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?

Of course. However I also agree with the Vat on private schools. I think you will find that most people do. So if you only let your child have playdates with people who agree with you her choices will be limited.
I wouldn't let my child play with someone whose family was obviously racist, or homophobic but apart from that I wouldn't worry about the parents politics.

Unless they’re raving Neo Nazi supporters I don’t think you should be dictating your child’s friendships on yhd basis of what theif parents think, politically

If this were true it wouldn't just be private schools paying the tax. I think the other mum dodged a bullet. Interesting to hear that you're unable to mix with someone who doesn't share your very narrow view. I even let my children play with a family who voted Brexit.

Just done a quick bit of research because of your certainty that this is a specific ‘education tax’ as opposed to just normal VAT. I wondered if I’d missed or misunderstood something.

This link to gov.uk might help, plus the following explanation from it:

From 1 January 2025, all education and boarding services provided by a private school or connected person will be subject to VAT at the standard rate of 20%.

It is just VAT.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vat-on-private-school-fees/applying-vat-to-private-school-fees

Have you been living under a rock?

There have been countless threads discussing this on MN and they are overwhelmingly in favour of the government's tax on private schools.

Perhaps educate yourself on the common viewpoint with regard to this subject on here, before posting.

I'm not convinced that this thread wasn't simply created in order to have another pop at those who oppose Starmer's policies.

Agree

No you are wrong.
It is a tax on private schools which are businesses.
The misunderstanding is all yours
It is definitely not an education tax!

This is literally the dumbest thing I have ever heard. Your poor child wont have any friends because you are so narrow minded to the people who only think like you being proper play dates.

What the other mun has said isn’t discriminatory or racist etc. it’s a view and it’s based on a new piece of legislation.

What you have taught your daughter is that only people who think like you do are worth your time. That’s a pretty slippery slope to a lot of ugly discrimination.

Shame on you. Seriously.

Do you think the same for other privatised services such as healthcare, dentistry etc?

Gosh, I have children at private school and I also agree with the VAT addition (although obviously it’s put a dampener on holiday plans and discretionary spending)

I am obviously in the minority in my children’s school circle. Blessedly no one has yet refused our (I like to think excellent!) company because we don’t align exactly politically…

As far as I'm aware private dentistry services don't entail setting children up on different paths in life based on how rich their parents are

If it is a dealbreaker for you, then it is. I doubt she's the only one with this opinion so it might be safer to socialise with the former students of the closed school.

I do think there are some political differences that would be a delabreaker. Like the parents having a swastika, eagle and 88 tattooed on their forehead, I would take a minute to consider dropping my child off there. But disagreeing on tax? Not something I would consider dealbreaker.

Are you going to address the actual points or simply fling slurs around? It must be ooh days since the last thread about this was started - I can see why you NC’d,

I’m still looking for the first example of a school actually closing down due to VAT. Each time its a school which has been in decline for some years, made unwise expenditure on expensive facilities and continued to ramp up fees.

The private sector has largely priced itself out of its traditional market in the UK with fees escalating way, way above inflation. Considering they will all tell you that “teachers salaries are the bulk of the bill” and teachers salaries have barely kept pace with inflation that fee inflation is down to business decisions made by the companies running the schools.

It’s not a tax on the school it’s a tax on the families paying the fees for the education.

Lots of schools are recouping costs by ending the partnerships they have to support state schools, free use of facilities, bursaries etc so in the end it will be a cost to everyone else too. Oh well.

I wouldnt stop my kid playing with the child but I would keep my distance from the mum. Not because I particularly care about the debate, but because I think anyone who starts bringing their politics into a school environment has crossed a line. It’s not where they belong.

The mother won’t be very bright. That would be a turn off for me but not a deal breaker that should impact my child’s friendships.

Why wouldn't the mother be very bright?

Children having to go to state school, same as 93% of the population, is not “misfortune”.

If she was laughing at kids dying in Gaza or people on small boats I’d get it, but this is surely more of a minor difference of opinion. It’s only a play date hardly like she’s wanting to be besties with you

Believing that private businesses shouldn’t be exempted from VAT is hardly an extremist position OP. It is also a very unhealthy worldview to suggest your child can only be exposed to people who have exactly the same views as you do.

It’s a nifty trick to know more what the woman said than I do. Thank you for your insight.

Oh come on that's ridiculous.

Why does someone having a different view on one issue mean they are not very bright?
Different people have different experiences and weigh up priorities differently.
I am feeling very intolerant of such intolerance!

Just like any other business
It is VAT and that is how it works
Schools don't have to pass the cost onto the parents and many haven't
I don't understand why it is unfair for private schools to be treated any differently from any other business.
And up until 1994 private schools did pay VAT anyway. It was an exemption brought in then
Perfectly fair and reasonable to remove the exemption.
What it definitely isn't is a tax on education.

The comments are disappointing

Only because everyone is disagreeing with you @BonnuitMy
I feel sorry for your DD if she isn't allowed to play with her friends because of such a minor first world issue for you.

‘Any one who disagrees with me is thick’ is definitely a worldview of the highest intellectual quality.

Ah I see.
You're resorting to insults now, because very few people agree with you @BonnuitMy

She thinks taxing education is a good idea. Jesus, it’s like the whole point of the thread.