Could Labour have to delay its private school VAT policy?

Teaching unions have called on the government to delay the roll out of private schools having to pay 20 per cent VAT on fees, amid fears of job losses and a “significant burden” on HMRC.

Reports emerged that ministers were reevaluating the policy - after the Treasury initially declined to confirm it would take effect on January 1 - but this was later reversed.

Imposing VAT and business rates is expected to feature in the Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ first Budget on October 30.

But unions called for “comprehensive” impact assessments, due to worries that the change being mid-way through an academic year will make it harder for schools and families.

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[lickthewrapper]

To tax an aspiration that helps alleviate the strain on state education is senseless.

[lickthewrapper]

It's nothing more than a jealousy tax that will lead to further strain the state education system when many of those aspirational working-class (some of whom are state school teachers who know how bad their schools are), are priced out of sending their kids to private schools. This additional tax helps no one and is designed to hurt those who are on the margins, and trying to do what's best for their kids. Silly.

[pmichael]

The unpublicised probable impact will be on children with SEN requirements but who are in private schools (like tens of thousands across the country) and do not have EHCPs and whose parents will have to pay. If/when those parents withdraw their children, a) the independent schools may not remain viable, and b) the state system will be unable to absorb them - either before or after the school fails. There is a liberal position that people spending their own money on gambling and sex workers is fine, but spending their money on education and medical care is unacceptable.

[salfetka]

Fix immigration. Leave the schools for a bit. Priorities.

[edwardbrownlee]

My mum worked a second job to put me through public school, to give me the best chance she could for a better future.
Both my parents were working class. Labour is attacking working class parents and children by forcing them out of affording public school education.
It is the rich who will still be able to send their kids to public school, the government is only making public schools even more elite by pricing them out of the range of hard working middle and working class parents.

Labour used to fight to get more working class students INTO PUBLIC SCHOOLS. Now their objective is to stop all working class pupils from ever going to public school.
Are we sure we didn't just vote another arm of the Tories into power?

[thetony]

The real damage will be later on when less kids go to University especially in cities that have gambled on the student sector. One of Labour’s faults so far seems to be coming up with weird ideas, not thinking them through and then being to arrogant to walk things back.

[RanHeartShin]

Why penalised children for getting a better education? Not all people who send their kids to private school are rich. Some people just prioritises education for their kids rather than go on various holidays.

[threedhealth]

Parents of independent schools work extremely hard, more so than state school parents, to pay school fees.
According to statistics, there are 2600 independent schools in the UK with 615, 000 children studying in them. Independent school parents have chosen to invest in their children's future, alleviating the burden on the government. Imagine if these 615, 000 children were in state schools, the government would face challenges absorbing the costs of education, staff salaries, and maintaining 2600 schools.
As a parent, and I'm sure other parents share this sentiment, we work tirelessly, including weekends, to provide the best education for our children. Our demanding schedules leave little time for socializing or family activities. Given the current economic crisis, there's no room for an increase in school fees with the proposed VAT.

[sandrapearson]

In Bristol there aren’t enough places in state schools so they are having to accommodate some students in private schools
! No doubt some of the reasons for this is that parents are withdrawing their children from private schools because of the vat increases. Ridiculous policy, how on earth will the system cope? It will implode

[williambinderll]

Nothing to do with money. Everything to do with Labour not wanting their voters going astray. In their mind, they can't have anyone doing too well in life or they won't vote Labour.

[OldManOnTrak]

Ms Phillipson’s social media post demonstrates either the current ignorance of the govt about private schools or their wilful bias. Comprehensive research and impact assessment is urgently needed.

[chrisdavis]

State school should be means tested. If you're a millionaire with a household income of 200k, then you shouldn't be allowed to use a state school.

[AA-prtv]

Put VAT on all Universities in the UK who charges hefty fees to International students and Home students for literally useless education and leaving 1000s of students under the student finance debt.

[MBReader]

Is that it? A cheap gimmick causing harm to children? Where is the vision for education?

[annaisiomaful]

I’m sure this policy will raise the imaginary teachers, have you seen the outstanding vacancies? People have been completing their PGCE qualifications and running to Dubai and Australia for years due to better salaries, Labours fake policy will not change that.
State school numbers will only increase form 45 per class and there’s your answer. Every parent does not sit on their backside waiting till their kid possibly attending Uni to finally invest money into their child’s education, there are many reason parents do this. This is just becoming a game of envy of parents who simply don’t care to follow, which is completely fine. We just think differently. This still will not solve the deplorable states of some public schools. Tbh there needs to be more grammers schools built as well as public schools.

[ctf]

Where does the class race start? Ask yourself that ? One system for everyone: Why not bring all state schooling to the level private, do away with private, everyone on the same route to GCSE's and then provide a route for those wanting A levels and those wanting skills/trades. As of universities, well, they need complete overhaul....how many mickey mouse degrees are out there, student accommodation is big business to make money, but are we really educating our kids, for the future. All won't be academics, but we frown on those who aren't. So we need change for a better country

[dilatedbeholder]

I hope that everybody who voted Labour is proud of the damage they will have inflicted on the UK in the coming years

[lk]

My daughter attended private school for most of her school life. There was a reason which I won't go into here. I was a single mum with no financial help from the father, I worked extremely hard and went without many things to pay the fees.. some times skipping meals and buying from charity shops and forget any holidays. Not all parents are rich, the extra VAT charge would have killed me. At one point I did try to get my daughter into my local state school but they refused to accept her, saying the education authority would not pay the appropriate fees ( the local education authority pays fees to the schools according to the year group the child is in, it is not a block sum given to the school but an allocation for each child based on their school year) and her exam results could not be used in the school's league table. She later received an MSc degree from a top University at the age of 22. years 2 weeks. To add VAT is adding insult to injury, anyone working is paying tax and is entitled to a 'free' education for their children, those paying for private schools are paying twice, once through taxes and again directly to the private school. The education authority is actually saving money for every child that goes to a private school, that money should go to the parents to help with the cost of fees, they should not be penalised again by the addition of VAT.

[NYUTU-MG]

Kier Starmer is literally the most Tory labour member we’ve had in a long time

[andrewrose]

Hopefully not only suspended but scrapped. Its obviously based on ignorance and politics of envy. Private schools provide an important and necessary option for those parents willing to make financial sacrifice for what they feel is for the benefit of their children.