To think a lot of people who agree with VAT on school fees…

[geeenuoe]

Actually don’t truly understand that to most sending their kids to these schools, it is a massive, massive struggle already.

There seems to be a mentality that if you can afford 20k a year then you’re already comfortable so sod it, you should find more cash now for vat … but do people in general not understand that some families re mortgage their homes to pay these fees? Yes there’s mega wealthy people but there’s many, many more who are not.

On the one hand we hear a good education is a luxury so VAT must be applied, then on the other we are told a good education is a right for all. So… why are we taking away that good education from those who already have it? Why is the focus not on sorting out the state sector properly? We all know the vat won’t fix the state sector. It may help in a tiny way in ad hoc circumstances but there’s so so so much more that needs to be done to state schools to make them ever match what the private sector offers.

I simply don’t get this mentality that those making sacrifices must make more when it comes to bloody education. I say this as someone who can’t afford the fees but if I could I absolutely would… and I also acknowledge that I am unwilling to go to some lengths that others will to pay it. I respect the choice of others to make such sacrifices and have no desire to make it harder and more inaccessible for the masses to access it. Similarly, I know plenty of people driving fancy cars and spending loads on holidays… they’ve chosen that over school fees. And those who have spend loads getting into a postcode of a decent state school… should they be paying enhanced tax on their house purchase?

Why do most people think those who pay schools fees are doing so with great ease? Is it basically because they don’t personally know people paying this so accept the media narrative that it’s the mega rich only?

Actually don’t truly understand that to most sending their kids to these schools, it is a massive, massive struggle already

Most? No.

Some? Yes.

I understand. I just don't care 🤷‍♀️

It's a choice. They don't need to send their children to those schools so if they do they should pay the full cost.

@RachPelders most people who pay these fees don’t own yachts and fleets of cars. They have a couple of holidays a year and watch their spending.

Any sensible commentary on this subject does include your perspective OP. In my experience fee-paying schools are 25% very wealthy (won’t notice or care re the addition of VAT), 50% fairly wealthy (the added VAT will be a struggle and need more careful planning of holidays/cars/other luxuries but it won’t spell the end of going private) and 25% on the edge (meaning the addition of VAT will cause some serious doubt whether private education can continue).

The numbers will out over the next couple of years.

Maybe they can’t afford it then ?

Oh poor you! Meanwhile in the real world ...

@ItsJustASimpleLine yes, a choice to give their kids the best education possible. Why are we trying to make that harder for your average family?

It’s literally not true. Almost everyone who send their kids to private school is in the top 5% of earners in the country and they have the option not to do it. It is not remotely a sacrifice.

I can't afford many things, I accept that without needing to tell everyone.

@ichifanny with VAT that will certainly be the case. Is that supposed to be a successful outcome that even more kids will have a less than great education?

Because it's not your average family and other schools are available.

Basically, most people who buy tumble dryers or a new TV aren’t ultra wealthy, but they’ve got to pay VAT.

Most people who have an extension or building work in their home aren’t ultra wealthy; but they’ve got to pay VAT.

Only having a couple of holidays year. The inhumanity.

@DadJoke but that’s the thing isn’t it. It’s not actually top 5, it’s top 10, but even so… do you realise that circa 30k after tax is still a huge amount of money to someone earning 80-100k a year? Can you not see that is a massive stretch?

They have a couple of holidays a year

I would imagine much of the general public who send their kids to state school can’t even afford this, tbh.

@BleachedJumper this is about a good education, though? That everyone is saying is a right, remember?

@howshouldibehave its not true though. Nearly everyone in my Dd’s 17 in a class (age 7) has been away in summer, abroad too.

My father went to public school. So did his 2 siblings. A combination of scrimping and saving, scholarships and bursaries. His parents put everything into their kids education. They were the ‘poor’ kids. No foreign holidays, old cars etc etc.

My mother’s parents could have done all the above and still couldn’t have afforded the fees. Even if they’d starved themselves, not paid bills etc.

Some people who can afford private education have zero understanding of the meaning of ‘choice’.

I agree fully OP.

And I also wonder (as someone setting up a small business) if they ‘well they’ll just have to tighten their belts won’t they?’ brigade have considered what that means for a whole host of local businesses like - independent bakeries and food shops, pet groomers, beauty salons, Pilates studios, PTs, photographers, loca theatres, restaurants, bars and etc etc. Because that’s the money that will be cut (for the proportion who still have that kind of disposable spending, many already lose that to pay fees. Money out of the local economy and into the government

I agree a good education is important.

Which is why we need additional funding, and directing the funding, towards state education.

Or do you think a good education is only for those who can afford it?

They understand. They are just fed up of the continuous winging and crying about being hard up when they are significantly better off than the vast majority of the population.

@EastEndQueen it’s ridiculous isn’t it? I know full well my DD’s school won’t change because we are charging vat on the private sector. There’s so many nuanced far reaching consequences to it, but a good ploy for the left to get in which was the objective of course.

Yes but to quote a PP I don't care.

What’s not true?

I teach a class of 31 KS1 pupils (kept the same class last year and this). I think 4 went abroad in the summer. I don’t know of any who have had a second holiday.

I'd say it's actually harmful to send your DC to a school you can't afford.

It puts so much pressure on kids. Imagine your parents remortgage the house, work second jobs etc then you flunk your GCSEs and feel like a colossal failure.

I know not all parents who send kids to private are swimming in money, they're still incredibly privileged to be able to afford it, even with hardship.

I don't know why people paying luxury tax on a luxury gets so much coverage. Why are we talking about this rather than the kids going to school with leaky roofs and scaffolding holding up the ceiling etc?