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?

You’re going to have to explain this one to me.

But you could argue that this tax isn't going to affect the truly wealthy - the only people it'll impact are those who could barely afford it to begin with, and further entrench inequality.

If you think that private education is ethically wrong, then you would need to argue for shutting it down entirely, not tax it.

Also, do you feel this way about private healthcare ?

The reality is that if the state option was really good, few people would opt for the paying option.

I don't have a bone in this fight, personally I think we should strive to improve the state option rather than limit access to the private option. Making private schools inaffordable won't make state schools better, maybe it's more equal but personally I think true equality should be about bringing everyone up, not down.

If you can afford it you send your kids to independent school. The fees include VAT. Why should they not? This is not a deal breaker.

Likewise if your DC have SEN below the threshold to receive an ECHP

The main issue is that parents can’t afford to buy themselves out of the SEN crisis and that even those DC with an ECHP are not having needs met.

But the focus should be on those that didn’t meet criteria and could afford private school without VAT but are now unable to afford a relatively small increase to fees?

What about DC that did meet criteria and whose needs are not being met?

This is the new cost for buying out of the state system. Either pay it or accept that your DC will return to the bottom because there are those with greater need. Your money, your choice.

If you already think you are in the right what was the point of posting here?

Do you ask the same question of people who go to university?

Use private healthcare?

Pay private dentistry?

Go to sports coaching rather than play in the park?

I mean, they’re all buying some kind of advantage over others aren’t they?

This said I agree it has nothing to do with a play date and shouldn't impact whether OP accepts. If your child enjoys playing with the other child then go.

I think you're right, OP. A person that derives pleasure from children being uprooted from their school and adults losing their jobs is not one that I would want to spend time with either.

I strongly disagree with the tax on private schools but if I restricted my children’s social life to those whose parents agreed with me on everything, they’d have hardly any friends! Let her enjoy the play date. It might also be a chance to find something you do agree on with the mum.

Seriously? You need this to be explained to you?

It is unfair, many people on a high income do not choose private education. You've made an assumption.

A school is closing. Those children will go to another school. It’s not clear why you think this is some kind of tragedy which can only be dealt with in some low-voiced, head-shaking manner?

Agree.

Ok, do you understand that you can’t send children to a school if it’s closed down? Or go to work in a school if it’s closed down?

😂

Do you genuinely think that's why people are happy about the tex? Because we want people to lose their jobs and children to be uprooted?

It's not.

People (lots of them, by the way) are happy because it is a step towards a fairer system for all children, and will hopefully encourage wealthier people in the UK to use their influence and votes to secure a better educational system for all children, not just the lucky dew who were born into privilege.

😂

It would be equally ridiculous.

"Do you support VAT being applied to education businesses in the same way that its applied to other businesses” would at least be objective and fact based.

Obviously it lacks the drama of the latest made up scenario on this issue, but it is a fact that at the moment independent schools have had a tax advantage not available to most businesses.

Its up to them if they pass on cost of the full amount or mitigate it in their own costs but exponential increase in fees over the past couple of decades makes removal of the tax exemption look like peanuts.

Absolutely this 👆when there really are peoples actual lives in absolute turmoil you choose to lose your shit over a remark that has no bearing on your daughter or her friend playing together.

The red flag is that the other Mum is obviously a Trotskyisk- get her reported to the authorities OP for her outlandish beliefs!

Yes. I really need it explaining to me.

That is completely inaccurate.

I've taught in private schools and have close relatives with dc in private school and I still think your attitude is utterly laughable, OP. Being against private schools is a pretty mainstream view, as is agreeing with the VAT (which I have mixed feelingsabout, personally). It's not a 'red flag' of any kind.

This is such BS 😂. You only have to spend five mins on mn to realise that everyone wants the rich kids brought down a peg or two, they know it will literally have zero bearing whatsoever on state schools but that’s fine as long as the posh kids lose out!!!

Please don’t pretend otherwise!

Not to the same degree. University is available to anyone. It is not dependant on means.

Do you understand that there are other schools available?

If the school is closing because of having to pay VAT then it’s very surprising tbh. Can they not absorb the rising costs, like other schools have to do, even state schools? Lots of private schools are run by business people, not education professionals, so it’s really surprising that they can’t make any savings at all to balance their books differently…lose a teacher, increase class sizes, sell of some equipment or land, pay cuts for the staff…? Just simply closing the school down is demonstrating a shocking lack of care for their students and families who will now be left in the lurch.

But anyway, your play date. Totally up to you, it would be nice for your child though and good to for you to meet people with different opinions…as long as you can politely disagree x