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.

And your thread isn't anything to do with AIBU is it. Don't pretend you haven't seen what a contentious issue this is on MN, but you post it here why? Off you go and post it in the place it belongs...

It doesn't deal with the fact there is inequality between state schools and will likely just lead to houses near desirable state schools becoming even more valuable.

This is what I am hearing from parents who were on the cusp of choosing the independent school route for their DC. House prices in grammar school areas will rocket.

I really don’t get the vat thing. Education is not a luxury. And by opting out of state parents are saving the county money! My kids do go to a state school but I am lucky enough to live near nice state schools. My brother in law doesn’t so has opted for private.
The only thing I agree with is charging VAT for extracurricular activities as that’s what everyone else has to pay.

I'm still here.

Are you the official mn arbiter on what’s tone deaf? Do you take the same approach to the people in here who have willingly chosen to have three kids but moan that they can’t afford to go on holiday when there are single pensioners dying from hypothermia because they can’t afford heating on in winter?
It’s all relative. Just because you have decided private school is the bench mark of privilege doesn’t mean you’re right.

Absolutely. Many of the DC are going to a few of the highest performing grammars in the country. We’re not in a full grammar county so those that we have are very selective. However, each year a number of year 6’s who do get a place don’t end up going because the parents prefer the private option. It’s different this year. And the other interesting thing is that the very well regarded comprehensive nearest to the school has just become one of the most oversubscribed in the county. Unfortunately, we don’t live in the catchment but many of the other pupils at the private school do. Behaviour has definitely changed at my DC’s school.

It’s also worth pointing out that the head of my DC’s current school has been talking about it at open days over the last year or so. It’s very much been a hot topic of conversation long before the election was announced.

Then don’t click on it?

It being on AIBU doesn’t mean you’re obliged to engage in it, any more than you’re obliged to engage in any other thread that isn’t relevant to you.

Perhaps she assumes that most sensible functioning humans can use their powers of discernment and only click on threads that relate to or interest them? Do you police all threads that aren’t AIBU or just the ones where you have an axe to grind?

But why are so many not getting tampons. Why, exactly? What is going on inside those home? If it is happening repeatedly, then it is not a one off tragic situation.

For my kids in private school, I buy them BIC biros. Most parents can afford a BIC biro. If your really can't, then I suggest you let the local foodbank know that BIC biros need to be added to the "needed" list, rather than buying them yourself.

If you are buying them, why would the parents need to buy them? You could actually be enabling people not to buy biros and tampons. Which brings me back to why people aren't getting these things for their kids.

Off topic, but when did Henry become the archetypal posho name, wasn't it always Tarquin?

Exactly what’s with AIBU making people click and read

A friend of mine has had to take their kid out of private school due to the cost of living crisis.

If we have more Tories and austerity, there'd probably be just as many having to leave due to that reason.

Decently run private schools will absorb as much of the costs as they can. The school I know of that's closed was not because of possible future vat reasons, but because they mismanaged their finances.

Explain to me what is wrong with what was said?

Some people really have no clue what living in poverty looks like.

I’m assuming that you budgeted for yearly increases of around 5% when you picked the school? This could be like 4 yrs worth of increases coming at once but you wouldn’t send your kids to private school if you could only just afford to and hadn’t budgeted for increases. So it may mean you cutting your cloth to pay for the school increases for the time they’re there. If your child’s education is the priority then not having holidays, cutting back etc will be your choice. If you want to maintain a certain lifestyle and send your kids to private school then you need a lot of money to do this. These families won’t be affected by the 20% increase as they can easily afford it.
I don’t send my DD to private school and never would, and I don’t live in a 2 million pound house. I live in a flat that cost 130K and am very happy with the local schools. I have lovely holidays and have approx 2.5K a month in disposable income. I’ve made my choices and am very happy with them. You make yours and prioritise what you need to but I wouldn’t be asking grandparents to fund something I should have made sure I could easily afford.

Then don’t comment, if you don’t care.

Tell me you don't have a clue without telling me you don't have a clue....

Exactly! I don't have strong feelings either way on the VAT on private school fees.

What does annoy me is the propaganda around it, like it's going to somehow singlehandedly 'save state schools'.
It's already been shown that at best it will be cost neutral, as the amount it will raise will be used up in paying for state school places for those who can't afford the 20%

And it will push the middle earners who can't afford the extra into the most desirable state schools, pushing out other children. I have a friend who is a tutor and she said enquiries have doubled on this time last year for help passing the 11+ for gramer schools as people are going for these over private schools in anticipation of this policy coming in.
So Starmer is actually reducing social mobility through this policy and widening the gap between the rich and poor (based on a really good education being a way to progress financially).
Some of those ones who are stretching to acheive it are children with milder additional needs who just about manage in a small private classroom, but won't cope in a class of 35 in a state school, and again, their life chances may be reduced.

No they don’t. Well done for pointing out the blindingly obvious. And your point is, in relation to the OP’s original question?

@aiak So ‘bad parents’ are bad people because they’re too poor to buy tampons and lots of pens. Unlike you who can buy your kids what they need. And you’re pissed off at Keir Starmer et al because their privilege is bigger than yours?

So….its the system that’s the problem when it’s your problem? But families being poverty struck is down to their individual failings?

Riiiiight.

Private school isn't really worth it anyway.

Oh I do have a clue. My db taught in a school like this. Got attacked. Got told to fuck off by parents when he tried to help the kids. Guess what, he moved to teach in a private school.

Why does anyone bother commenting on anything they don't agree being posted somewhere, like commenting saying why are you commenting 🤔
In fact MN why have separate boards for things, why not just have AIBU for anything at all that isn't asking AIBU 🙄

Are you for real?

What a rude and pointless reply 🤷🏼‍♀️