Emma

Mum to 4, loves travel, photography and LEGO. Passionate about science education.

[Good Morning Britain @GMB]

For the first time since 1972, astronauts are on their way to the moon. NASA's Artemis 2 mission successfully launched last night and will go on a 10 day mission, though they won't land on the moon this time, instead looping around it and then back to Earth.

This mission is part of NASA's preparations for deep-space missions - with landings on the surface and even a lunar base being planned in the coming years.

David Harper reports.

[Steve Lawrence @SteveLawrence_]

One in ten parents have removed children from independent schools as a consequence of @RachelReevesMP education tax gouge.

22% intend to remove their children.

That will be 120,000 children migrating. I’ll bet you didn’t expect this @10DowningStreet

You’ll have to raise taxes to pay for this almighty cock-up and at a time when education in England is in utter chaos with falling standards, failing mental health amongst teachers and an addiction to EdTech in children.

You couldn’t have made a bigger mess if you’d tried.

[Sharron Davies HoL MBE @sharrond62]

Excellent post. The Politics of greed & envy will next end well. And the parents & children that suffer will not be the very wealthy but those that given up luxuries & holidays to make their choices. I want to live in a country with choices.

[Martin Lewis @MartinSLewis]

Interesting meeting and engaged conversation today with @KemiBadenoch, @LauraTrottMP and her team (of Plan 2 loan holders). We chatted for an hour about the system & options and hopefully something positive will come of it. Good to talk to the opposition as most of my meets are usually with ministers.

For me, in the short term the most important thing is the govt reverse its freeze of the repayment threshold.

[Mumsnet @MumsnetTowers]

'Mumsnet calls for under-16s social media ban with cigarette-style health warnings'

https://t.co/yZtP5qrXFt

[Education Not Taxation @EducationNotTax]

Thank you, Gary, for sharing your story. Wishing you and all families at Alderley Edge School the very best.

One of the most cruel impacts of this policy is seeing children lose friends, teachers, and the security of their school community. This was a predictable consequence.

And let’s be clear: when asked directly about support for children forced to leave private schools mid-GCSE/A-Level, @bphillipsonMP claimed @educationgovuk had measures in place. They didn’t — and they still don’t. #Shameful 👇https://t.co/v6GkaUgZ1z
#EducationNotTax

[Chris @IrritableChris]

The responses to this post yet again show how Labours plan to pit parent against parent has been a success.

From the usual Tarquin and Jemima comments, to the tiny violin pictures and cries of "why should the tax payer subsidise them". Its all there from the clueless to the purely spiteful.

Not once do any of these people stop and think that there are now currently several hundred young girls about to be torn from their friendship groups, teachers and other staff looking for jobs. These girls have seen their last Christmas together at school. Every single moment from now until July will be a "last" time with the teachers they enjoy, at the school they enjoy and with the friends they love.

With the national average of 20% send pupils, there are now going to be around 50+ young girls with SEND requirements looking for a new school.

Yet here we are with the tiny violins and spiteful comments from the terminally spiteful and prejudiced.

When private school parents shouted about the injustice to send children, the tiny violins were rife.
During the court case when the government even stated that it KNEW the vat policy would disproportionately affect send pupils, but they went ahead on revenue grounds, the tiny violins were out again.

Now with the recent white paper detailing changes to send being examined properly (rather than swallowing the rhetoric from @bphillipsonMP ) all of a sudden state schools and parents using state send services are concerned.

Another item that's flown under the radar is the proposal to link school funding to the income demographic of the pupils. So all those people that were happy to see VAT added to fees, posting tiny violins and calling the parents privileged and toffs for buying a £100k education, whilst simultaneously paying £200k more for their house so they could get into the best state catchment area, are about to see that what goes around comes around.

So, back to this post from @vickygrayson_ and those quick to post the tiny violins and spiteful responses. Take a look at what this government is actually doing. Take a look at where this attack on who you perceive to be privileged is leading, and spare a moment to think about how you would feel if this was your school and your child. Because if you don't show concern for others, then don't be surprised when you are the next rung down on their privileged hit list.

In the words of the manic street preachers, If you tolerate this, then your children will be next.

[Katharine Birbalsingh @Miss_Snuffy]

Like this wasn’t predictable… 🙄

[Emma @emvanstone]

@LauraTrottMP Cracking down on kids vaping would be good too.

[Science Sparks @ScienceSparks]

Super science riddles https://t.co/lKI72ess6g

[Education Not Taxation @EducationNotTax]

Revealed: the full, devastating impact of Labour’s VAT raid on private schools https://t.co/FvuGYizog8
🎯 They said VAT on school fees would deliver for state schools — but it's delivered disruption.

📢 They said: No evidence schools would close
🔍 Reality: 44 schools shut — 6,000 children displaced

📢 They said: Only 3,000 pupils would leave in year one
🔍 Reality: 16,000 left — over 5x more than forecast

📢 They said: It would raise £1.7bn
🔍 Reality: £70m+ already lost — and rising state sector costs

📢 They said: Fees would rise slightly
🔍 Reality: Fees up 14–17% — pushing out middle-income families

📢 They said: 6,500 new teachers
🔍 Reality: No ringfenced funds — money diverted to housing

📢 They said: Public backs it
🔍 Reality: 45% support — but most don’t know who it really hurts

We say: SCRAP IT
#EducationNotTax

[Victoria @vickygrayson_]

“Labour’s VAT on private schools is an own goal and simply the politics of envy.

Those parents who can’t afford any VAT-related spike in fees [will] switch their children over to the state sector…even bigger class sizes and drains on resources.”

https://t.co/MVB1qoZ0bq

[Victoria @vickygrayson_]

James Dyson: Labour is killing aspiration.

“What message does 20% tax on private school fees send to ­parents? That if you work hard to give your children the best possible start in life, you will be clobbered for it. This is how aspiration drains away.”
https://t.co/SUm5uYsmot

[Education Not Taxation @EducationNotTax]

The @hmtreasury, @RachelReevesMP, @bphillipsonMP, and the rest of @UKLabour repeatedly lied saying VAT on school fees removes a “tax break.” It never was a tax break, we told them and now the court has confirmed it.
🤥#SchoolFeeVAT is a VAT increase.
🤥They promised no VAT hikes.
🤥They broke their manifesto.
They must scrap it and apologise.
#EducationNotTax #TaxChangeNotTaxBreak

[Colin Brazier @ColinBrazierTV]

Independent schools are a gift to the nation. Parents sending their children there stump-up fees, while also paying taxes as if their kids were in the State sector.
Rational politicians would encourage more of them.
Labour cancels them.
https://t.co/4vQMRemT62

[Education Not Taxation @EducationNotTax]

The High Court accepted that VAT on school fees will harm children — but said the government can go ahead anyway.

If a policy knowingly harms children, the Children’s Commissioner must act.

This is her job.
Silence is not neutrality. It’s neglect.
@ChildrensComm #ScrapTheVAT #EducationNotTax

[Steve Lawrence @SteveLawrence_]

So many other schools affected by ⁦@10DowningStreet⁩ @RachelReevesMP & @bphillipsonMP⁩’s discriminatory policies will read the Bishop Challoner School statement with great sadness.

We need Freedom of Pedagogy in the UK not a totalitarian approach https://t.co/hHcntiobAE

[Education Not Taxation @EducationNotTax]

@Keir_Starmer Renewal does not come from destabilising what has been a successful part of the education sector. #EducationNotTax

[Victoria @vickygrayson_]

“Girls’ schools play an important role in discussing & tackling important societal issues… against women & girls. Many young women with personal experience in this area have been able to thrive thanks to their experience at a private girls’ school.”

https://t.co/SVL0SEijY3

[Emma @emvanstone]

@VocabularyNinja @DeputyGrocott @BloomsburyEd This looks amazing!