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?

This. Yes I understand. I understand a lot of things that I don’t have experience of myself. But parents sending kids to private school’s finances don’t trouble me as much as many other things do.

It might not fix it completely but I’d rather have that money in the state education system than not.

People that send their children to state schools also really care about their child's education. Caring about your children isn't just the preserve of the rich.

One way our school is lowering the fees and offsetting VAT is by removing bursaries for new pupils. A small number of people have left because of proposed fee changes and affordability. The mean wealth of the remaining families is higher. Is this what Labour hopes to achieve.

I don't really understand why people would remortgage to send their kids to private school. If the local ones are so rubbish, just move to a nicer area. As far as I know kids at private school don't tell to get better grade, so what are you really buying?

Personally I think it's unreasonable that it was ever exempt from VAT. Also, absolutely wild that so many people are outraged about the charging of VAT and not the many years of the Tories ruining the economy that made it more and more the proviso of the wealthiest few. Lots of people on here have pointed out how much more affordable private school used to be in general.

It's a luxury not a necessity, much like biscuits, and should be taxed as such. I don't bitch and moan about having to pay taxes to buy my house or my biscuits.

It's this kind of thing that annoys people - everyone wants the best education for their children - some have the choice and the vast majority don't have this choice. Your understanding of the 'average' family is not mine...only about 7% go private now, before the introduction of VAT - you are NOT the average family.

It doesn't matter to me if you've taken a second mortgage to afford the fees, its still a choice you have taken.

Your child is entitled to a free state school place. You think that isn't good enough (but aren't willing to pay more in tax to go towards it being improved for the 94% of children receiving a state education). Its not good enough for your kids so fuck everyone else?

If you even have a property to mortgage, you're already better off than the millions out there renting, in the private sector or in social housing.

If you can extend a mortgage to pay those fees, the bank has checked your income and tested that you can afford the extra mortgage repayments.

Yes, it might be hard for you to afford it but nonetheless you are still making a choice that the vast majority simply cannot make.

Wake up and smell the coffee.

@Cornflakes44 sorry… what? So just move house and buy an education that way? The way that is apparently deemed acceptable.

It’s not about grades. It’s about an education.

PTFA support, paying for trips (nobody has to pay but if too few pay the trip is cancelled), providing financial gifts, supporting by attitude which has an effect on behaviour in the classroom… all these things mount up and benefit every child in that school. Just compare state schools in relatively wealthy areas to those in more deprived areas, and you will see the effect of that wealth supporting the state school. They’re the ones that offer World Challeneg trips, choirs, orchestras, etc etc etc.

Finland does so well in education because the wealthy have a vested interest in it being good, because they can’t buy their way out of the system.

@Everydayimhuffling yes biscuits are the same as education

Oh fuck off.

Agreed

My children have their swimming lessons at a private school in the countryside near our town. Last weekend the school had their open morning. My daughter is massively into cars and was amazed at the array she had to look at as we walked back to our own car. Nothing old, battered, not premium amongst them. There were large signs to the equestrian facilities and the chefs were out front handing out canapés of the food the children eat. Absolutely nothing about what I saw demonstrated people who were living a life of sacrifice or worry about money.
The charity status of private schools is a joke.
‘A couple of holidays a year’ is not average.

Oh and before you accuse me of "jealousy", i can easily afford private. 5 times over.

Instead I send my kids to the local state primary, and I give money to it. That way, the school can afford those TAs that benefit ALL the kids, that computer equipment, that more experienced teacher who deserves a higher pay grade.

I won't lose sleep over families not being able to afford private schools. I'm more likely to lose sleep about the 9/30 children in an average classroom that are growing up in poverty.

@AlertCat why is it the responsibility of one set of parents to support the behaviour of another set of parents’ children?

I despair.

Deluded because I don’t think there are huge amounts of people earning 80k and then choosing to pay school fees of almost double the national average?

Innit.

So your DD goes to state school meaning it’s presumably good enough for you to send her there. Why are you suggesting then that you can only get a good education at private school?

@YourLastNerve that’s commendable on one level. But almost as bad as starmer saying he wouldn’t pay for private medical care for his child if they desperately needed it.

It clearly won’t raise any money and will likely cost the taxpayer quite a lot. That is the fundamental issue with the policy. It is an ideological move that is economically illiterate.

I've honestly never heard anything so fucking entitled in my whole life!!! All kids deserve a good education - wether or not the parents can afford private school or not!! REMEMBER?
The VAT you will now pay to send your little darlings to ‘the better school’ will go towards improving the state schools.

you can come back with your little argument about how it won’t do much in the state sector, well it’s a start isn’t it! Better than nothing.

Get the hell over your entitlement and pay VAT on your luxury!

honestly so sick of you all morning!

Also to add, as a teacher at a state school, the education I deliver is fab. My friends who work in private schools pretty much universally say that it buys you fancier buildings and less kids in each of the rooms. The teaching is the same and with 15 in a classroom, you don’t have to be a fab a teacher.

It's this kind of thing that annoys people - everyone wants the best education for their children - some have the choice and the vast majority don't have this choice. Your understanding of the 'average' family is not mine...only about 7% go private now, before the introduction of VAT - you are NOT the average family.

This. Don't you think we all want what's best for our kids? I want the best for all kids.