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?

He certainly didnt deserve to be treated any better.

Private education is a luxury. Education is already provided by the state.

Agree this policy will do nothing for anyone, let alone the state sector. But clearly works for Labour voters, it’s all ideology!

My children are at private school (one is deaf and massively benefits from the small class sizes and less disruption) I absolutely get that we are the privileged minority and therefore we pay more tax, that is fair. The issue I have with this is that it will reduce bursaries and community initiatives like the use of the facilities for local State schools (the school
are having to use those funds to mitigate the VAT increase to try to stop families leaving and keep the school running)

My DC's school have suspended all bursaries and scholarships. They were not going to, but basically every family in the school signed a letter saying they are not paying for anything more than absolutely necessary, in the face of VAT increases, so they've been suspended with immediate effect, as has allowing the local schools to use the pitches for free at the weekend

Wealthy: I would define that as anyone with a six figure salary.

Squeezed Middle: the socioeconomic group of people whose income is too low to maintain them comfortably but not low enough to qualify for state benefits

Hardly any of those earning just above the benefits threshold could afford private school.

So what are YOU prepared to pay towards it? Will YOUR taxes go up because a good education for our children is in everybody's interest? Or are you just happy to spend OTHER PEOPLE'S money?

I think you should not send your kinds to private school if you cant afford it. Same as you should not buy a second/ third car you cant afford, or a house with a mortgage that will make you starve. Its a luxury, OP. Not a right. Its good to have aspirations but you have to be realistic.

Incorrect. Education is seen as a good and a benefit in itself. The "luxury" tag is part of dumbed down Britain under Labour and is an outlier attitude in the rest of Europe.

I look at it like this.

My kids needed winter coats . They are not a luxury they are essential. I could afford 3 winter coats from Sainsburys easily . No hassle. I preferred the quality of the coats in M&S and with a squeeze and a lot of budgeting and cutting out the luxuries.. I could do it... until M&S put the prices up.

Then I had no choice because I couldn't afford the better ones.. the Sainsbury ones still kept them warm and dry . So that's what they got.

If you can't afford the increased cost of private school - then you can't afford it ! It's that simple . Doesn't mean they go without education. You simply have to cut your cloth accordingly. There are free state schools. So your children won't go without. They just go with what is in your budget. It's life.

I would like to go to the Maldives for Christmas. sadly not within my budget so we will go to Norfolk as usual. No one will die without winter sun.. they will however have a lovely Christmas break .

There are rich people who can afford what they want . There are poor people who can afford very little. There are millions in between who can afford 'good enough' .

It must be scary [...] might close.

Try working for a university right now. Immmigration regs brought in earlier this year mean that taught students can no longer bring their families with them, and as a consequence overseas student numbers, and overseas student tuition fee income, have plummeted. I'm aware of Russell Group institutions with income shortfalls for this year of over £30m. And yes, they are trying to shed staff.

Your child can go to State school for free. Finding another job is hard and bills still have to be paid whilst unemployed.

This Govt is screwing a lot of people a hell of a lot harder than it's screwing private school parents.

Would you support means testing state school use as happens in other countries?

Your kids can get a perfectly good education in a state school, unless they have some issued state school can not cater for.

He certainly didnt deserve to be treated any better.

But he was; your personal anger and vitriol had no affect on the outcome whatsoever. Very similar to the effect of VAT; your personal delight will have a zero effect on the outcome - nothing will improve as a result of this policy

100% agree with the point these points were referring to. The notion that ‘poor people’ are subsidising private education is ridiculous and factually incorrect. Education has always been VAT exempt - it is simply not levied. This is a widely adopted and legitimate stance.

The new laws aren't intended to punish anyone. They're intended to ensure that tax is evenly paid by everyone - even the better off

YABU (I know this isn't AIBU)
Having the option to send our kids Private IS a priviledge, even if we have to go without some things which lets face it wont be food or heating. We are all by most standards rich
I think where you MAY have sort of a point is that a lot of people think we are very very wealthy and posh instead of mostly being MC and just "well off"
All Private schools are not Eton and I think that is a common misconception.

I simply cannot stomach the rhetoric of these poor, hard working parents who want the absolute best for their kids. Don’t we bloody all!! Some of us slog at the daily grind and have damn all to show for it. Why is their hard work and aspiration not enough? It’s simply not what I want for a modern, forward facing society.

You get poor parenting at private school unless you think we are all chavs and plebs?

It's a luxury because it isn't necessary. An alternative exists.

How selfish.

Not all private school are better than state. I doubt in Europe private schools are cheaper/ subsidised/ free? I would imagine most European kids got to state schools, with maybe some going to selective ones for bright children.

Your second sentence makes no sense.

No one is saying the poor are subsidising private education.

No I don't think access to education should be means tested. What country are you thinking of, just as an example to expand on?

Can’t have it both ways - don’t want private education to exist, can’t have the benefits

That really isn’t true in a lot of cases. Having visited 6 local state schools and compared them to the private school offering the difference was vast. They weren’t in the same league, not even close. I was shocked as I thought they’d be better.

Before visiting them I was fairly certain I’d go for state to start with and then move to private for senior years. After the visits I felt I had no choice. They were light years behind.

I’m sure some state schools are very good however the ones the government has provided for me locally very much aren’t.