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?

No, because people want you to know how little we care.

@CurlewKate but the violence and large classes and disruptive children ARE more common in state schools? It’s not that middle class children DON’T behave like that, it’s that there’s less of them and it’s clamped down on faster and more harshly. These are just facts, as I am sure you know.

Yes, it’s a sacrifice to spend thousands on fees if you only have one set of those thousands. The alternative would be using it all for yourself, on nice cars, lots of holidays abroad and endless meals out to fancy restaurants. Spending on schools fees is the least flashy thing you can do when there’s next to nothing left over. I’ll say it again - it’s called prioritising education.

@CaptainMyCaptain well that’s not quite indifference, then 😂

"Almost all parents put their children first" - we all know that isn't true - let's say "most".

If you genuinely want "fairness" then you'd be happier to see it imposed across all high earners equally.

It’s not other people’s fault that some parents can’t be parents.

Some of our local primary schools are already asking for parent “donations” at £50 for the year so they can afford pencils and pens for the children. It’s a sad day for some state schools.

That £50 can also be split into terms or over 9 months as some parents can’t afford £50 all in one go.

@geeenuoe "Yes, it’s a sacrifice to spend thousands on fees if you only have one set of those thousands. The alternative would be using it all for yourself, on nice cars, lots of holidays abroad and endless meals out to fancy restaurants."

No. The alternative for most people is not having those thousands at all. Surely you can't be so removed from reality that you don't know many people are working all the hours god sends just to keep their children fed and housed?

This just made me tear up, I don’t think I’ve ever been as affected by a comment on any MN thread as this one.

I sincerely hope you never have a life changing accident, loose your job or end up struggling.

I hope you donate to your local food bank and take your children so they know how privileged they are. (We do this and we can’t afford private school)

There are so many people struggling right now due to no fault of their own, and I mean really struggling that this comment is really mean spirited.

Wow… that’s nice.

I don’t think the options are•
send your children to private school (and therefore care about them).
spend all your money on expensive cars and holidays (and therefore don’t care about their children).

the vast VAST majority of people is country are just surviving. And it’s clear the majority of private school parents are doing both. Just because some people can’t afford that isn’t anyone else’s problem.

The PS parents nastiness is coming out now. You know that if they talk about more increases for PS you’ll just alienate more people.

That just about sums some of you up. You have absolutely no idea about other people's lives. A totally disgusting remark.

@geeenuoe “Yes, it’s a sacrifice to spend thousands on fees if you only have one set of those thousands. The alternative would be using it all for yourself, on nice cars, lots of holidays abroad and endless meals out to fancy restaurants."

Some recent stats on saving are:

• Up to a third (34%) of adults had either no savings (or less than £1,000) in a savings account.
• Almost two-thirds (65%) of people believe they wouldn’t be able to last three months without borrowing
• Men have more savings on average than women across every age group.

I can’t afford private school, we can afford some holidays and a few meals which no where near equate to the cost of private school. I am also aware of how bloody privileged I am and my children compare to some people not only in this country but other countries.

How to show you literally don't understand your privilege. Ridiculous post. Yes we understand. And our kids have survived state school education.

Standards of very selected few would increase, not across the board. This increases is only on paper, because how the school run won’t increase, only increases in better students.

This is also nothing to do with money. It is to do with aspiration, when schools are not allowed to teach more than current curriculum, better performing kids suffer great deal. Very handful of schools try to do it and hide it, but most schools don’t. The attitudes of many teachers are awful too. This can be evidenced from the news of “union suggesting getting rid of timestable and grammar” etc.

It is pretty hopeless to think that our country’s school system, in general, don’t care kids to be able to do timestable and don’t care if they know the very fundamental structure of language.

I also disagree with your notion of fairness. People who support their children to do extra things are also bigger contributors to the well care of society already. Why is it not fair that they use their own resources to provide the best they can for their children?

There are always ones better off and always ones worse off. It is never going to be the same. Not the same does not mean it is not fair. Everyone has to be held up to social responsibilities, not just the top earners.

Everyone uses state schools should pay a small fee to lift things up, rather than to rob and attack others who already pay for them.

Looking at the nasty comments many people have done on VAT related posts, it is not a pretty picture, is it? Is it fair? It is precisely why this policy is such a socially divisive one rather than supportive one.

Yes the same remarks all the time without any ability to reason and communicate.

What is privilege?

Do you think being a tube driver is privilege?

That's a lot of money spent tutoring a 7 year old.
Is there any way you could save that and put it towards secondary fees?
Unless, there is a SEN issue, you should be able to read with her and maybe do maths if you feel she is falling behind.

What has your job got to do with it? If you can afford to opt out of the state system that the vast majority of the population use, you are in a privileged position. To then bleat about paying VAT is frankly ridiculous. You are buying a service. You can only buy it if you can afford it.

To not understand this is unbelievable. Perhaps you needed a better education...

Wow, you are evil spirited! I wish the same for you too!

This is what @CreateUserNames said I sincerely hope you never have a life changing accident, loose your job or end up struggling.

How is that mean spirited 'I hope you never ...'.

And what is wrong with donating to a food bank?

For the context of this thread, where are you being "derided and demonised"

Just because someone has something, therefore they are privileged. So privileged means one have something that someone else may not have? Then the whole country is privileged, at least we are not in war.

Lots of people moan about success. Maybe if people spent less time on the internet all day ranting at strangers, demanding never ending buckets of money. Maybe, they too, might be more prosperous. Luckily the Labour government can see it is everyone else who needs to pay more inline with the IMF. This is just a dog whistle for the financially illiterate. No, I don’t have children in private education.

What’s to tear up upon my rationale comment to a nasty attack?

I didn’t say I didn’t care, did I? What I disagreed was the notion of someone suffering is the fault of others are not suffering at the same way. Everyone has struggles in life, no matter monetary status.

To interpret others neutral comments in a negative way is a reflected of one’s inner world, like a mirror.

I’m not here to disclose my personal charitable actions as I think it’s unnecessary.

If is impossible to lift the whole country up without making sure everyone understands their own responsibilities and help them to stand up to it.

Yes. I am grateful for my privilege everyday. I live in a developed country, in secure housing with running water and heat. We have enough to eat. A loving family and good friends. I don't live in a war zone. I am able bodied and above average intelligence. As are my beautiful children. I have a job I enjoy that pays reasonably well.

Having all this and the means to purchase private education at a cost of at least £150k (2 children for five years in secondary) then I would absolutely recognise this as a privilege. It astounds me that people on the thread can't see this.

I don't begrudge people making this choice or having the ££ to do so. There are many things some people have that I can't afford or don't want. But to not understand your privileged position around this is baffling to me.

@CreateUserNames
"It’s not other people’s fault that some parents can’t be parents"

I want to report this awful comment-but I also want it to stay up in all its awfulness.