HERE is a selection of this week’s letters –

‘Private schools and non doms need to pay their way’

RACHEL Maclean’s letter regarding private education and taxing non doms had my jaw dropping in disbelief.

First, an admission our state education is so below standard that she thinks private schools are essential to provide a good education.

Surely, for the good of our economy, every child should be receiving the best education possible, regardless of whether their parents can afford to pay private school fees.

There should be no way that a bright child from a poor background fails to gain a top post where they could do a brilliant job because they are turned down in favour of someone who was coached in a small class to reach the same understanding of their subject and will not do the job so well. VAT is charged on luxury items.

If our state schools gave an acceptable standard of education, and this means enough schools and teachers to give a class size of 20 maximum with adequate teaching resources and comfortable classrooms (average state is 24, private is 16) so each teacher can give time to bring out the best in each child, private schooling would be a luxury item. It must therefore be VAT charged.

Richer parents could donate the private school fee, averaging £21,000pa (median wage after tax is £28,596, putting private schools out of the reach of over half the working population – there is no choice here).

To the state school their children attended, more teachers could be employed and the same level of teaching provided to that whole school and no VAT charged. A much better option, I think.

Regarding non doms paying tax – in the same vein, it would be better for our well-taught state school children to be able to access the top jobs held by these non dom, non-tax-paying people.

UK children might well spend most of their money in the UK, boosting our economy and paying taxes that keep the NHS and schools at a high standard, whilst the non doms spend UK money in other countries, draining our economy and making the whole country poorer.

Final question – Mrs Maclean stated we need rich people in the UK, Why do we need rich people in the UK?

Poorer people need to spend more of the money they earn, perhaps on UK made products and services which boost our economy, increasing pay and employment, whilst the rich invest all round the world, taking he money out of our country, and putting property prices out of the reach of the majority of our population.

If we do need rich people, then let us improve our state schools so that our UK children can be the rich people we need.

Her lack of understanding of fairness and how an economy is driven is frightening.

M Bish

Abbeydale

Private school VAT should fund state education

IN REPLY to the letter from Rachel Maclean calling the plan to charge VAT on private school fees ‘the politics of envy’, I have to object.

The tax raised from charging VAT as planned will go to help the 93 per cent of children attending state schools.

These schools have deteriorated during the last 14 years under Ms Maclean’s administration as have most public services.

If pupils move from private schools to state school, there seems to be plenty of capacity due to the slowing of the birth rate leaving places available across the state sector.

Recent figures have not shown that large numbers are leaving privates schools, nor are they moving to grammar schools as the number of applications to grammar schools has not increased this year.

The tax raised will go to recruit more teachers in our state schools, giving better opportunities for the majority rather than focusing on the more privileged in society. That is fairness, not envy.

Many privates schools have charitable status which allows for business rates relief, gift aid on donations, inheritance tax exemptions on gifts and other benefits.

I understand the government is not planning to change this.

Unlike Ms Maclean, I was educated privately and my children went state schools.

I feel there were benefits for my children and their peers learning together as pupils from diverse backgrounds that I didn’t have.

Gilly Cooper

Retired GP

Feckenham

St John Ambulance’s Save a Life September was a great success

I AM DELIGHTED to share the success of St John Ambulance’s 2024 Save a Life September campaign, which has just concluded.

This year, nearly 320,000 people, more than six times our original target, took the opportunity to engage with our campaign in person, online or by requesting a first aid guide.

The techniques taught included CPR, how to treat someone who is choking, and how to manage a severe bleed.

These vital skills empower people with the ability to save a life in an emergency, making our community safer and more resilient.

Looking ahead, readers can now participate in this year’s Restart A Heart initiative, a campaign run in partnership with Resuscitation Council UK.

As with Save a Life September, we are arranging free-to-attend face-to-face and online training sessions around the country to complement the existing first aid advice and videos on our website.

During October we will also be focusing more on health inequalities and first aid specific to women.

Readers can visit: sja.org.uk/press-centre/campaigns/restart-a-heart-day/ to find out more.

We encourage everyone to take advantage of these opportunities to learn life-saving skills.

Thank you for your continued support.

Carl Makins CStJ

Head of Community Education

St John Ambulance

EDITOR’S COMMENT

The new multi-coloured paving on Unicorn Hill. Picture by Tristan Harris.

THE NEW multi-coloured paving has certainly brightened up Unicorn Hill.

It makes the area feel more welcoming for visitors as they exit the railway station.

And when the story went on our website this week, it also led to some interesting debate about what people wanted to see in Redditch town centre.

Join in on our Facebook page or send us your views to [email protected] for this letters page.