You may not know but three cases that were brought by private schools & parents arguing that the imposition of VAT on private schools was a breach of human rights have been working their way through court... only to be dismissed today, with the conclusion that despite claims, the imposition of VAT did not impede children's access to education, it just reduced rich people's options to those enjoyed by most families.
Exactly!
h/t FT
And that is your right....
@ChrisMayLA6 "VAT did not impede children's access to education, it just reduced rich people's options to those enjoyed by most families.
Exactly!"
Specifically, I am objecting to the notion that private school cost is a rich person problem.
Aha, OK; I accept that that would depend on our view of the 'rich'... so see your point; however, even those who can save to send their children to private schools are richer than the majority of the population - whether rich is a valuable shorthand for that distinction, is I accept arguable.
It's a bit more complicated because the UK system allows religiously affiliated schools within the public, tax-funded system. Of 45 mainstream Jewish schools, 40 are state-maintained and only 5 are private. However, of 91 strictly Orthodox Jewish schools, 76 are private.
VAT is an issue, but it is possible to go to a Jewish school without paying fees.
@Sarahw @alter_kaker @ChrisMayLA6
That's quite a privileged thing to say.
What you mean* is that it's fine for schools to have holidays at Christmas and Easter, because that's what the majority population wants. But if someone wants their children to be out of school on days when work is forbidden by their religion, well, tough luck, that's problematic absence.
*I can see that you're in France, with its strong tradition of secularism... which actually isn't secular.
@Sarahw @alter_kaker @ChrisMayLA6
Aboslute twaddle. State education in maintained denominational/religious schools in the UK is not and never has been secular.
You may have attended non-denominational schools but you have no idea what you're talking about.
@alter_kaker @MikeFromLFE @ChrisMayLA6
Not really. Faith schools and faith within state schools are available. VAT is paid only for private education and those schools also tend to have charity status which still provide bursaries.
Not that it's at all perfect but the exclusion of private schools from VAT was always inequitable.
@ChrisMayLA6 I rather liked the judge’s tart words on the ability to do all this only being possible because of Brexit.
On the religious angle, I note the usual judgment of a right to private schooling but no duty on government to subsidise it.
On the ‘class war’ angle, I think I’m right in saying all three of the judges were privately educated, but still found the case without merit.
@ChrisMayLA6 Actually, not exactly.
Yes, you are 95% correct, that's going to be the case for almost all families.
What some of the parents argued (via the Beeb) is that a subset of children with special needs would be disadvantaged by the imposition of VAT. The courts responded (paraphrased) that whilst this was true the government was entitled to make their policy decision and the greater good would be served by the additional income directed towards education that would serve all children.
So really, both the courts and the parents were correct, because let's not deceive ourselves schools are very likely to continue being strapped for cash, and kids with additional needs will continue to be disadvantaged.
For the avoidance of doubt, I do absolutely agree with imposing VAT on private schools.
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