Charging VAT on private school fees

Yes, I do remember your posts. That is because whenever the subject of private schools comes into a discussion - even tangentially - you usually jump in at that point and make a barbed comment.
As an education researcher I am well aware that the subject raises strong opinions on either side of the divide but I have never come across anyone quite as passionate in their opposition to private schools as you.
While taking care not to derail this thread (which is, after all, about the VAT issue) I feel bound to ask why this is.
Is it an equality issue, a teaching standards issue or merely that you think parents who send their children to private schools are just wasting their money? And why, exactly, do you pity them?

This is a discussion forum. There are some people on here whose view are so jaundiced and fixed that I wonder sometimes if they are truly like that in real life. You'd think that education and the experience of life would mean that one would be more flexible and understand that different people make different choices - that we can respect people for different choices in life. However, this board appears to bring out the worst of some. Who knows? I admire you for trying to engage but for some posters are so closed off that there's no point imo.

PRSOM - especially strange as they are a teacher, and they consider themselves to be a good one.

State education is good enough for everyone and private schools need to go. There the biggest barrier to equality of opportunity in this country.
Politicians would fund schools better if their own children had to attend them -

It’s ironic. I used to teach, I don’t now, I changed jobs. But I’d encourage all my friends and family if they could to put their children into private education as it’s absolutely streets ahead of the public sector. The public sector is broken beyond repair.

Yes, I do remember your posts. That is because whenever the subject of private schools comes into a discussion - even tangentially - you usually jump in at that point and make a barbed comment.
As an education researcher I am well aware that the subject raises strong opinions on either side of the divide but I have never come across anyone quite as passionate in their opposition to private schools as you.
While taking care not to derail this thread (which is, after all, about the VAT issue) I feel bound to ask why this is.
Is it an equality issue, a teaching standards issue or merely that you think parents who send their children to private schools are just wasting their money? And why, exactly, do you pity them?

It’s ironic. I used to teach, I don’t now, I changed jobs. But I’d encourage all my friends and family if they could to put their children into private education as it’s absolutely streets ahead of the public sector. The public sector is broken beyond repair.

It's all of those things - I am actually working with an inadequate teacher nowfrom a private school. That school has out-of-date textbooks, poor ICT facilities and poor results.
Anoher I'm familiar with claims to 'help' local schools but doesn't - unless 'helping' is trying to poach teachers and students.
I pity parents because they aren't getting what they think they are -

The following article on today's BBC website offers a snapshot of what is actually happening, as we continue the debate:
Private Schools Say Early Signs of Pupils Leaving
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy5y0w6xg43o

So you are opposed to private schools on the grounds that they perpetuate inequality, that their teaching standards are inadequate and that parents who choose to send their children to them are wasting their money.
On the issue of inequality, one thing that educational research has consistently shown is that family background has a much greater impact on a person's life chances than the type of school they attended. So removing private schools from the picture would not prevent the perpetuation of privilege.
I am sure you must acknowledge that there are good and bad schools in both the state-maintained and private sectors, and that both sectors have their share of inadequate teachers.
When it comes to parental choice, there are all sorts of reasons why some parents choose private schools. You say you "pity" them, while deriding those who struggle to pay the fees. But surely it is hard to pity those for whom the VAT related fees increase will make precious little difference? Many of these will be sending their children to schools with facilities and teaching standards that even the best state-maintaned schools could only dream of.

According to that article, "what is actually happening" is a 1.7% drop in numbers - even lower than the IFS's predictions.
Good news for all then!

Bear in mind that the issue here is adding VAT to school fees, not whether private schools should be abolished or are worth the money or perpetuate undeserved privilege and inequality or whatever.
Taxpayers on low incomes subsidising private school fees for the wealthy is the issue, and it is a no brainer. So what if a small proportion now decide to spend their disposable income on something else instead.
In a properly functioning society, the wealthy should be subsidising education for those on low incomes, not the other way around.

I apologise if theres already a thread on this.
But yeah, the government is meant to be bringing in charging VAT on private school fees.
Private schools: When will VAT be added to fees? - BBC News
What is everyones thoughts on this?

There are some who will no doubt have to pull their kids but most will suck it up. FWIW, at my son's school, they have had the largest intake of year 7 students they've ever had and this against a background where parents know Labour have made this one of their key policies to implement immediately.
From a personal perspective, I'm glad I only have to find two years of VAT 😂. He's going back to grammar for A levels and the advantage of applying to uni from a "state" school!

Not quite all.
Bad news for the children who are displaced mid-year because of the unexpected and unnecessary January implementation date.
And bad news for those contributors to the debate who hoped that the measure would somehow herald the demise of private schools.

If you read my posts you will see that I raised that very point.
My focus has been on the implementation date.
But several contributors have widened the debate and introduced the other issues to which you refer.

The following article on today's BBC website offers a snapshot of what is actually happening, as we continue the debate:
Private Schools Say Early Signs of Pupils Leaving
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy5y0w6xg43o

Bear in mind that the issue here is adding VAT to school fees, not whether private schools should be abolished or are worth the money or perpetuate undeserved privilege and inequality or whatever.
Taxpayers on low incomes subsidising private school fees for the wealthy is the issue, and it is a no brainer. So what if a small proportion now decide to spend their disposable income on something else instead.
In a properly functioning society, the wealthy should be subsidising education for those on low incomes, not the other way around.

That’s a good approach to use the “state” school advantage to apply to unis.