Play date with mum who agrees with education tax

[BonnuitMy]

Please let me know if I’m overreacting. I recently overheard a new mum at school talking about a local private school closing down due to the education tax and how this is somehow a good thing. She’s now invited my DD for a play date, would you accept?

It was a simple statement, I just don’t understand the relevance or what you are getting at?

Im not a teacher, but it seems quite obvious to me that having to move schools away from their friends, teachers etc in a school they are happy in is not a good thing? There’s quite a lot of research on how it can be damaging for children (see below). Also losing your job isn’t fun.

Considerably, moving school can have its most profound impact on a child emotionally. It can lead young students to exhibit negative feelings of anxiety, sadness, frustration, and loneliness.

Guess what, state schools don't remove inequality
.

One of the most sensible comments on here!

I’ve actually heard that comment that state school parents don’t care about education in real life. It’s shockingly rude and a horrible upsetting thing to say. Seeing it actually written down by that poster made me shudder. Sadly I think it is what some private school parents think.

Moving schools can be really positive if well managed, happens all the time for a multitude of reasons.

If I’m reading the same comment then they literally said it’s not true and is a lazy stereotype. I don’t know much about private schools really but I’d assume most PS kids go to state schools at some point? Like at primary school or Alevels

I knew someone would write this. Amazing logic.

Sorry, what's wrong with my logic?

I'm perfectly aware of the tax to which you are referring. It's VAT on the supply of a service (private education), and should never have been exempt. Calling it "education tax" makes it sound as though it isn't VAT and is something designed specifically to hurt education, which is ridiculous. Like VAT on all other services, if you can't afford it with VAT, you can't afford it.

Yes, a tax on non state education for children (not nurseries or university yet). It is designed to hurt that sector and seems to be doing a pretty good job. It doesn’t sound very nice because it isn’t.

Or it can be traumatic. See: loads of kids with ASD in these smaller privates. Like my DS was.

Dude, I’m not getting into a conversation how forcing children to move schools is a positive thing. It’s a bit ridiculous.

Most are not and most schools (yes, even the state ones sneered at here) will bend over backwards to help those with or without SEND.

VAT is a tax. Value Added Tax. It is a tax levied on education services, as stated in the legislation. Things like caviar and first class flights attract no VAT. The fact is that our government thinks that education should be taxed but caviar shouldn’t says everything about them.

Forcing children to move schools - I must be a terrible parent then as I 'made' mine move school. There is no logic to your argument.

Oh and please don't call me 'dude'.

I’m referring to Government policy forcing children to move schools rather than parents moving their children through choice. I’m sure you had your reasons and didn’t just move them for the ‘positive experience’ of moving schools.

I know there are inequalities within the state sector. The solution isn’t for some people to buy their way out though.

The solution is to eliminate the inequalities within the state sector. Make every state school excellent and people wouldn’t feel the need to use private. The majority of parents aren’t paying tens of thousands of pounds for the fun of it.

And for parents of children like your DD where funding this was no option? Buying your way out is understandable but it isn’t fair or the best way to solve the issue.

So why are university fees not taxed?

They don’t add to it in the way private ones do though.

But they don't ? Kids never start on a playing field. Some are born with looks and/or brains and others not. Some have educated parents who can help them with their lessons and will convey the message that education is important, others won't. The playing field is never level.

Which is where equal opportunity comes in, but for equal opportunity to exist the state option has to be good. This is where efforts should be focused.

But we keep being told people move their children to private because of their SEND. Why isn’t that traumatic?

The government isn’t forcing children to move schools. Businesses closing is, which is a risk if you send your child to school in a small business. Yet to see evidence of a school not already struggling, who hadn’t already raised fees above inflation, closing as a result of VAT.

Yes. That is the solution. Parents with some financial, educational and potentially political influence moving their children out and forgetting about it is a contributory factor to this not happening