Scrapping VAT and removing charitable schools - Labour policy - do you agree with it ?

[bluethrunthru]

Those figures make no sense. There are far more than 3000 kids at private schools in the UK.

And no, I don't agree with it.

You are right - as I say I heard it on the radio - google tells me there are 2600 SCHOOLS with 615k attendee's - still a drop in the votes ocean

 

[bluethrunthru]

Nah it’ll just hit the ones that can only just afford it. The wealthy will keep on paying,
it’ll be used as an excuse for private schools to remove any free/subsidized places.

If they remove the bursary funded places they have been forced to accept then effectively that busts open all the arguments that justify their continued existence

 

[Brewster's millions]

Those figures make no sense. There are far more than 3000 kids at private schools in the UK.

And no, I don't agree with it.

The usual levels of attention to detail, I see.

It’s a shit idea as well.

 

[PragueBlue]

If they remove the bursary funded places they have been forced to accept then effectively that busts open all the arguments that justify their continued existence

They will continue to exist as long as there is a demand for them. I doubt that demand is going away any time soon.

 

[bluethrunthru]

Thats not really true though unless you are just looking at Eton, Harrow, Winchester, Westminster or Fettes where its a minimum of 30k+ per year.

There are lots of other public schools (fee paying independent schools) which are less well known that are around 15k per year. These are more than affordable as my nextdoor neighbour, a chartered accountant, who sends her 3 kids to a nearby independent school, would attest.

If the schools offer a significant number of scholarships which allow gifted kids via entrance exams, regardless of financial means, a place to get a high quality education then maybe charitable status is valid. What a significant number of scholarships is, well thats open to debate, but to me it wouldnt be unreasonable to say 15%.

Those however that are only open to the exceptionally wealthy should be taxed fully and stripped of charitable status.

the Nuffield Foundation research says that between 3 to 5% of kids would have to leave over affordability - thats 20-40k attendee's - there are over 32k state schools and colleges currently. So its likey they will be looking to accept a couple each.

 

[BrianW]

I would actually look at all the ancient endowments of schools (and universities) and check whether they were strictly meeting the intent of the original beneficiary. I am all but certain that some, maybe most, are not. If not, the endowments would be nationalised and the proceeds used to create a support fund for all educational establishments.

Unprecedented confiscation? Not at all. My precedent is Thomas Cromwell's disendowment of the monasteries. Of course, the vested interests would moan like Scousers after a defeat, but fuck 'em.

 

[bluethrunthru]

They will continue to exist as long as there is a demand for them. I doubt that demand is going away any time soon.

The demand will be confined more and more to the children of the rich from around the world

 

[PragueBlue]

The demand will be confined more and more to the children of the rich from around the world

There are plenty who are far from rich that send their children to private schools. If they wish to spend their money on that, I see no problem with it.

 

[drthingy]

I don’t want the tories to stay in but bloody hell a credible alternative with sensible policies would be nice.

this isn’t a well thought through policy just a cheap vote winner where the only beneficiaries will be the elite private schools and the excessively wealthy.

 

[bluethrunthru]

There are plenty who are far from rich that send their children to private schools. If they wish to spend their money on that, I see no problem with it.

Nor do I - they should just pay VAT and stand the usual test to PROVE they are charitable concerns like say AGE UK does