V.A.T, in school fees

So Lillie, you know these 7% ?

That's what I have been thinking Anniebach. As I look round my independent school there are hardly any obese children to be seen. Admittedly they all take part in the sports and activities we provide and eat the nutritious food in the dining hall. I have a feeling, however, that even if such improvements were made to state schools there may well be some parents who would still prefer their current lifestyles for their children and who would laugh in the face of such frivolities!

So Lillie, you know these 7% ?

Yes, Anniebach - I am one of them and Headmistress to boot!

Lillie, some time ago there was a big drive to change school childrens diets, healthy eating , mothers stood outside schools with Chips and burgers etc passing them to their children because their children didn't like the new diet .

Children in private schools are not allowed to sit for hours playing computer games, they are not a,lowed to wander to the shops lunch time and buy crisps and chocolate,

What difference between teachers in public schools who gain from the wealthy 7% and those who give tuition to children who can afford to pay in full knowledge there are chikdren who cannot have thus tuition

I'm not sure why you were demanding answers of me at 11 pm last night daphnedill
The point is that people talk about "middle income" but can't define it
Anyway, I thought that the elderly denied being "well off". How come they can afford to pay for tuition, while their children can't?
You've lost me, I'm afraid.
My DC are grown up and no longer require tuition.

All I had said was that we (and people like us on average incomes) paid for some private tuition for our children many years ago - not that we sent them to private school and that yes, it was a struggle at times.
People we know used the same tutors, people who were on about five times our salary.

The parents of some of my students are extremely wealthy
Some of them already send their children to independent schools - some don't and have made a conscious decision to save on school fees and employ tutors on an 'ad hoc' basis.

So those children of wealthy parents would get free school meals.

What difference between teachers in public schools who gain from the wealthy 7% and those who give tuition to children who can afford to pay in full knowledge there are chikdren who cannot have thus tuition
A very good point anniebach

It's difficult to understand how anybody, especially somebody with socialist principles, can justify that
Would having true socialist principles prevent someone from earning a living like that?

So those children of wealthy parents would get free school meals.

So use the tax system to recoup the 'benefit' they would get from their children getting free school meals.

I am certainly in the very low income group, I pay for my youngest grandchild to have tuition , she sits her A levels this summer and wants to join her sister and brother in Cardiff.

Would having true socialist principles prevent someone from earning a living like that?

I think we're getting into really tricky waters here. If the choice were between a morally questionable money earning occupation and starvation what would you do?

Children of wealthy parents would only get free school meals if their children were in state schools.
And as Maizie says, use the tax system to recoup the money. Don't give wealthy parents tax breaks by reducing the tax take from them.
It's so easy to use the tax system properly. That's what more equal societies do all the time. It makes them happier, too, instead of always being grumpy about how much tax they pay.

when my grandson was sitting his A Levels he had maths tuition , his tutor was the head of maths dept at the school my grandson attended and he was my grandsons maths teacher in school

Jen, where have I said I do not know about vat?

You give the impression that you are getting mixed up with VAT and tax. I hope that maths tutor declared his earnings from your grandson.

It's a bit dodgy for a teacher to privately tutor a child they are already being paid to teach . Most schools don't allow it.

Not mixed up Jen, vat is a tax. I have no idea if the maths tutor declared his earnings from private tutoring, no one does, perhaps he did, perhaps it was cash in hand, but he isn't one of your 7% so doesn't matter does it.

If the choice were between a morally questionable money earning occupation and starvation what would you do?
It depends on how morally questionable the occupation was, but I would have to take the money especially if I had children to feed. However, I would think that most people have their limits and tutoring the DC of the wealthy is definitely within those limits.

Of course it matters, Annie, whether he's in the 7% or not. Everyone should pay tax on money they earn above the tax threshold.
What a weird thing to suggest - and illegal.

At last, someone who is on the same wavelength @ Lillie.
daphne you seem to have no qualms in accepting money from people prepared to pay for tutoring but deplore independent education.

It's a bit dodgy for a teacher to privately tutor a child they are already being paid to teach . Most schools don't allow it

Is it any different from a doctor seeing private patients whilst working in the NHS?

My son was very ill when he was 10 and lost more than 6 months worth of school. He was eventually assigned a home tutor for 8 hours a week and did very well indeed. She instilled in him a love of maths that he didn't have before.

My daughter in law does that, gillybob, but she does not teach the same children in school. That's the difference. It's a different system run by the council.

gilly GD1 has a maths tutor and has come on in leaps and bounds, she has achieved what the primary school were unable to.
GD's class teacher is not able to make herself understood to the pupils and some of them are suffering as a result. Unfortunately it is not just in maths that this teacher lacks ability and GD has had her for two years. I really thought teachers were assessed and removed if not up to the job.

What a lot of assumptions are made on this thread about private schools. Firstly they do not always have high educational standards and cater for high achievers. I know people who have chosen private education for their child because they had special needs which were not being met in the state sector. The smaller classes helped. Many of the children are pushed to achieve but not all. Then there's the idea that private school children somehow don't eat junk. There are several private schools close to where I live and after school the children queue up at the newsagents just like the state school kids.
Possibly VAT should be charged on private tuition fees as well

harrigranhave you made your complaint to the head teacher and asked about this? Teachers are regularly assessed and if there is a problem this teacher should be receiving support. There is a removal system but it takes a long time. If your GD has had the same teacher for 2 years you are certainly entitled to know what is happening.