URGENT ACTION REQUIRED : The ridiculous Labour 'Private School VAT' scam ... Post Reply

[epl22104]

This is actually useful for those of us who the 20% hike will make it impossible for our child to attend private school as we had planned next year. For those talking about 3 day jaunts to Singapore, that's not what it's like for everyone so check that chip on your shoulder. Some people make *actual* sacrifices to allow our children to attend private school, because we believe it will give them a leg up in the future. We work hard, and earn just about enough. Let's not forget we don't have a choice sometimes, and add on the cost of local nursery schools (because yes, both parents work full time) which is hitting around £2k a month for full time, this 20% increase is insanity. It's a pretty good idea to remember that not every child who goes to private school comes from an insanely wealthy family. 

[onthecommon]

Disgraceful suggestion - what a waste of everyone’s time.

If you think a Private Education gives your child an advantage - “a leg up” so to speak, then by definition you think you are getting “added value” over and above what is available for free. Services that offer “added value” are generally subject to VAT - so do not think you have a moral leg to stand on.

As a previous poster stated - you need to lobby your private schools and ask them to reduce fees / reduce their services. NB my prediction is that in this area the Private Schools will continue to put up their fees - and those that want to pay will continue. There will be no exodus.

[catboo1]

Brilliant idea- thanks for this. I’ve just emailed with details of my 4 kids who will need to find places. The email link was helpful as the online application didn’t work seeing as they’re all in senior school.

[Astolat]

There’s over 1,500 spare secondary spaces in Wandsworth and nearly 1,000 in Lambeth so you should be fine to find a space.

Your bratty attitude to having to pay tax on luxury education isn’t going to win any friends or sympathy I’m afraid.

[Astolat]

There’s over 1,500 spare secondary spaces in Wandsworth and nearly 1,000 in Lambeth so you should be fine to find a space.

Your bratty attitude to having to pay tax on luxury education isn’t going to win any friends or sympathy I’m afraid.

[schoolsnightmare]

I don't know where the last poster took the information from but it's incredibly misleading. I've actually been dealing with the council over the last month to find a space for my child (currently in year 9 and a genuine not invented need!!) and there are no spaces in any school in the borough, apart from one and not a good one. I'm getting quite desperate as we genuinely have no choice and have to move. I think a lot of people here (like Pud8) must have small, primary school age chilren and have no idea what the senior school situation actually is. The children who are in senior schools now were born in the baby boom years and these school years are very oversubscribed.

And yes, Keith Starmer received private education. This is copied from reliable media sources: "The school was converted into an independent fee-paying school in 1976, while he was a student. He was exempt from paying fees until the age of 16, and his sixth-form study fees were paid by a bursary he received from the private school's charity." His school changed the status one-two years into his attendance not "after he left". He started in 1974.

Note the last part of this quote... his 6th form fees were actually funded with a bursary he received from the private school charity. What absolutely shocking hypocrisy

[Annabel (admin)]

Thank you everyone for your input.

I was very clear in my email that I was not endorsing, or otherwise, this practice.

For those that didn't receive my email today the exact wording was "I'm not endorsing or otherwise this but I did want to share as I know this issue is front of mind for many of you..."

I've been moderating forums and online content for a very long time and have come to the realisation that it is simply not my place to edit/promote or endorse positions on a variety of topics. The obvious exceptions being those that are illegal, promote hate etc.

For every person who feels very strongly that the activity suggested in the post will not help the education sector, there are others who are terrified about the impact on their family finances that the forthcoming (likely) VAT increase will bring.

Again, to be clear, I'm not endorsing or otherwise but I have a LOT of people contacting me with these concerns.

Thank you for using NVN and if you have any other questions I will do my best to answer them as quickly as possible.

[schoolsnightmare]

Thank you Annabelle. I'm one of the parents genuinely and severely affected by these plans.

Thank you for providing a forum for free speech and I'm shocked that some would want to edit or censor it. Which decade are we in?! If you don't agree with some of us for whom it's become a massive concern, you are free to respond and disagree - and noone will censor you either

[schoolsnightmare]

NVN doesn't let me post the link but there is a great (and very scary) interview with Labour's Emily Thornberry on GB News. Just google it. must be watched! She is talking about increasing class sizes etc

[bedazzled]

Copied and pasted from the most recent "Report by the Director of Children’s Services on the updated projected need for additional primary and secondary school places" published by the Wandsworth Council:

Birth rates across the Borough continue the downward trend seen in the previous
report, although the impact of new housing in development areas such as Nine
Elms will see actual numbers rise in the period to the middle 2020s. Whilst the
demand for primary school places in most areas is likely to level out in the period
up to 2025, the transition of the recent bulge years into secondary schools is now
under way.

The significant increase in demand for primary school places has now moved into
the secondary phase. To meet this demand, the permanent expansions to add a
form of entry each at Ashcroft, SW15 (East Putney), Chestnut Grove, SW12
(Nightingale) and St. Cecilia’s, SW18 (West Hill), and two forms of entry at Ark
Putney, SW15 (West Putney) were approved by the Council’s Executive in
February and September 2018 (Paper Nos 18-43 and 18-298). St. John Bosco,
SW11 (St. Mary’s Park) plans to reduce its Pupil Admission Number (PAN) from
September 2021. The Council will keep the position under review and report any
changes in projected demand.

[bedazzled]

Plus, absolutely shocked to read above that Starmer not only received private education but his 6th form was funded from a private school bursary fund...

[catboo1]

Not sure what Astolat is talking about.. I’ve spent most of today on the phone to various schools and there aren’t any places available anywhere (as yet) for my three. Secondary are in short supply

[Retired teacher]

On a wider point, local primary schools may be seeing falling rolls that is not the case for secondary schools. In London there are often several schools within a short distance though not necessarily of the calibre you might choose for your child. Away from London, especially in semi rural areas there is a shortage of places in all age groups. The fantastic extra curricular facilities seen in central London are not the norm and private schools could cut back on that sort of capital investment. One of the causes for above increased fees for all private schools is the recent huge jump to contribute just under 30% of a teacher’s salary to the state pension fund. I have never taught in an independent school or sent my children to one. That does not mean I do not have sympathy for those who have chosen to do so and seen there plans in jeopardy as a result of this threat.

[onthecommon]

One group of private school parents advocating causing problems with state school admissions. Another group expect to walk straight into the secondary schools of their choice. Perhaps some of these parents will be hindered because lots of entitled parents are telling state schools they need places when they don’t - do you see the irony.

There are waiting lists at popular schools, join the queue, think about how much time (years) you spent trying to get into your first choice private schools. You may need to compromise - most parents are faced with this problem every year - nothing to do with VAT - and unrelated.

Put your efforts into lobbying private schools who have put their fees up by 20% over last 3 years. State schools have had to absorb all the cuts, inflation, salary costs, falling roles and low per pupil funding.

If these Private Providers actually cared about your children and their futures they would tighten their belts and absorb this cost themselves. Why not spend your efforts here rather than cause problems in the under funded state system?

[falconmum]

This is actually useful for those of us who the 20% hike will make it impossible for our child to attend private school as we had planned next year. For those talking about 3 day jaunts to Singapore, that's not what it's like for everyone so check that chip on your shoulder. Some people make *actual* sacrifices to allow our children to attend private school, because we believe it will give them a leg up in the future. We work hard, and earn just about enough. Let's not forget we don't have a choice sometimes, and add on the cost of local nursery schools (because yes, both parents work full time) which is hitting around £2k a month for full time, this 20% increase is insanity. It's a pretty good idea to remember that not every child who goes to private school comes from an insanely wealthy family. 

Hear hear ....with you a 100%