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.

Yes but still they are saying "no" which means kids are without schools awaiting outcome of appeals.

Are there actual children outside the pages of the Daily Mail waiting for a school place for this current school year?

Yes, multiple emails from multiple LAs which support the multiple anecdotal stories from parents.
Your dismissive "pages of the Daily Mail" sums it all up. Typical Labour supporter claim to superior intellect by assuming I am merely referencing the DM. That attitude is what drives people to Reform, the sneering superiority as seen in Starmer, Reeves, Raynor, Lammy + Phillipson.

@CurlewKateok at least you say it would be poor policy if funds aren’t raised.

Did you expect Labour would do welfare cuts?

Because I think they’ve cornered themselves by putting in anti growth policies and now the repercussions of that will be felt by many people requiring welfare. The VAT policy sounds similar in that it will have unintended consequences.

So there are children NOW not in school because they left their private school at the beginning of the school year? I said the Daily Mail because the only actual child I’ve seen was in their pages and turned out not to be all it seemed.

Most parents would not take their child out of school until they have secured the new place - especially in secondary years.

You may be desperate for one state place, but given you would have to give a term's notice, the child has a place where they are educated until Easter.

That does not mean that the council have provided the option that they need to provide.

Yes there are. Whatever the Labour propaganda machine spouts out, there are kids without schools NOW! Some in Yrs 10 + 12. That's the impact of this policy but of course Labour will never admit it and they refuse to collect data on it.

But most LAs won't provide a place until you are without one. Indy schools require 1 term's notice but most LAs state they won't discuss until you are 4-6 weeks away from leaving, or in some cases until your child has left their Indy school.
See the problem?

Where can I read about them?

Where can I read about them?

Sorry,@twistyizzy-that was to you. I’m still struggling with New Mumsnet.

I have posted exerts previously. Due to being with ENT I have access to the emails + letters but as they contain personal info I can't post on here.
Labour refuse to acknowledge the issue even though, again, we have plenty of evidence of letters + emails sent to DfE, Phillipson + local MPs. They just ignore any attempts to highlight the issue.
That's why it is in court. Maybe if they had engaged then they could have saved the taxpayer ££££

Hopefully Pannick will save the day in April in the court hearing..... nasty VAT measure.

The fact Labour have hired 4 x KCs to defend this shows that they are worried.
FYI that's the same number of KCs hired to pass Brexit. Rather a lot for such an insignificant policy that won't impact many people, that has been fully researched + costed and that is utterly justifiable??

I’d love to know how much the four KCs are going to cost.

The guesstimate is over 250K. Up to 1K per hour each

The irony of Pannick is just too delicious

His bio

https://independentschoolmanagement.co.uk/news/peer-warns-labours-school-tax-likely-to-be-illegal/

It’s a while since I’ve done coalface litigation but I’d be surprised if there was much change from £1m from the government legal fees. I don’t know if they are instructing external solicitors or if they are using in house government solicitors but KC brief fees alone are eye watering. (About 10 years ago instructed a KC on an urgent injunction, he changed 20k for a day and a half of work/hearing). I wonder if it will be possible to do a FOIA request to find out the spend.

I guess the government see it as a PR exercise as much as anything - everything they’re doing is turning to sh1t at the moment so they really really need to win this as a good news distraction story from everything else.

Good grief. That’s a fair few teachers and cornflakes, isn’t it.

Wow my guesstimate was well off 😆
£1m paid by taxpayer

And toothbrushes

@ICouldBeVioletSky wowzers. No words really, are there.

Barristers have an hourly rate which they will charge for some initial preparation but where there is a hearing they charge a brief fee, which covers the preparation for a hearing (maybe 4 weeks work?) plus the first day of the hearing. I suspect the brief fee will be a low six figure sum for all KCs but that is a rather out of date guess.
if the hearing lasts more than a day, there will be a daily “refresher” fee - maybe £10k each? Maybe a bit less.