Another private school in Suffolk announced closure by the end of the summer term

[twinsyang]

Not only students have to find another school, but also teachers, employees. Eg cook, gardeners, support staff all have to look for jobs. :p
i feel sorry for the families affected.

Keir Starmer said a few months ago it was being spent on housing. I don’t know if that remark was looked at in more detail by journalists.

I don’t see how this mathematically works out: fewer teachers, more students moving from private to state schools, and more state schools closing down due to falling birth rates ( bearing in mind that the parents transfer their children from private to state will naturally select the good/oversubscribed ones and pay tutoring to get their children in. A failing undersubscribed state are the ones facing closure) . With less VAT revenue as this trend continues, how does all of this add up to a better system—especially when it comes to satisfying the simplest measure: the student-to-teacher ratio in GOOD oversubscribed state schools

Around me the remaining privates are fully their surplus places with kids from ones that have gone bust

Don’t you?

Support for the policy of putting VAT on school fees was not, for many, contingent on what any tax revenues raised would be spent on. It was/is based on the view that - given the existence of state schooling - private schooling is an optional extra, not a basic, and that VAT s usually charged on non-basic products and services.

‘For many’ how do you know that?

It might be for you but Labour pledged to use the funds.

Exactly.

Maybe ‘many’ people don’t care that improvements to state education aren’t being made. I find that really strange.

I think it’ll just feed into the general annoyance at Starmer’s Labour. Empty pledges and irritation to the point that he goes.

I agree I don’t have stats on it. But the PP asked why people who supported the policy weren’t up in arms as to how the proceeds were being spent. I think that’s why.

When I see posts on social media about the court cases etc, they are not about “yay, more money for XYZ”, they are about the belief that VAT on this service is the right thing to do.

You can continue to believe that everyone supporting the policy is only doing so cos they thought it would lead to more teachers; that’s your prerogative. I will continue to hold the view that many - I actually think most - support it because they think this particular service should have VAT on it.

Happily the leading advocate of VAT on education will likely be gone soon.

So even if you’re reading a lot of SM that reinforces your view the political reality is going to bite him and he’ll be gone.

Do you mean Starmer?

I honestly don’t think SM posts supporting the principle are anything to do with personal support for Starmer.

Given he was the leader who pushed the policy and is about to be ousted it’s not that hard to figure out is it?

Overall people can’t stand him, part of that will be a sense of lying over stuff. Including the VAT providing funds which was nonsense.

👍

Many of the SM posts I have in mind also think it’s time for Starmer to go - whether that’s ideological disagreement. or simply because he’s proving bad at the business of government. More the latter.

So no, I don’t think they would change their opinion on VAT on school fees, regardless of leader.

I also don’t think that Starmer was “the leading” advocate of the VAT policy - some strands of the party have considered whether private schools should be abolished over the years, which is considerably more radical. But if you have some info about how he talked everyone else around to the VAT policy, I’d be happy to read it.

Where did I ask why people aren’t up in arms?

Here. Up in arms was a paraphrase.

But I assume you meant clapping and cheering as hyperbole - or else you are a DAG fan - so I felt a little hyperbole of my own was not unreasonable.

Anyway, I’ve made all the points I want to about the support for the policy not being related, for many, to the use of proceeds from the policy. So I’m off to enjoy the sunshine.

You’ve been a little disingenuous there haven’t you. “Up in arms” is completely different to “questioning”. I didn’t mention clapping either.

Enjoy the sunshine. I am too.

Well he was the leader so it was his call. As a policy failure people will hold him to account.

The way VAT is applied is a nonsense - cakes and biscuits anyone?

So while @SheilaFentimanclaims people support it because they feel it’s fair VAT is imposed on optional services, I doubt that’s true as most people don’t have a clue how VAT is administered. They just like the spiteful aspect of not letting ‘rich’ people have something they don’t have.

do you know what ? I just really don't care I believe in in equality.

You seriously think taxing education is the right thing to do? I don't think the governments of many developed countries agree with you, and I think it's illegal in the e.u.

Everyone supporting the policy believed it was going to lead to more teachers because that was what Labour explicitly said they would spend it on, one of their lies or u-turns.

Pure spite, and doubly unattractive because M.P's who make a great thing of supporting state education usually take care to bring their own children up in areas with top performing comprehensives and top house prices to match.

I'm looking forward to the day when ex private school parents decide to spend the money they would have spent on education on much larger mortgages instead, thus vastly increasing the price of houses nearest to the best comprehensives. Well, that's only fair isn't it!

Hardly equal to select by house price.

I think that was the point. Not only will there be no VAT collected but state education will be need more investment to accommodate the extra students and some people previously employed there may will claim benefits.

@Joolay where is the equality where parents will just move to areas to live in catchment for the best schools or use tutors?

In our wider area, there is hardly any movement in September 2026 grammar school and top comprehensive schools waiting lists. This is despite a supposed falling birth rate.
Turns out all the would be private school kids are taking the best state school places, what a surprise.
I wonder how many in the wider public now still supposedly support the moral ideologues of a vendetta against private school, which translates to costing the taxpayer long term.

Oh they still do support it, hatred is irrational :) And class hatred in Britain is deeply rooted so many would accept economic damage to themselves if the universally hated MC are also brought down.