Whitehall “braced for private schools collapse” 3

[ICouldBeVioletSky]

Starting a third thread to discuss impact of VAT on private school fees, as the topic looks likely to run (and run). Though probably best to finish off the second thread before posting here, thx.

Just bringing a bit of much needed context. Flying leaps and the same old tropes abound. Every one of these threads is the same.

Labour are cutting funding to the tune of 1.4 billion in order to fund public sector payrises! How does that help schools?

Back at you

The really funny thing is that most of what some of us said would happen 12 months is now unfolding. Maybe stop being so dismissive and blindly supporting an economically illiterate policy.

Are you saying there should not be public sector pay rises?

I didn't even say I support it. Another flying trapeze act?

Are you saying they should come at the expense of funding schools?

You go first

I’m not sure anyone is claiming this will be used for improving schools anymore. It’s being spent on schooling the children forced out the independent sector and 60p breakfasts.

I’ll go! I think they gave far too much given the state of finances and then disingenuously pretended that was part of the famous ‘black hole’. while I don’t begrudge higher pay for the public sector, the money has to come from somewhere.

So sad!

Anyway

5.5% for teachers far too much?

This policy doesn't help with those pay rises though.

It just damages a sector, and interrupts dc education. So what's the point?

Yes.

And doctors?

Same answer.

So you'd rather have strikes would you?

Strikes look likely regardless.

It’s just standard whataboutary when people can’t argue facts. The NHS and child poverty will be mentioned next, those 5 year olds at prep schools are to blame for so much.

£15/hour is fine for a fully qualified doctor is it? They can earn as much in Aldi or driving an Uber. Do you think that's right after five years in med school and £100k of debt? Are they just public servants in every sense of the word?

I think some may be mixing up pay increases with pay restoration. Two very different things.

It is difficult because teachers and doctors - and many other public sector workers - are leaving their positions due to a) relatively poor pay for their qualifications and experience and b) poor working conditions in run down and cash-starved services that make it increasingly difficult to deliver the good service that the public deserves.

Allowing pay to fall further behind comparable alternative jobs requiring similar levels of education and responsibility AND not investing public services isn’t really a good way forward either.

Agree with everything you've said

Both need to be funded, though.

if Labour wants to ‘restore’ pay they need to have an accompanying financial plan for funding it - either a meaningful way of generating revenue or a significant cut in spending elsewhere.

Agree wholeheartedly but undermining private ed will negatively affect both a and b.