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.

The politics of envy is bonkers.

Bingo!

I claim my £5 prize.

In the NHS, there are quite a few patients receiving expensive treatments privately and switch to NHS care when the insurance company stops paying. That has not changed NHS service for the better in any way. Not sure why people think private parents will magically improve state schools (also insulting to state school parents!)

You’re not taking anyone’s place. Your child has as much right to that place as anyone else. You just chose not to avail yourself of it before. It’s rightfully your child’s place to take.

Read it and yes I do.

Honestly I despair I really do. Do you really expect people to read your anecdote and say oh silly me! I never thought of that! Yes I'm going to completely change my mind now!

And more fool you sending DS private when there's a good state school.

I hope the riff raff aren't too appalling.

This^^

This all-day long.

Serious question, why do rich people keep posting threads trying to persuade the rest of us that we should pay for their privileges? Is it not enough to be privileged, you have to have everyone's approval as well?

Most will move at normal entry points and will likely be in a better position to secure houses in catchment.

😂

This may come as a surprise but state school children can still do incredibly well and have just as good earnings potential as they would have done if they had got similar grades in a private school.

It has impacted you though. One child has a private education and one does not. Regardless, of the money in savings. One child will have a private education on their job application one will not. That is a MASSIVE impact.

I don't think those that support the policy do so for the revenue it will raise. Most seem for VAT ideologically. I believe they have other strategies for improving state school funding cos we all know this ain't it

You’re going to have an absolutely furious son on your hands.

I would be considered a high earner but went to state school and my children will too. However, I struggle to understand why so many people are happy to tax private education and not university or other forms of education (which are also arguably a luxury)?

I’m also slightly confused by some of the arguments above to the effect that if not everyone can afford something, it shouldn’t be available. That’s just life; I quite fancy owning a yacht but I can’t because I don’t have enough money.

Either way, OP’s post doesn’t help her cause at all!

Private education IS a luxury item. If you can’t afford the 20% then you couldn’t afford it to begin with.

Get your head from up your backside.

Send your children to state schools and use your excessive wealth to support that school, and benefit children not so privileged.

No - a strong state sector is formed from everyone having a stake in it. For as long as wealthy people like the op think that state schools are for the ‘less privileged’ (a misconception!) then wealthy people like her will also carry that discrimination into other areas of life - perhaps assuming that the state educated candidate she interviews for a job is not as well rounded as the privately educated one, or simply that state educated people are not ‘like us’.

what if everyone was ‘like us’? What if we had a society where everyone cared about decent education for everyone, not just for their own kids? Maybe some
things would start to get organised differently.

that is where the left wing is coming from. Not envy. Ambition. For all of us.

I want op’s daughter to have a good education. I am not envious of her wealth. It’s weird to me that people assume envy is the motivator. Is that what motivates people to send their kids to private school perhaps? So that is the culture you’re immersed in - the desire to be better than others?

It’s like arguing about whether there should be tax breaks on Yachts.

No. No.

Sorry, just to clarify… you’re asking people to sympathise with you because, although you could still afford private school fees despite the VAT, you have decided to send her to state school and have an EXTRA winter holiday? Can I also ask why you think private schools should have a tax loophole when clearly they are for the benefit of a privileged minority whilst thousands of children remain in poverty across the country? Perhaps donate some of your savings on DD’s school fees to a food bank. 🙄

Perfectly done. 👍🏻

Oh gosh, but we keep getting told that private school parents have to live in a tiny house, work multiple jobs, have an ancient car and forego any holidays to be able to afford private schools?

BTW, you can earn well AND send your kids to state school. It’s not mutually exclusive.

@Imaginaryhairstyle how very well said!

Yes, they can but there is a chance that resentment will set in, if it they don’t.

There was a post on MN not so long ago. The OP was seriously annoyed that her sisters had private education and she never. She blamed all her shortcomings in life on this. There was clearly ALOT of resentment.

I agree too!

I’m not sure of all the technical logic for, or against, VAT on school or indeed what side I fall down on. However if you currently have that much disposable income, which is way more than most of us can dream of, don’t expect sympathy.

But you could’ve done this for your son too?