Labour’s plans for VAT on Private Schools

[Busydadof2]

The Labour Party has proposed introduction of VAT on private schools.

In the scheme of things the money they will bring in from this is tiny compared with total expenditure on state schools, while it will drive more burden on the state system as some parents leave private schools. I think this is a populist ploy to get traditional Labour voters to vote for what is in any other sense a centrist party.

Have you considered signing this petition to make sure the policy gets scrutinised and the weight of public sentiment against it is known?

Change.org petition: Stop Labour from adding 20% VAT to private school fees and forcing kids to change schools

www.change.org/p/stop-labour-from-adding-20-vat-to-private-school-fees-and-forcing-kids-to-change-schools

Various perspectives from the signatories of this vote come to mind and resonate with our own situation, including this: “I work in a state school with over 30 in a class and oversubscribed. My 2 kids went or go to private schools and we have sacrificed loads to do this. We are NOT wealthy, many of the kids at the school I work at live in bigger houses and have much more disposable income than we do. We chose to send our kids to private school rather than live in a bigger house instead of our semi detached on a main road. We holiday in the UK every year and I work full time. I buy my clothes on the high street or in charity shops. Many parents at the school my kids attend are in exactly the same situation. I agree there are some very wealthy parents there too and the addition of VAT will not even make an impact on them, they will pay it without batting an eyelid. All this will do is push the kids like ours back into an already oversubscribed state system, increase class sizes even more and create a bigger divide as private education will become truly elitist.”

@newmummycwharf1 This thread is not about getting rid of private schools. They would be my desired result, but I know but isn't going to happen. This is about not giving private schools tax breaks-particularly tax breaks intended for charities. Very different things.

😂l taught under Major, Blair, Brown and this lot.

The best funding/class sizes/support staff/training/IT/equipment/library stock/mental health ( staff and students) were under Blair. They invested in education.

Whilst the current lot are presiding over teachers fleeing like a sinking ship.

In terms of DT, 3 equipment refreshes under Labour. In terms of Tory, still using the equipment from Labour which is completely broken and affecting grades.

Yeah the Tories really support education.

If we want a level playing field then all private and all grammars should close. VAT won't level the playing field, how could it? Even if all the vat went into education (it won't) how could that possibly close the gap between a private school education and state education?
I worry that VAT on schools will eventually trickle through to universities, after school clubs/ activities , and wrap around care.
Gambling used to illegal until 1960 (in England not sure about rest of Uk) now 60 years on its become a much more serious issue, and costs the NHS money, it's been a slow drip, to a minor trickle, and that trickle is still growing, my point is once you set a motion in place it slowly gathers momentum.
Having a degree generally means better employment prospects, so why not charge VAT for a degree if it's going to give someone the edge? (I don't believe this, just making an arguments I can see coming).
No I don't want VAT on fees. What I want: NO private schools and NO grammar schools. I want fair, level education. Neither private or grammar are fair. Oh and an educational system that fits the child, not the child fitting a system that can never satisfactorily work for them.
The VAT won't make much of a difference to state schools, a good chunk will be wasted on admin costs and the rest frittered away. The lack of teachers isn't just down to money....in fact reading the threads on here its behaviour, workload, and poor senior management, which is causing teachers to jump ship.
So whilst I think private and grammars should go, I think it's more a case of those pupils benefiting our children in the non selective state system, and school levers having the same educational experiences.

You can be as condescending /rude as you like but you said “and no private teachers fancied addressing the shortage and getting a proper job” - YOU labelled private school teaching as ‘not a proper job’ in the round. Not a reference to a specific person. I mean, if I’ve missed something there please go even slower. Again. Alternatively, stop being rude about private school teachers and have a modicum of respect for a profession which is criticised more than enough externally without having teachers bashing other teachers.

Given the choice of Conservative or Labour, who are both inept, I will opt for the best of a bad bunch.
One of their pledges is to introduce proportional representation, which we badly need in this country.
Between Labour's anti-semitism through to the Conservative's approach to law and order, we already have two bigoted parties as the only choice.
I don't hear any solutions being put forward by labour and those policies they pledge are being dropped at a fast pace.
The Conservatives are useless.
If there was a box to tick on the ballot which stated:
" Tick here to register your vote and you believe none if the above are fit to govern" that would be my preferred option...although I believe we wouldn't have a Government the next morning!!

Blair / PFIs / the global boom isn’t coming back

All there is is a petty policy which will bring in little to nothing and disrupt students such as in pp

It’s a gimmick which will likely damage rather than benefit

@Meadowfinch is right, there are better ways than this

Public schools threads always go the same way.

Personally, I think we should follow the Danish model, but not everyone agrees with me.

My above average child has dine well in the state system, but I acknowledge more money is needed in the state sector for children with SEN. Apart from networking, I can't see why private schools exist.

Incidentally, I've never heard of DT being a required A Level for engineering.

That is just hilarious😂

And no you don’t need DT for engineering degree.

I said IF no private teachers. And I said that was in response to accusations of envy. I retract that to save your sensitivity. Now, do you conceded your maths was way out?

Indeed - however many on the thread have expressed (like you) the desire to get rid of them and seem to think adding VAT will somehow be a step closer.

The newsflash is that it won't. Looking forward to watching it all play out!

Hmm, ok. Just read back your post with the vomit comment. I took it as support (e.g. benefits) being vomited on those not working hard. Sorry if that wasn't what was intended. I didn't take it out of context though - there was none of that context there. You didn't mention covid, furlough or any of that stuff in your post and the rest of that post (& many others of yours) have been talking about people not putting as much back in as you do. I don't think I was crazy to make that assumption.

‘Hilarious’ okay Mickey Mouse sounds like you’re on the laughing gas. Clueless though.

I didn’t post on DT I know what engineering involves, dc studying currently

Via excellent state, no bitterness here

@newmummycwharf1

Ah a straw man and a slippery slope fallacy in one sentence - brava.

@newmummycwharf1 "Indeed - however many on the thread have expressed (like you) the desire to get rid of them and seem to think adding VAT will somehow be a step closer. It won't"

Presumably because they are taken in by the "struggling parents making huge sacrifices" narrative.

What it will mean is the big names like Eton will survive but the small prep down the road won't; That's what will then impact your local school. Private schools even more elitist, well done Labour!

I am getting so fed up of reading about this. The country is going to shit. The number of street homeless people are increasing, more families are in bed and breakfast living in one room, and lots of people can not afford to put their heating on. Yet we are supposed to care that very well off people may have to pay more money.

OP get a sense of perspective. And if you have the money for private school you are well off.
And all the bleating and whining about this policy is swaying me clearly to voting Labour.

What does level playing field mean in this context? Some kids are more academic than others and do really well in a very selective setting, whilst others may struggle with the fast pace a grammar education provides. How is it equality to lump them all together? Some parents place a huge emphasis on academics (rightly or wrongly) - and pay for tutors from age 6. Next thing, in the name of equality, some will ask for that to be banned. That is not how it works.

Some parents will earn enough/save to pay for their kids through university so they have no loans/debt and divert the funds to buy their little ones flats/houses to set them up. No need for inheritance - simply give it now. Are we going to ban that too? That is incredible privilege and many more will be in a position to do that without private school fees. So I wouldnt fall for this switch and bait from Labour. Vote for them for other reasons but if you do so mainly because of supposed equality due to VAT on private fees - heartbreak is inevitable!

We want to create equality of opportunity so that all children's potential can be maximised. Great state schools (of all variety/comp/grammer) etc + engaged parents will get us there. That is what we should be agitating for

Oh please go ahead. It will help to split the Tory vote.

And regarding the OP - I think the policy is long overdue, though I'd like to see exemptions for children needing to access specific schools with an ECP.

Increasing tax free allowances and increasing inheritance tax to pay for it would be a good policy.

@wigywhoo What will absolutely impact state schools is the Tories remaining in power. They have torn this country apart and should never be forgiven for it.

Paying vat will not create a level playing field. It will simply mean that families who send their children to private school will no longer benefit from a tax advantage. And that is correct. You can still send your child to private school. And if you can no longer afford it then send your child to a state school like nearly all parents currently do.

@TheLostOnes You are correct that as a theme, I believe everyone in society should be accountable for paying into society.

My issue is those already paying the most cannot keep paying more & more, at some point it needs to be equitable which includes everyone.

It is likely I pay more personally than many others, which I believe to be okay fundamentally, but not when those feel entitled to benefit by taxing me more instead of being more productive themselves and paying into society via additional taxation. The lack of personal responsibility, believing that responsibility should be levied on the people already paying the most, is wrong.

Legacy Governments from Labour and Conservative have failed to do this.

It is interesting (and I don't speak for myself), that at the school drop off many of the parents are relatively "skint" looking at the state of their car or clothing.

My Niece attends a local independent state school, and I did her drop off/collection when my Sister was on holiday, and the contrast of parents driving expensive cars and well dressed etc. was striking.

Nobody says to these parents, you are receiving "free" education for your kids: the cost of which paid (not in full) by your tax (assuming they pay tax), parents who do not take independent school places going private, and all those others who don't have kids at all. Why don't you forgo an expensive car or new clothes and donate directly to the school to increase their budget for staff/resources.....

They wouldn't as they feel entitled, and I for one detest this entitlement. I believe hard work, dedication and ambition raise your profile.

@SouthCoastDad Pupils at private schools are simply going to have a tax advantage taken away.
The wealthier already pay a smaller proportion of their income than people on the average household income.
And those paying for private school are free to take a state place instead. No one is stopping them.

Private school is considered a luxury. Luxury items attract VAT.