school system for all and no elitist hierarchy of schools, I still think this charitable status debate is a non-issue.

You’re clearly in a very different area to me.

Of course some state schools are highly sought after. There’s a house premium to get in, people use money to do it, it’s extremely hard for someone who wants the outstanding state near me to access it without living nearby.

It’s also incredibly hard to just find a new site. I think you need to think outside your area.

Yep. All of us subsidising private education makes me feel sick. 90% of state schools going to run out of money before the end of this school year. Scandalous that private schools get charitable status for doing a bit of ' outreach work'. What a joke.

We currently pay school fees and tax. So we're paying twice.

I think the vat saving is a fair trade off for how much we save the uk tax payer by not taking up places in the state sector. Which if you haven’t noticed is pretty full.

By the same logic, please can I have some money towards home educating my children? Even if it's just exam entry fees paid for?!

Whatever the principle in removing the VAT exemption from fees, it'll probably end up costing the government more than it saves because so many extra children will need state school places.

It's not a ridiculous policy, but it's a really bad time for it.