Make private schools pay VAT? Feat. Jemma Forte & Richard Tice | Jeremy Vine

Should private schools be made to pay VAT?

Labour has pledged to introduce a tax on private fees if they win power at the next general election and will invest revenue in state education.

Is this a good idea?

Jeremy is joined by Jemma Forte and Richard Tice to dicuss.

Jeremy Vine on 5 is on television every weekday at 9:15am until 1:30pm on Channel 5.

#JeremyVine #PrivateSchool #charity

[captain]

Why is it in this country if we see something successful, we have to destroy it. I and my family all went to state school. None of us went to university. But grammar schools were incredibly successful. My dad was proper working class. Outside toilet, the works. But he passed his 11 + and got a place at a grammar school. That opportunity lifted him out of poverty and made his life, and therefore mine, so much better. So we destroyed the 11+ and grammar schools. We are about to do the same in the private sector. Can’t have people succeeding. The politics of spite. When Labour enact this policy (unless Starmer does his usual and u turns), it is going to be a disaster!

[madders]

The average cost for private school education per year is £21, 000, there are approx 615, 000 in private education. that works out at just under £13 billion pounds on private education. £59.5 billion is spent on ALL THE OTHER CHILDREN thats over 9 MILLION!

[SoloSi]

So you think that 50k plus a year isn't enough and you wanna charge them and extra 20% on top? If you want to improve state education why not campaign for all of us to pay more income tax? Oh no, sorry, you expect someone else to pay...

[rebeccablech]

If Labour want to 1) increase already crippling pressure on state schools, 2) drive up disadvantage for kids with SEN, 3) reduce diversity of educational options (hitting small independents and Montessori/Steiner most) and 4) create an even more divided two-tier society, continue with this disastrous ideological policy. There are already not enough state school places so, by necessity it will also 5) drive up numbers of children dropping out of the school system to be home-educated/unschooled.

[DavidKingsmeadRickyLea]

I don’t have problem with private schools, 93% can’t afford it now anyway. Adding vat will probably only mean 95% can’t do private schools. What’s the problem. Everything else has to charge vat.

[simonnay]

We pay VAT on almost everything, why are public schools any different?

[anthonymarsh]

Why can't the parents claim back the 7.5k that the state is saving by not educating their children. Perhaps all parents should have the choice of a state education or have the 7, 5k it would cost to provide their own schooling.

[andrewrose]

VAT on education. Let's put VAT on school books and university fees. Bloody Labour, they think they are class warriers but are so out of touch, they don't understand parents who scrimp and save to provide what they think is decent education for the most important thing to them. It's their choice, they have difficulty, so let's make it harder. Let's place another burden on those who care.

[AndyPerry]

I can confirm that when our eldest son left nursery about 13 years ago, at that time the nursery helped to complete an EHCP referral and he ended up going from there to a Special Needs school. There is absolutely no chance of him coping in a mainstream school. We couldn't afford to send him to a private (or independant?) school and to be honest, with severe learning difficulties, ADHD, Autism and a genetic mutation, a normal curriculum would have been useless. This was the best thing that could have happened as he loved it, he engaged with people and more than anything he still managed to learn most of the basics. He is non-verbal and has fine motor skills so can't write but he is engaging.

Fast forward about 10 years and our other 2 children (not as severe) with autism and ADHD are now stuck because the council now says that the nursery can no longer apply and that they must go to a mainstream school and then, and ONLY then if that school refers for an EHCP will one be considered. Just like most things with the Health Service and the Council at the moment, everything is a battle. The school claims they are managing their needs, and they make a point frequently of saying how well they are doing and then at the end of the year we get the reports saying they are behind. On top of that, part of the support they should get is a support teacher to help. We had one for a few months who when we asked our son why he was getting answers correct at home yet 2 months on had not been moved off the 10 times table, we were told he isn't getting them right at school. We said he is getting anxious at home as he gets every one correct and when we followed it up, the support teacher simply put the paper on the desk, our son would scribble over it and they would come back and mark it as 0. A few months later that teacher left and was never replaced. And yet we are supposed to be able (by law) to be able to apply ourselves for an we have done several times now only to be told that the school has to agree and the school say they are managing.

I am not expecting my kids to be top of the class but I am expecting them to go to school and be able to engage and not mask for several hours and step out of school exploding. So I fully get that there SHOULD be special schools, but like most things, the council just want to fob you off and reject everything. I agree the education system needs improvement and maybe if the council din't try to put this pressure on, more of those people ending up paying for independent schools for kids with special needs wouldn't need to. The other thing is that all other council and health services to get help for these things all demand an EHCP as a starting point in to the system!

Sorry for the long rant 🙂

[michaelashworth]

Went to a private school (in UK) from 1969 to 1978 and it was fantastic. Phenomenal teachers who really engaged us. I can't fault it. Or couldn't. For the last 7 years, I've taught Diversity at a Business School in Paris. 90% of the students have a background like mine: i.e virtually no diversity. I realize now, having worked the last 40 years, that not being exposed to diversity early on is a real liability. Learning to embrace diversity is a much better preparation for life.

[StopTheRot]

I went to private schools, and have spent my entire working life working in the private school system. I’m a big fan of this change. The independent system is a massive problem in this country.

[lindacurrie]

Once upon a time the state schools had swimming pool and playing fields.... GONE. State schools are now crumbling around our children.
Private school is a business not a charity and latter does very little within the community not near enough to obtain charitable status.

[anthonymarsh]

This really winds me up. These parents should pay more ? They're already contributing to a state system they aren't using.

[alastairharris]

doh! VAT is a charge levied on the person paying the bill. Private schools won't be paying it. They might have to collect it though.

[davidmchale]

I have no problem with private schools
The argument against Labour putting VAT on private schools is always about the parents who can only afford it if there is no VAT but how many go these schools who can afford to pay the VAT?

[mrnatty]

Yes Mr Starmer add vat on fees, after all it didn't affect your parents when you went to a private grammar school because they had a bursary.

[jamesbond]

I've always been against private schools, I don't believe on the teaching side there the difference is class sizes. On a personal side. I believe it's elitist,

[ageordieboy]

There shouldn’t be a need for private schools
The state system should be gold standard for the tax we all pay.

[richardleach]

Itll increase the house prices within the catchment areas of the better state schools

[michaelelliott]

Record people in temporary accomodation record people using foodbanks lots if people cant afford internet none of them are remotely interested in the tax issues of private schools