micromacromonkey

That is a flawed analysis. It's unfortunately light on details but here's a couple of glaring errors: Firstly it uses the discredited assumption that all possible positive externalities due to the independent school sector are in-scope for any calculation. This is manifestly not true: https://fullfact.org/education/times-front-page-error-independent-schools/ Secondly, I'm guessing that, if surveyed, no parents of kids at independent schools would volunteer that they WANTED to pay more. It's surprising therefore that 'only' 20% of respondents said that they would pull their kids out with the imposition of VAT. Realistically it will be significantly less as people will tighten in other areas rather than disrupt their kids' education. After all school fees have been rising above inflation since the turn of the century: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/the-charts-that-shows-how-private-school-fees-have-exploded-a7023056.html This article shows some schools have increased by almost 50% in the last 8 years: https://exampapersplus.co.uk/most-expensive-schools-in-the-uk/ So it's disingenuous to suggest that parents will pull kids out due to another increase.

WHYC looks like a great cause, thanks 🙏

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/mar/08/low-traffic-neighbourhoods-generally-popular-report-ordered-by-sunak-finds

Hi all, so we got some free money from the government yesterday, but this should really have been spent on public services. In lieu of that I'd like to find a local kids charity to send it to instead. I already do Pecan foodbank but would like something else that can make a local difference. Any thoughts?

I already addressed the implications of this above, and that doesn't even include the cohort who could afford to pay but their kids didn't get into their chosen private school for whatever reason (I can think of a couple of friends who are in this position). The schools will find takers for the places, or they'll reduce their fees until they do. Supply and demand will ensure that.

I found a pic of the inside.

The fact that the current economy of private schools is built on tax avoidance is the concern here. Labour are rightly closing the loophole. It is beyond doubt that earnings potential of privately educated kids is higher than state kids (on average), but why should that be delivered within a charity model? Certainly in our area kids get educated by the state pretty well, so the thing you are paying for is actually a salary uplift in their adult life. It's hard to see how that kind of service is not VAT-able. The supposed 'cost saving' to the state due to privately educated kids not using state resources is ~3.5bn. VAT on ~10bn school fees will raise ~1.7bn. Realistically, say this causes 10% of kids to exit the private school system. The government spends an extra 350m on educating them, plus it loses 170m from the tax take. So it's still net positive by 1bn+ for the country (and net positive for all the ski resorts where the parents can spent the cash they saved).

Schools round here are excellent, by and large. Your kids will get a great education in a state school. Our daughter is at Harris Girls (OFSTED Outstanding Jan 2024) and we love it. If you want to buy your kids a backdoor into the civil service, finance or other old boys' networks (which I'm not saying is necessarily a terrible thing) then you are welcome to do so but that type of service is definitely something that should be taxed. After all if there's no Value Add what's the point?

We've had John doing a ceiling for us today. This is the third time we've had him in to do stuff and we're always pleased with the results. He is also a really nice guy. In fact I hope he'll be back for a 4th time in the next few weeks to plaster the only room in the house he hasn't yet done!

I was just thinking the other day stood on ED station platform that this site was ripe for development. If I was a resident of the recently developed Featherstone Mews though I'd be somewhat aggrieved having a 7-story development right next door. (Has anyone seen that website btw? Rather odd CGI walk around ED.) Such guff spouted on the developer's website about all the students moving out of their big family houses just as fast as their legs will carry them, apparently causing some trickle-down benefit to local families. Students are people too though, and if there is a genuine need across London then they have to go somewhere. I am however dubious that Melbourne Grove will suddenly be full of all the shops that they imply it will. More like another 6 takeaways (if my student experience is anything to go by). Looking at that site, compared to surrounding streets it's difficult to see how you'd get many family houses in, but perhaps people in this country need to get used to a more european way of living (i.e. apartments). The developers still wouldn't make as much money though.

Interesting, I've been wondering how to make ours a little less ugly. I've been looking for louvred fence panels but that looks good with the slats. Did you check that it's OK for airflow?

Build it out of concrete blocks for security, with wooden cladding for aesthetics. The blockwork structure probably requires planning, but wooden ones almost certainly don't and nobody will know what's underneath 🙂 I have a plan to do the same in my front garden.

I’m looking for someone to replace the buttons on some leather chair cushions which have popped off and long since disappeared. Anyone have any local recommendations?