If you’re charged VAT will you remove your child from their private school? I’m v stressed!

[Liikklu]

We won’t be able to pay the increase. Only hope is asking grandparents for the shortfall which we don’t want to do. Anyone else in a similar boat? Do you think it will literally be a 20% increase on fees or will schools absorb some of it? Our school has said they will address the matter ‘if and when’ it applies.

Social development is iterative and gradual so this prediction you reject isn't going to happen overnight, of course not, but it is an extrapolation of the eventual consequence of this kind of policy when there isn't a balancing driver to equalise the quality of state school provision, of which underpinning factors are social equality generally.

We are luckily at the end of our DCs private education but I really do feel for those who are in the middle and facing potential disruption. At my DCs school they are looking at diverting the bursery fund to help parents in this situation so hopefully they might do similar at your school OP? It won't harm to ask.

Moving forward I suspect this will change the landscape somewhat, especially in big cities like Edinburgh or London where the proportion of DCS using private education is extremely high ( I read it was 25% in Edinburgh and 33% in London). I work in healthcare and I know many of my colleagues in London use private schools because of the wrap around care and the need to be close to work - many fall into the category of parents who will be squeezed out of the system by a 20% increase. But at least they have the choice to move out of London and work elsewhere, which many of them with younger children plan to do. Private school fees are much cheaper outside of the capital and there are also areas with fantastic grammar schools and fantastic state schools that they can move to. One family I know has sold their tiny terrace in Clapham and have been able to buy a 5 bedroom house in Kent for the same price next to an excellent range of school provision (grammar/state and private). They are both planning on cutting back on their hours and working in private practice so they will be able to spend more time with their DCS too. With the move towards WFH I suspect that many other people might do the same - organise where they live around the best schools as opposed to their workplace. Unfortunately those with kids already in the system won't be able to make these sorts of changes overnight so I really hope that the transition isn't too disruptive.

And the NE has some outstanding schools too. Where I live they all are.

Well where I live in the NE they aren't.

And in the mid term it will encourage private schools to offer better value for money to their remaining parents/students. With average private school fees now circa £17,000 compared to to £7,500 for state

How many times? A private school with 15 kids in a class has the same (more or less, depends on the school) funding available as a state school with 30 in a class. Private schools offer longer hours, copious sports and other activities, all included. Many don't charge for esrly drop off and clubs after school omit the need for aftershool care . Specialist teachers in music/drama/MFL/art/sports are the norm. What else do you think they can give?

VAT on schools bingo:

Politics of envy

"Good" state schools (especially grammar) will be overrun by private school students. (They will get in ahead of the thicko state school kids).

House prices near good schools will shoot up

We're not rich, we just work hard and drive an old car

University/nursery/swimming lessons will be next

I have sympathy for the disruption to individual kids, but the lack of recognising their own huge privilege and hand-wringing about using schools that the vast, vast majority of us have no choice about using does strike a poor tone.

Define outstanding? It means different things to different people.

Alternate bingo:

• privilege
• posh
• out of touch
• elitist
• suck it up
• Tory
• private kids are thick/spoon fed
• super wealthy parents

I’m stressed about this as we have been saving to send our one child private, and now they’re going up massively! We both grew up in poverty so can’t ask the grandparents, you’re very fortunate that’s even an option. independent schools are going to see their demographic reducing even further!

And you can put that inequality down to years of the tories.

Time for a change.

I’m glad you responded I couldn’t be bothered

And the VAT policy will mean that as a country we are happy to tax education but not gambling!
So education is viewed (incorrectly because VAT isn't a luxury tax) a luxury but gambling isn't.

Ofsted. Isn't that what most people use surely?

Do ypu always assume?
Probably.

People are quick to jump on the narrative that those who can afford private school are unfairly privileged. I’m a bit sick of it- some people work bloody hard to afford it and give their child a better chance of a happy life. Where we live (possibly where OP lives too) the state schools are horrendous and getting worse!

That's the class system not private schools per se. Ask any child on a sinkhole estate what the working poor think of them. Snobbery is not just the preserve of the wealthy and middle classes. You are working class woman. What about ethnic children (not all ethnicities are treated the same) and travellers, what do you know about their challenges? Will this help them? Do they get a pass from anyone?
Privilege is not just about money.

What strikes a poor tone is labours abject radio silence when we ask how they are going to raise standards in all schools?
Why they haven’t even done the bare minimum of checking there are enough places for the exodus (there aren’t) they haven’t funded the policy and you know as well as I don’t it will COST more educate thousands of extra pupils than the revenue it will raise for ‘breakfast clubs’ which is why they are silent on the issue,

Most people work bloody hard but could never afford private school fees.

Noticing what?
All I'm noticing is people in privileged bubbles having no idea how privileged they are.

Case in point

I was meaning in reference to the reality of people not being quite aware of their, you know, privilege.

Talking of nasty comments....

I don’t think any of the private school parents have said that they despise the state system? They have generally said that for one reason or another, they made an alternative choice for their child, which is their prerogative.

Why is there not the same vitriol toward people who use private medical, for example. Are people entitled twats who pay for a hip replacement?

The spite seems to be reserved for private schools.

The post is short here it is again - can’t believe how bitter some responses are

Noticing how spiteful people are. Which was my point

100% this.