VAT on school fees (you have to read this!)

[EverythingAllatOnceAllTheTime]

Government’s private schools VAT raid ‘could cost taxpayer £1.8bn’

Parents who are forced out of sector are likely to work less or even quit jobs, according to think tank research.

Adam Smith Institute.

It may be a statement of fact but in a debate about VAT on school fees it's a complete non sequitur and irrelevant, sneery, condescending, disgraceful snobbery and nothing else.

Liz Truss and Boris Johnson had a formal education. Think about that, please.

How is it disgraceful snobbery to want someone educated...when we're all in this debate because we value education so highly?

Truss and Johnson are a disgrace but I'm not sure I follow the logic that says "...therefore everyone who is educated must be the same"

It remains a statement of fact - my argument remains that she is unqualified for the role, and is the equivalent of a diversity hire.

The perception of snobbery is you self-reflecting I suggest.

Truss and Johnson are no longer in power - Rayner is.

Was John Major unqualified for the role as well?

I know what you are trying to do.

Applying my metric, yes - as he too left school early, and did not attend uni.

There are some pretty obvious distinctions though (but you knew that already).

I dont recall him calling Labour ‘scum’ for example.

@Giveitup81 "I've just seem someone in the "education not taxation" group post a copy of a letter from Buckinghamshire Council asking for evidence that they cannot afford the school fees before they will allow them to make an application for a state school place. Unbelievable."

I've been looking for this but I can't find it. Could you link please?

It would probably be more informative to know the educational/career outcomes of Rayner's children rather than her own-she probably shouldn't be held responsible for her own s hook education. Mind you, there are posters on here who think Starmer should have known that he was going to lead the Labour party and refused to take the 11+ when he was 10.....

This thread is really crazy today - love it!

Here is the response from Buckinghamshire Council.

Just wow!
This should be in all news outlets!

That is pretty outrageous.

BUT, I'm not sure it's in the child's interest to have this on the Internet, especially with their name not fully redacted.

The parent should email back, declining to provide evidence, and ask them to make a Local Authority non-preference application anyway.

If they refuse, that's when the parents should go all-out. But let's not use a child politically.

Isn’t Bucks a mainly Tory Council?

Almost certainly, but I’m not confident this is local political issue.

I am also a little confused legally. Is this about the Fair Access Protocol?

So it is only once a child has no place at all that it will kick in? So if you don’t give notice at private school and actually leave, they won’t give parents admission to state schools?
Having said that, evidence of irrevocable written notice should be enough. State schooling has never been means tested. The question is when the clock starts ticking for the Council.

As we are in uncharted territory here, given this crazy policy, the DFE should intervene, make sure all state schools are fully funded and all children are given places.

Agree with you.

Surely they have protocols for this kind
of eventuality.

They promised that all states would be able to
manage after all.

I would also expect the Tory Shadow Education Minister to pull their weight a bit more? Go visit small private SEN schools, for example and actually do some work? If Labour is doing this then surely our democracy should kick in how it it is meant to?

What happens when the parents of a home educated child request a space? Surely the council has the same obligation to provide a school for that child as they do when a child moves into the area.

The same should apply.

If this is genuine, then I suspect Bucks will cover up and reply and say what they meant is written evidence of notice to the private school that the child is leaving and the date. That is when full Fair Access would kick in, from that date.

Before that it is just a non preference allocation. I doubt they have any resources to check out people’s individual financial situation and not to mention any possible data protection issues etc

Homeschooling I have no idea. It is slightly different, the child is not registered at a school. If a homeschooler repetitively makes applications and then keeps pulling the child out etc, they may have different processes. The council is only obliged to offer a place once. If you say no, they discharge their obligation but I am not sure for how long. We are always told this when we apply for state schools, do not say no, accept whatever they give you and stick on waiting lists.

I'd say the fact you "love it" just supports what some posters have said about the enjoyment people are getting out of seeing private school parents and their children suffer.

I agree but Bridget Phillipson should also be visiting those schools. She is the Sec of State for Education, for all education, not just the bits she chooses.

I can only assume it's either a mistake or a forgery. I've never seen anything like that- and I am pretty sure it's illegal.

Surely what that email is saying is that there is no space at their preferred school.

The state is obliged to provide a place but not at the school of your choosing.

So they are advising them to stay put.

It's badly worded but what they are saying is that if they can no longer stay at that school, they will find them a space in a school in the county but it won't be their preference.

@Giveitup81 - really? and how do you know? - that's why this thread is 'crazy' - all the snide comments and random views (on both sides).

I’m sure it is illegal, I don’t think it is a fake as the poster did not post it anonymously and has said that she is happy for it to be shared. I think (and hope) it is a Council fuck up. However, people have reported difficulties when applying to their local Councils for state school places. People are not getting a response from them and their requests are being ignored. Not suprising when the Secretary of State for Education can’t be bothered to listen to parents concerns.

Oh come on…the Council specifically ask for them to prove they can’t afford the fees anymore. Don’t defend the Council.