Education is a launch pad, not a political tick box.

Education is Close to My Heart

Having worked alongside education leaders in the past, the potential 20% VAT on Private Education baffles me.

In fact, it's dangerous to people Labour propose they are working for. I’m from a council estate, I chose to work hard to provide a different path for my children. I can’t afford private education but I don’t resent those who can, nor would I want to take it away from those kids whose parents can. And it concerns me that this seems acceptable in 2024.?

I’ve seen first hand the positive effects of private education for some young people close to me. I’ve seen it turn around a life on a downward spiraling pathway. I’ve seen it give peace of mind to working class parents terrified of losing a child who was struggling in state schools. I’ve seen it shift the entire trajectory of someone's life, likely changing the destiny of generations.?

Here are my thoughts:

Increased Costs for Parents and Students

Private education is not just for the elite. Many middle-income parents stretch their finances to give their children an opportunity to an alternate path in life. Making private education less affordable will punish 200,000 innocent children and their parents. Punishing parents for working hard to provide for their kids doesn’t seem like a sensible policy. It seems like a ‘push them back down’ policy. The only privilege I see for these 200,000 kids is parents wanting the best for their child, opening up of opportunities, with encouragement and hope that anything is possible.?

This policy could severely undermine social mobility, exacerbating educational inequality and deepening the divide between low-income and wealthy families. All whilst reducing the number of highly skilled young people that are hungry to work hard, and who pay taxes to uphold the economy and contribute to the systems in place to support those in need.?

The result: we push families back down, too many children in state schools which lowers the quality of education for everyone, likelihood of increased competition in lower skilled roles, pushing people into further poverty and a higher burden on state services. Tax goes up to pay for it, another band of people can’t afford private education… and the cycle continues until no one wins.

Impact on Educational Institutions

Higher tuition fees could decrease student enrollment, threatening the financial stability of private schools. They might cut costs, reducing investments in facilities, staff, and resources, thus lowering the quality of education across the board.?

Increased reliance on public schools could lead to overcrowding and strain on already stretched public education infrastructures. I personally experienced this when moving house—it took over four months to find a school place because every school was oversubscribed due to a growing local population. I can’t put into words how this affected my daughter. Equally, I’ve seen the strain it puts on school staff that have to turn children away.?

Economic Repercussions

Increased costs in private education could contribute to overall inflation, affecting middle-income households significantly. Closing institutions could lead to job losses and reduced government revenue. Long-term effects are unpredictable, but with over 200,000 children potentially losing access to private education, we could see a higher reliance on state services like the NHS and public education.

Final Thoughts

Do we want to punish those seeking a different educational path because it's perceived as elite? This policy risks cutting off opportunities that can change lives for generations to come. Shouldn’t we aim higher, not lower, and support all families in their quest for a great education for their children.