V.A.T, in school fees

Any cuts in state schools are the fault of the government not the parents of children in private education , those who are leaping on these parents are expecting 7% to improve state schools.

You have the choice, though, harrigran. Most people do not.

Do you believe the IFS when it says there will be a real terms cut in spending per pupil by 2020 of 8%?

www.ifs.org.uk/publications/8027

www.theguardian.com/education/2017/mar/29/education-quality-and-pupils-futures-in-peril-from-funding-cuts

Where have you been hidng your head, roses?
Or do you have your fingers in your ears so you don't hear the heads saying that cuts are destroying their schools?

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/mar/30/destroying-schools-budget-cuts-education-government

Do you not read the articles by parents saying that heads are asking parents to contribute towards books and equipment?
Even in your part of the country?

dj some of the 7% paying the school fees are not the parents but the grandparents and some of us are doing it for the same reason that people home-school because the state school is not the right place for some children.
People choose to save and spend their money in different ways, I for example, have not had a new coat or shoes for nine years.

It's not a case of "sticking up for" the 7% who choose private education. I wish that type of education were available to every child in the country, but that would be impossible for any government to finance.

Like several others here, I believe Corbyn was wrong to bring the funding of school meals into the subject. It makes it such an emotive issue. It would have been better to have concentrated on something educational, like more resources, more facilities, more staff.

Interestingly, the cost of a lunch in a private prep school is around £5 per head, whereas the average state school lunch is £2 per meal. Thee will always be inequalities.

Don't need this scheme Jalima this government is well on the way there already

Would be not will be

The classrooms in state schools will be standing room only if this scheme ever saw the light of day!

How are school meals funded in Finland and Sweden? I know that their rate of general taxation is higher than ours which is what I suggested instead of potty schemes to fund services such as this one and business rates funding social care thus outting small businesses at risk of closing.

See - I am not specifically anti-Labour - just anti-potty pies in the sky.

rosesarered how much do you know about the Finish/Swedish education system and the children in it. Don't you think they have some of the same problems we do and in fact more of some because they take a larger number of immigrant children?
As for education being well funded, tell that to the support staff losing their jobs, the head teachers asking parents to donate, the teachers packing children into overcrowded classes and the parents who can't get their child into the school of their choice. Why? Because this government has steadily reduced funding to LEAs and spent on uncontrolled free schools in an idealogical campaign to undermine local authorities.

Perhaps durhamjen's parents were so rich that she assumes all those who send their children to private schools must be. wouldn't even have to sell a horse...

It was a relief to wake up

Esspee I tried to say the same thing but I don't know if anyone took up the point!

djen you are assuming a lot about parents who pay for private schooling for their children if you think they can all afford an extra £2, 000+ pa. Many who do this are teachers working in the state system who would rather pay than send their own children to the comprehensives where they teach. That was a fact when my DC were at school anyway.

Did they have up the revolution hats on Jalima?

happy to be of service!

I had nightmares all night rosesarered about flying creatures with pigs' bodies and Jeremy Corbyn-like heads.

I expect that is far more to do with other things than dinners though.Smaller classes, better behaved children who respect their teachers etc.

The two countries that give free school meals for all pupils are Finland and Sweden.
Their educational attainment is far better than ours.
Just saying.

State schooling is properly funded , indeed so much money has been put into it over the years that nobody should complain.They have good facilities and conditions.
At the moment only children who are deemed to really need it have free school dinners......that's all we are talking about here.
Corbyn can promise anything he likes at this time and his pies in the sky may make tasty virtual meals.

Jen, are you judging all parents who choose private education with your own family experience?

Lots of people on here say they wouldn't mind paying more tax providing they knew it was spent on, e.g., the NHS.
What's the difference between that and knowing VAT from school fees will go on free school meals for primary children?

Thanks, Fitzy.

Strange how many people like to stick up for the 7% who go to private schools. What about the 93%?

They are not being asked to pay tax on all their income, just VAT on the fees. If they can afford £10,000 a year for the fees, they can afford another £2000 for the VAT on top of that.
They won't even have to sell a horse for that. Perhaps not go on an extra holiday to pay for a few school dinners for ordinary kids. Not a problem I wouldn't think.