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.

They are simply saying that the parents will not get their preferred school as both are full. They will find them a space but not their preference.

Not at all. They are asking for financial disclosure, effectively attempting means test state school place.

Tbh, I'd sue them

It's the bit where they say "if you can provide evidence that you can no longer finance the independent school fees please advise and we can make a Local Authority non-preference application" that's the problem. "

(my emphasis)

State education isn't means tested.

The council has no justification for asking for that evidence, and they are saying that they'll only do a non-preference application if it's provided. That's not OK.

I actually agree with @CurlewKate that it seems likely to be a forgery. It's just too outrageous to be real.

If it is, then that would be a very, very worrying indication of the damage to our society this populist policy has caused.

Did you click to open the attachment? Because it goes on to say something like "however, if you can provide evidence that you can no longer finance the school fees..."

@nearlylovemyusername - they really are not interested in attempting to means test a place. The child will be offered a school place but going into year 8 some schools will be full so you might not get your preferred place.

It looks genuine to me.

Assuming it is - what the council are asking is unlawful (not illegal). The recipient should respond saying just that, and urgently demanding an explanation from them. I would also place them on notice that absent a satisfactory response, I would be appointing counsel (and I would).

This VAT issue looks like being another complete horlicks for Labour. Even Diane Abbot came out this week criticising the WFA cut.

Starmer and Reeves are like Laurel & Hardy - not nearly as funny though.

That's not what the email says.

It says that they will only make a Local Authority non-preference application if the parents can provide evidence that they can no longer finance the Independent school fees.

They ask for evidence.

@strawberrybubblegum - and we are sure this is genuine? - pp said 'looks genuine to me' - how can anyone be sure.

It is called judicial review if a council acts unlawfully. If this is genuine, the person in question should point this out promptly and ask the council to clarify and offer a place in a state school, within the distance requirements applicable by law, if beyond that, with council funded public transport.

If genuine, parents should contact MP, BBC, Sky, Guardian etc

The person posted it on Facebook from an easily identifiable and open account. And if you look at that account there are a few reasons why I think it unlikely that it has been made up.

I concur. I have looked also and there is no reason to suspect that this person isn’t genuine.

Maybe more did do the vexatious applications than would admit to it on here.

The parent has already been contacted by the press but doesn’t want to speak to them. I honestly don’t blame them, they would then have to read vile comments from supporters of the policy.

“The parent has already been contacted by the press but doesn’t want to speak to them. I honestly don’t blame them, they would then have to read vile comments from supporters of the policy.“

Precisely, why would anyone go to the press regarding something sensitive about their child, unless they really have to. I sometimes wonder when I see the stories about parents with children with severe SEN at their wits end, who may have only sold their stories to raise raise the required funds to take the council to court over failing to provide their child with an education.

"That's not what the email says.

It says that they will only make a Local Authority non-preference application if the parents can provide evidence that they can no longer finance the Independent school fees.

They ask for evidence"

I have no idea how anybody could possibly provide such evidence. I honestly don't see how it can be anything but forgery or mistake...

"“The parent has already been contacted by the press but doesn’t want to speak to them. I honestly don’t blame them, they would then have to read vile comments from supporters of the policy"

I can see why they wouldn't want to speak to the press. But I also can't see why supporters of the policy would "attack" them. We want any children affected settled in state schools as quickly as possible so the whole situation blows over.

“I can see why they wouldn't want to speak to the press. But I also can't see why supporters of the policy would "attack" them. We want any children affected settled in state schools as quickly as possible so the whole situation blows over.”

Yes I can believe you would want it to blow over, it is a complete embarrassment at this point. It won’t “blow over” because there are too many smaller schools which will go bankrupt and now it is kicking off with Northern Ireland as well, where it may well become a religious issue.

Well I’ve read many of the comments on mainstream media and Twitter/X in response to articles about this policy and plenty of them are revolting.

There is obviously no way you can prove to the council you can't afford the fees.

I suspect they would clarify that they need proof they can no longer attend private school. A letter of notice would suffice.

Given very public online campaigns for parents to 'disrupt the system' by making school applications they have no intention of taking up, I suspect that's why the council need to know that the child will genuinely be without a school place.

Have you discarded your forgery and mistake thesis now? Given the subsequent posts.

Yeah, that would be it….

Give me strength.

Given very public online campaigns for parents to 'disrupt the system' by making school applications they have no intention of taking up, I suspect that's why the council need to know that the child will genuinely be without a school place.

People have said that the 10% or more private school children expected to switch could easily be accomodated in state schools.

If that's the case, then even if every single child currently at private school did this, then that's a maximum of 10 rounds of: offer made... child doesn't turn up... place withdrawn and given to the next child.

My council says "Schools will normally arrange to admit a child within 10 school days. The place may be withdrawn if they do not start then."

But the 10 days is a maximum. I reckon they could move to the next offer in 2 days if they were organised.

Absolute worst case, they'd get through every single private school child in the country by Christmas. If they were organised, it would all be over in 3 weeks.

And I can assure you that I haven't done this. So that's one less place for them to find..

i wonder if there's no places because of all those private school parents who coordinated a mass of applications to state schools to try and fuck over state schools in protest.

Maybe that's coming back to bite them in the ass. Oh dear.

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.

No indeed, but did you point that out to the numerous posts deriding Tory MPs for being Etonians?