Election - how soon for VAT on school fees?

[Labtastic]

So I see we're likely to have an election in early July. Obviously that spells the end of the godawful tories which is great, but also hastens the incoming VAT on school fees which, for us, is bad. We are one of those families that no one believes exists who stretch ourselves with school fees, and are going to be very pushed for an extra 20%.

Question is - do we think Labour can make this happen in time for September? It'll be our DC's last year of fee paid education and was hoping the timeline for VAT coming in would be stretched out a bit...

so of course it will put additional strain on capacity of state schools

Not really

https://www.sec-ed.co.uk/content/news/falling-rolls-will-wipe-1bn-from-school-funding-across-england/#:~:text=An%20analysis%20published%20this%20week,29%20–%20a%20fall%20of%20436%2C000.

Having said I doubt it will happen for a few yrs.

Labour has to actually get in first!

then all the Labour voters can pat themselves on the back for state schools having to absorb all the children whose parents can't afford the extra, taking places in the state schools

👏🏻 well done to them.

They mean splitting the invoice to cover each activity as a separate charge because transport etc hasn't got VAT on.

that also needs to change ASAP - it’s laughable that so many private schools have ‘charity’ status. The are a handful that genuinely qualify but the rest are businesses used by the very well off and wealthy.

If ever a comment summed up the appalling views of some Labour voters then this is it.

Absolutely shameful and embarrassing.

You really don't see how a small rise each year can be absorbed - (we've had fee freezes for two years over Covid, and 2-5% in the other years) but a straight 15-20%, on top of the normal rise, might be harder? We budgeted at the start on a long term forecast for annual rises, not for this.

Hopefully keep the riff raff out of private schools sooner. Fingers crossed

Actually if 5% of private DC leave for state it will cost the taxpayer £200 million per year. If 10% leave then it will cost the taxpayer £400 million per year.

Shall In show you my whole field of fucks I don’t give??

I’m sure they know enough dodgy accounts to sort the paperwork out.

The Labour Party have already said they’re not changing charitable status. 50% of private schools don’t have charitable status anyway.

Are you this charming in real life?
Tell the 90,000+ SEN DC at private schools that you don't give a shit.

I'm a state school teacher and my DS goes to an independent. TBH, I'd really quite cheerfully pay the VAT if it were to be spent on things state schools really need, like better mainstream SEN provision and more specialist settings. I'm not very happy to pay, only for it to be spaffed up the wall on another recruitment drive for new teachers (without sorting out the reasons why no bugger wants stay on as a teacher).

I’m a swing voter btw! In no way is it embarrassing to think you pay for things properly in life.

Stupid argument- ok we’ll tell all the kids with SEN in state schools you don’t care about them! Yawn

DS has two years A'levels to go. Maths, Further Maths & Physics,. Skills UK plc needs.

As a single mum I pay £9k a year fees. Every spare penny I have. So VAT at 20% is an extra £1,800 a year. I'll find it somehow, even if I have to work extra years and borrow against the house. I'm 60. I'm tired.

But I refuse to allow Labour spite wreck my ds' chance. Try as they might, they won't win. 😐

Strange how it is only ardent supporters of the policy (and indeed Labour) who are so rude and dismissive. Meanwhile in the real world the rest of us can have adult, civilised debates.

@Labtastic No I really don’t understand, if you have 20k spare I don’t see why an additional 1.5k makes it go from affordable to unaffordable. I haven’t ruled out secondary private for my dc but the VAT issue wouldn’t deter me.

the private school where my dd is has promised not to raise school fees for 2 years. Perhaps others will do the same.

I agree some of the language on here and other threads is disgusting plenty of let's get the cu* out. It's awful.

And btw I absolutely 100% support VAT on school fees. The inequality in this country has gone on long enough.

I thought Labour chancellor Rachel Reeves, wanted this from day 1. Obviously she'll have to get it through parliament in September but with a majority government it will pass easily and the majority of Labour peers will pass it through the Lords. Possibly from January for new year, or new tax year at latest. I think they need to lose k at how many additional SN places they will need to find for DC whose parents send them privately because they couldn't get a place in a specialist school. I don't think they'll do this review though as it is going to be an election pledge. I don't think it will save much money as most money saved will just need to be channelled to the state sector to pick up many pupils who used to be educated privately. A 5 percent decrease in VAT for schools might produce more money as parents might be able to find that extra money.

Really an adult debate, whilst claiming we hate kids with special needs- get a grip. Take emotion out of your debates

I can't see them introducing it to start this year.

Tell the 90,000+ SEN DC at private schools that you don't give a shit.

I also don’t understand this argument. I agree that SEN dc often do better in private but why should a random person be bothered about SEN dc in private schools, do you campaign for better provision for dc in state schools?