Read this an tell me you still agree with VAT on school fees

[Sally20099]

DS is 3 years from finishing private school which includes 2 years in the sixth form. DD was due to start same senior school in Sept. Both went to private prep but due to talk of VAT on fees, and certainty of Labour govt for some time, we actually investigated sending DD to state secondary school. Only one in the entire city is rated outstanding but DD has got a place so we have decided to send her there. It’s very good academically but obviously hasn’t got the facilities of the private option. Currently school fees are £19,300 per year (before VAT) for DS so we have saved a reasonable sum by going to state school with DD. DS will finish at his school and we could afford DD fees (even with VAT) so we will instead put £12k a year extra in savings for DD and then spend the rest of the savings on an extra winter holiday. We would have never looked at state schools without the VAT policy and instead we have taken the place of someone at an outstanding rated school. Im not posting to annoy anyone, I wanted those who unequivocally support this to see some of the consequences. We also know a reasonable number of children in DS year who can’t afford fees with VAT and are taking their children out of private and going into state - and taking more places at the limited good schools. Its probably no surprise that most families in private schools happen to also live in good areas, meaning catchment areas tend to work out quite well when they go state.

We have over half a million in savings and own a 6 bed house mortgage free, and sent our kids to the local state school. I drive a 5 year old Skoda and we usually holiday in Wales. Never been skiing in my life. The kids are also expected to take out student loans and pay them back; or they can work part time if they wish. We only pay housing costs at uni.

I don't feel any guilt. My kids are just as entitled to those school places as anyone and they need to learn the value of money. I don't believe in handing out financial privilege, I don't think it's good for kids. I expect they have no real idea how much money we have. I don't really get the point you are making OP.

I
Might have been ambivalent or even against the vat proposal

But the repetitive , sad threads by rich people with no idea of their luck have made me very firmly in favor

This.

I’m not sure I know anyone who has even one winter holiday a year. You live in a very very privileged bubble, OP.

So DD is still getting far less spent on her than DS? (At least £35k over 7years at your lower estimate)
And you are spending that difference on an EXTRA holidays. Wow. You are choosing to treat your children differently. Not for financial reasons, but because you choose to.

You could also argue that the extra VAT could be used by the government to open new schools to house these children and improve learning for ALL children.

You're insinuating that your DD is taking a place in an outstanding school that another child could have had and now that child will have to go to a rubbish school. Are you being obtuse or are you just dense?

She’ll have over £100k in savings at 18 which we would have saved for her. Plus she’s in an outstanding school.

I still agree with VAT on school fees.

Why are you so bothered about an Ofsted rating of 'Outstanding'? It tells me you dont really understand the system properly. In reality, that means very little and is just about which schools play the game the best, rather than a measure of the quality of education provided.

@Sally20099 "DD is going to get a fund worth over £100k at university as we will save £12-£14k a year for her until she leaves sixth form. (Ie most of the savings each year from state vs private)."

I don't understand. Are you saying that your ds's education is so much superior to your DD's that she needs £100k to make it fair? I assume not- but that's what it sounds as if you're saying.....

It’s the way you talk about getting your child into an outstanding state school, as if going for a good school would be out of the question. You come across as out of touch!

Correct - someone has lost out because of this policy but not the people who were targeted (ie private school child). You think they will manage to rectify the entire school system on £1.6b?!?

Who in their right mind would give 100k.to an 18 year old? I don't believe you will do that. I hope you wouldn't anyway.

This has nothing to do with private school VAT though. If every school gets an extra teacher as a result of the VAT money, the kids will still be living in poverty.

Nobody cares or wants to look at it objectively.

It is what it looks like - a policy intended to win votes from envious people.

don’t try to rationalise it anymore than that.

enjoy your holiday!

That’s what I thought.

They may potentially come out with the same grades and the youngest will have what £12k x 7 plus interest at? I think I know who comes off best!

Exactly.

What a phenomenally tone deaf OP.

There are children in this country being fed by food banks and living in homes with killer mould on the walls.

Bring on the VAT.

Lucky girl. So you’ll be able to continue to buy her privilege anyway! Thank goodness.

Taking up a single state school place is neither here nor there. State schooling expands so there’s space for all comers. Isn’t that great? You really aren’t sticking it to the man in the way you think.

Have you thought about how making this shattering blow against the government will affect the relationship between your two children, given that you’ve chosen to treat their education differently from each other? I would always want to put the well-being of my family above politics.

I'm not envious, I could afford private school if I believed in it.

This will not end well

Dh went to boarding school and his brother didn't...they are 55 and 60 and still have issues surrounding this

Giving dd the money you have saved by making her go to a school that you wouldn't have sent ds to sounds good in theory but it will not be in practice.

You are making a huge mistake

(Actually I think you are just saying this stuff to try and prove some sort of point...I reckon ds will get the education AND money)

You're taking a place in a state school you’re entitled to, your post comes across as ridiculous. You’re not making the point you think you are. We all hope your DD is very happy in state education.

Yep read your post and still agree with VAT

So @RufusthefIoraImissingreindeer has said what I meant to say much better!

What regrets on your behalf should most people in UK not able to afford private schools or savings of £££££ no matter how hard they work or quit Sky have?

Don't get your point.

Yes, I agree with VAT on private schools.

I think you're confusing VAT as some kind of personal attack by labour and people less privileged than yourself. You're potentially biting your nose off to spite your face here, it doesn't affect these people at all that your child got a place at an outstanding state school. In reality, we'd like that opportunity for all children.
As an adult, I am close to three people, including myself, who attended private schools and we all earn significantly less than our partners who went to state schools. The other two are men and relied heavily on their families privilege which unfortunately ran out. I have a good career but my husband still earns more than i do.

Good.

I don’t agree with VAT on private fees. The OP is giving a real example of how people change their behaviour when taxation laws are changed.

OP’s dd will be able to pay for uni and a house deposit. So she will have a big leg up regardless.

Labour are monumentally stupid with this VAT policy. Even Starmer’s old private school is opening a branch in Riyadh. Plenty of kids who might have come from abroad for a UK private school might now divert their business to Riyadh or any of the other private British schools (eg in Malaysia) abroad.

I think overall it’ll be a net loss for the UK.

The world doesn’t tax private education. Neither should we.