NPR

charltom wrote: Mon Jul 29, 2024 10:21 pm

I like neeps wrote: Mon Jul 29, 2024 7:50 pm A significant amount of infrastructure spending also gone though.

It's great that the tax on private schools and Private Equity investments is being followed through.

Is it?

The "tax on private schools" is in fact a tax on those who pay private school fees, who by the way also pay the tax that funds state schools without (currently) taking a state school place up.

It is painfully obvious how this policy will make things worse, not better.

For the record, I work for a state school but have experience of both sides, which is fairly rare.

Raggs wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 7:29 am

charltom wrote: Mon Jul 29, 2024 10:21 pm

I like neeps wrote: Mon Jul 29, 2024 7:50 pm A significant amount of infrastructure spending also gone though.

It's great that the tax on private schools and Private Equity investments is being followed through.

Is it?

The "tax on private schools" is in fact a tax on those who pay private school fees, who by the way also pay the tax that funds state schools without (currently) taking a state school place up.

It is painfully obvious how this policy will make things worse, not better.

For the record, I work for a state school but have experience of both sides, which is fairly rare.

They are paying for a service, which generally come with VAT costs. Why shouldn't this one?

So their child isn't taking up a public school spot, and? I walk to work daily, none of my family even has a chance of seeing an nhs dentist, rarely use the nhs etc etc and yet my taxes are still paying for these things too. It's what taxes are for.

petej wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 8:04 am

Raggs wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 7:29 am

charltom wrote: Mon Jul 29, 2024 10:21 pm

Is it?

The "tax on private schools" is in fact a tax on those who pay private school fees, who by the way also pay the tax that funds state schools without (currently) taking a state school place up.

It is painfully obvious how this policy will make things worse, not better.

For the record, I work for a state school but have experience of both sides, which is fairly rare.

They are paying for a service, which generally come with VAT costs. Why shouldn't this one?

So their child isn't taking up a public school spot, and? I walk to work daily, none of my family even has a chance of seeing an nhs dentist, rarely use the nhs etc etc and yet my taxes are still paying for these things too. It's what taxes are for.

I have been irritated by it being called a tax on private schools. It is not a tax on private schools it is VAT. They are not charities and they educate the most privileged members of our society. If they were called charity schools and educated the most unfortunate then fair enough they can have the VAT exemption.

inactionman wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 8:03 am I can understand why the VAT is being added, but it couldn't have come at a worse time for us.

My eldest is struggling in school and we were looking at putting her into a small private school which is more geared to the kind of learning she needs. We'd need to put her sister in as well, partly as they struggled being separated between nursery and primary but mainly as I just can't 'invest' that much in one child and not the other. We're going to really struggle to do that now.

My biggest reservation with all of this is is that it makes planning life quite hard - we've thought it through, cut our cloth accordingly, and now it's no longer realistic as an incoming government has just added circa £6k after tax to projected annual bills - hot on the heels of Trussterfuck adding the same a few years back. The price is going up 20% just as I need the service, and it's hard not to feel a bit bitter about that, especially when it's the state school system not meeting her needs. Its led to us contemplating a move out of Edinburgh which feels quite nuclear but the in-area support isn't working and the private sector, which was just about affordable if we budgeted hard, now isn't.

I was aware that Labour were toying with this, but I can't plan life around maybes and perhapses of the opposition.

Just feeling very frustrated - and a very ineffectual parent - at the moment.


I also wonder what it'll do to the housing market, prices for catchments for Sciennes etc are going to up even further - not that we'd be that bothered as our eldest's needs aren't really met by that sort of school either.

Paddington Bear wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 8:08 am It won’t raise much money and they have studiously avoided adding it to university fees. I didn’t go to a private school so lack a dog in the fight, but this is clearly designed to try and hurt private schools rather than balance the books she has 100% just discovered aren’t great

Raggs wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 8:07 am

inactionman wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 8:03 am I can understand why the VAT is being added, but it couldn't have come at a worse time for us.

My eldest is struggling in school and we were looking at putting her into a small private school which is more geared to the kind of learning she needs. We'd need to put her sister in as well, partly as they struggled being separated between nursery and primary but mainly as I just can't 'invest' that much in one child and not the other. We're going to really struggle to do that now.

My biggest reservation with all of this is is that it makes planning life quite hard - we've thought it through, cut our cloth accordingly, and now it's no longer realistic as an incoming government has just added circa £6k after tax to projected annual bills - hot on the heels of Trussterfuck adding the same a few years back. The price is going up 20% just as I need the service, and it's hard not to feel a bit bitter about that, especially when it's the state school system not meeting her needs. Its led to us contemplating a move out of Edinburgh which feels quite nuclear but the in-area support isn't working and the private sector, which was just about affordable if we budgeted hard, now isn't.

I was aware that Labour were toying with this, but I can't plan life around maybes and perhapses of the opposition.

Just feeling very frustrated - and a very ineffectual parent - at the moment.


I also wonder what it'll do to the housing market, prices for catchments for Sciennes etc are going to up even further - not that we'd be that bothered as our eldest's needs aren't really met by that sort of school either.

Could a private tutor perhaps help?

I was hoping/dreaming of sending my boy private too, there's now no chance of that happening. It's frustrating but not much I can do about it, and I agree with the change. Just because it's "hurting" me personally doesn't make it a bad thing.

The other hope of course, is that schools now improve, but that will take a little longer to come through.

Paddington Bear wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 8:08 am It won’t raise much money and they have studiously avoided adding it to university fees. I didn’t go to a private school so lack a dog in the fight, but this is clearly designed to try and hurt private schools rather than balance the books she has 100% just discovered aren’t great

inactionman wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 8:13 amWe can certainly supplement, but that is all it would be - a supplement. It doesn't address underlying issues.

We already take her to play therapy, but there's a limit on what full time working parents can do as the majority of this is daytime.

I can't see how the vat on private schools moves the dial on public schools? All I can see is an increase on pressure of places.

Raggs wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 8:20 am

inactionman wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 8:13 amWe can certainly supplement, but that is all it would be - a supplement. It doesn't address underlying issues.

We already take her to play therapy, but there's a limit on what full time working parents can do as the majority of this is daytime.

I can't see how the vat on private schools moves the dial on public schools? All I can see is an increase on pressure of places.

It depends on how the needle needs to be moved. If there's a huge amount of underlying infrastructure type things that need to be just fixed, it won't move it by much. But if it's on top of what there is now, it can be more free to help improve things directly for students. I'd be willing to bet it doesn't take too many more teacher/teachers aide/staff hours to start noticeably improving outcomes.

inactionman wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 8:13 am

Raggs wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 8:07 am

inactionman wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 8:03 am I can understand why the VAT is being added, but it couldn't have come at a worse time for us.

My eldest is struggling in school and we were looking at putting her into a small private school which is more geared to the kind of learning she needs. We'd need to put her sister in as well, partly as they struggled being separated between nursery and primary but mainly as I just can't 'invest' that much in one child and not the other. We're going to really struggle to do that now.

My biggest reservation with all of this is is that it makes planning life quite hard - we've thought it through, cut our cloth accordingly, and now it's no longer realistic as an incoming government has just added circa £6k after tax to projected annual bills - hot on the heels of Trussterfuck adding the same a few years back. The price is going up 20% just as I need the service, and it's hard not to feel a bit bitter about that, especially when it's the state school system not meeting her needs. Its led to us contemplating a move out of Edinburgh which feels quite nuclear but the in-area support isn't working and the private sector, which was just about affordable if we budgeted hard, now isn't.

I was aware that Labour were toying with this, but I can't plan life around maybes and perhapses of the opposition.

Just feeling very frustrated - and a very ineffectual parent - at the moment.


I also wonder what it'll do to the housing market, prices for catchments for Sciennes etc are going to up even further - not that we'd be that bothered as our eldest's needs aren't really met by that sort of school either.

Could a private tutor perhaps help?

I was hoping/dreaming of sending my boy private too, there's now no chance of that happening. It's frustrating but not much I can do about it, and I agree with the change. Just because it's "hurting" me personally doesn't make it a bad thing.

The other hope of course, is that schools now improve, but that will take a little longer to come through.

We can certainly supplement, but that is all it would be - a supplement. It doesn't address underlying issues.

We already take her to play therapy, but there's a limit on what full time working parents can do as the majority of this is daytime.

I can't see how the vat on private schools moves the dial on public schools? All I can see is an increase on pressure of places.

petej wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 8:04 am

Raggs wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 7:29 am

charltom wrote: Mon Jul 29, 2024 10:21 pm

Is it?

The "tax on private schools" is in fact a tax on those who pay private school fees, who by the way also pay the tax that funds state schools without (currently) taking a state school place up.

It is painfully obvious how this policy will make things worse, not better.

For the record, I work for a state school but have experience of both sides, which is fairly rare.

They are paying for a service, which generally come with VAT costs. Why shouldn't this one?

So their child isn't taking up a public school spot, and? I walk to work daily, none of my family even has a chance of seeing an nhs dentist, rarely use the nhs etc etc and yet my taxes are still paying for these things too. It's what taxes are for.

I have been irritated by it being called a tax on private schools. It is not a tax on private schools it is VAT. They are not charities and they educate the most privileged members of our society. If they were called charity schools and educated the most unfortunate then fair enough they can have the VAT exemption.

Jockaline wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 8:28 am

inactionman wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 8:13 am

Raggs wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 8:07 am

Could a private tutor perhaps help?

I was hoping/dreaming of sending my boy private too, there's now no chance of that happening. It's frustrating but not much I can do about it, and I agree with the change. Just because it's "hurting" me personally doesn't make it a bad thing.

The other hope of course, is that schools now improve, but that will take a little longer to come through.

We can certainly supplement, but that is all it would be - a supplement. It doesn't address underlying issues.

We already take her to play therapy, but there's a limit on what full time working parents can do as the majority of this is daytime.

I can't see how the vat on private schools moves the dial on public schools? All I can see is an increase on pressure of places.

I know someone that sent one of their kids private and the other one not, as one had difficulties settling in the state school, she was the younger though and the older wouldn't have wanted to move. Not sure how old you kids are, but if one has more specialist needs then I think you can justify doing something different with one, even if it's just for a couple of years.

Sandstorm wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 8:31 am If 20% tax is added to Private Schools then that's probably 20% of students who can't go next year. So they head to the local school which is already overflowing with students and lacking teachers. This is a stupid tax trying to punish rich, Tory voters.

charltom wrote: Mon Jul 29, 2024 10:21 pm

I like neeps wrote: Mon Jul 29, 2024 7:50 pm A significant amount of infrastructure spending also gone though.

It's great that the tax on private schools and Private Equity investments is being followed through.

Is it?

The "tax on private schools" is in fact a tax on those who pay private school fees, who by the way also pay the tax that funds state schools without (currently) taking a state school place up.

It is painfully obvious how this policy will make things worse, not better.

For the record, I work for a state school but have experience of both sides, which is fairly rare.

Hal Jordan wrote: Mon Jul 29, 2024 4:07 pm Hmm, Winter Fuel payments goooooone for pensioners not on some form of means-tested benefit. Probably a good thing, even the dead get it if they were alive at the September date of qualification.

Hunt desperately trying to defend the Tories' record on everything.

I like neeps wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 8:51 am

charltom wrote: Mon Jul 29, 2024 10:21 pm

I like neeps wrote: Mon Jul 29, 2024 7:50 pm A significant amount of infrastructure spending also gone though.

It's great that the tax on private schools and Private Equity investments is being followed through.

Is it?

The "tax on private schools" is in fact a tax on those who pay private school fees, who by the way also pay the tax that funds state schools without (currently) taking a state school place up.

It is painfully obvious how this policy will make things worse, not better.

For the record, I work for a state school but have experience of both sides, which is fairly rare.

I went to a private school, there was no reason for it to have been classed as a charity because it was not one. It's a way for parents to give their kids a leg up. Fine thing to want to do, government should then tax that though.

I like neeps wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 8:51 amI went to a private school, there was no reason for it to have been classed as a charity because it was not one. It's a way for parents to give their kids a leg up. Fine thing to want to do, government should then tax that though.

Rhubarb & Custard wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 8:46 am

Sandstorm wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 8:31 am If 20% tax is added to Private Schools then that's probably 20% of students who can't go next year. So they head to the local school which is already overflowing with students and lacking teachers. This is a stupid tax trying to punish rich, Tory voters.

It's one measure to help reduce inequality. So for many the point is to do more, not not do even this.

Rhubarb & Custard wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 8:46 am

Sandstorm wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 8:31 am If 20% tax is added to Private Schools then that's probably 20% of students who can't go next year. So they head to the local school which is already overflowing with students and lacking teachers. This is a stupid tax trying to punish rich, Tory voters.

It's one measure to help reduce inequality. So for many the point is to do more, not not do even this.

inactionman wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 9:08 am

I like neeps wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 8:51 am

charltom wrote: Mon Jul 29, 2024 10:21 pm

Is it?

The "tax on private schools" is in fact a tax on those who pay private school fees, who by the way also pay the tax that funds state schools without (currently) taking a state school place up.

It is painfully obvious how this policy will make things worse, not better.

For the record, I work for a state school but have experience of both sides, which is fairly rare.

I went to a private school, there was no reason for it to have been classed as a charity because it was not one. It's a way for parents to give their kids a leg up. Fine thing to want to do, government should then tax that though.

They're not exactly profit-bearing entities paying dividends. We should perhaps treat education differently in any case - we don't charge VAT on books despite J K Rowling and Penguin House not being charities.

Raggs wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 8:07 am

inactionman wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 8:03 am I can understand why the VAT is being added, but it couldn't have come at a worse time for us.

My eldest is struggling in school and we were looking at putting her into a small private school which is more geared to the kind of learning she needs. We'd need to put her sister in as well, partly as they struggled being separated between nursery and primary but mainly as I just can't 'invest' that much in one child and not the other. We're going to really struggle to do that now.

My biggest reservation with all of this is is that it makes planning life quite hard - we've thought it through, cut our cloth accordingly, and now it's no longer realistic as an incoming government has just added circa £6k after tax to projected annual bills - hot on the heels of Trussterfuck adding the same a few years back. The price is going up 20% just as I need the service, and it's hard not to feel a bit bitter about that, especially when it's the state school system not meeting her needs. Its led to us contemplating a move out of Edinburgh which feels quite nuclear but the in-area support isn't working and the private sector, which was just about affordable if we budgeted hard, now isn't.

I was aware that Labour were toying with this, but I can't plan life around maybes and perhapses of the opposition.

Just feeling very frustrated - and a very ineffectual parent - at the moment.


I also wonder what it'll do to the housing market, prices for catchments for Sciennes etc are going to up even further - not that we'd be that bothered as our eldest's needs aren't really met by that sort of school either.

Could a private tutor perhaps help?

I was hoping/dreaming of sending my boy private too, there's now no chance of that happening. It's frustrating but not much I can do about it, and I agree with the change. Just because it's "hurting" me personally doesn't make it a bad thing.

The other hope of course, is that schools now improve, but that will take a little longer to come through.

I like neeps wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 9:28 am

inactionman wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 9:08 am

I like neeps wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 8:51 am

I went to a private school, there was no reason for it to have been classed as a charity because it was not one. It's a way for parents to give their kids a leg up. Fine thing to want to do, government should then tax that though.

They're not exactly profit-bearing entities paying dividends. We should perhaps treat education differently in any case - we don't charge VAT on books despite J K Rowling and Penguin House not being charities.

The profits and dividends come from the increased opportunities and networks your kids have access to.

Hardly the same with books.

petej wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 9:30 am

Raggs wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 8:07 am

inactionman wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 8:03 am I can understand why the VAT is being added, but it couldn't have come at a worse time for us.

My eldest is struggling in school and we were looking at putting her into a small private school which is more geared to the kind of learning she needs. We'd need to put her sister in as well, partly as they struggled being separated between nursery and primary but mainly as I just can't 'invest' that much in one child and not the other. We're going to really struggle to do that now.

My biggest reservation with all of this is is that it makes planning life quite hard - we've thought it through, cut our cloth accordingly, and now it's no longer realistic as an incoming government has just added circa £6k after tax to projected annual bills - hot on the heels of Trussterfuck adding the same a few years back. The price is going up 20% just as I need the service, and it's hard not to feel a bit bitter about that, especially when it's the state school system not meeting her needs. Its led to us contemplating a move out of Edinburgh which feels quite nuclear but the in-area support isn't working and the private sector, which was just about affordable if we budgeted hard, now isn't.

I was aware that Labour were toying with this, but I can't plan life around maybes and perhapses of the opposition.

Just feeling very frustrated - and a very ineffectual parent - at the moment.


I also wonder what it'll do to the housing market, prices for catchments for Sciennes etc are going to up even further - not that we'd be that bothered as our eldest's needs aren't really met by that sort of school either.

Could a private tutor perhaps help?

I was hoping/dreaming of sending my boy private too, there's now no chance of that happening. It's frustrating but not much I can do about it, and I agree with the change. Just because it's "hurting" me personally doesn't make it a bad thing.

The other hope of course, is that schools now improve, but that will take a little longer to come through.

You can't justify the exemption when you have torn up the social contract to the extent the Tories have over the last 14 years. I do have sympathy for cases like inactionmans as being caught between a decade plus of state provision being intentionally degraded and the cost of the alternative going up in part due to the former.

Jock42 wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 8:57 am

Hal Jordan wrote: Mon Jul 29, 2024 4:07 pm Hmm, Winter Fuel payments goooooone for pensioners not on some form of means-tested benefit. Probably a good thing, even the dead get it if they were alive at the September date of qualification.

Hunt desperately trying to defend the Tories' record on everything.

I'm not sure an £11,500 income is an acceptable cut off.

I like neeps wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 8:51 am

charltom wrote: Mon Jul 29, 2024 10:21 pm

I like neeps wrote: Mon Jul 29, 2024 7:50 pm A significant amount of infrastructure spending also gone though.

It's great that the tax on private schools and Private Equity investments is being followed through.

Is it?

The "tax on private schools" is in fact a tax on those who pay private school fees, who by the way also pay the tax that funds state schools without (currently) taking a state school place up.

It is painfully obvious how this policy will make things worse, not better.

For the record, I work for a state school but have experience of both sides, which is fairly rare.

I went to a private school, there was no reason for it to have been classed as a charity because it was not one. It's a way for parents to give their kids a leg up. Fine thing to want to do, government should then tax that though.

I like neeps wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 9:28 am

inactionman wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 9:08 am

I like neeps wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 8:51 am

I went to a private school, there was no reason for it to have been classed as a charity because it was not one. It's a way for parents to give their kids a leg up. Fine thing to want to do, government should then tax that though.

They're not exactly profit-bearing entities paying dividends. We should perhaps treat education differently in any case - we don't charge VAT on books despite J K Rowling and Penguin House not being charities.

The profits and dividends come from the increased opportunities and networks your kids have access to.

Hardly the same with books.

inactionman wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 9:33 am

petej wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 9:30 am

Raggs wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 8:07 am

Could a private tutor perhaps help?

I was hoping/dreaming of sending my boy private too, there's now no chance of that happening. It's frustrating but not much I can do about it, and I agree with the change. Just because it's "hurting" me personally doesn't make it a bad thing.

The other hope of course, is that schools now improve, but that will take a little longer to come through.

You can't justify the exemption when you have torn up the social contract to the extent the Tories have over the last 14 years. I do have sympathy for cases like inactionmans as being caught between a decade plus of state provision being intentionally degraded and the cost of the alternative going up in part due to the former.

It's a tricky situation all round. I'd also augment your post to say the SNP haven't exactly helped this side of the border, but the net effect is the same.

charltom wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 10:01 am

I like neeps wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 8:51 am

charltom wrote: Mon Jul 29, 2024 10:21 pm

Is it?

The "tax on private schools" is in fact a tax on those who pay private school fees, who by the way also pay the tax that funds state schools without (currently) taking a state school place up.

It is painfully obvious how this policy will make things worse, not better.

For the record, I work for a state school but have experience of both sides, which is fairly rare.

I went to a private school, there was no reason for it to have been classed as a charity because it was not one. It's a way for parents to give their kids a leg up. Fine thing to want to do, government should then tax that though.

They ARE charities. Many pupils benefit from bursaries, paid for out of funds built up from fees. Some get full bursaries.

And many of the schools do plenty for local communities.

Furthermore, independent school teaching staff give way more of their time to help with children's broader education, including sport and other activities at times of the week that most state school teachers would not dream of being at school. They do this, in most cases, for similar pay. Indeed I bet most independent schools won't be awarding the 5.5% rise that the state sector will enjoy this next year.

The extra staff that Reeves claims this VAT imposition will fund will amount to 0.3 teachers per school in England, i.e. bugger all. And that's if there are no negative effects on funding, which of course there will be as more comprehensive pupils need to be funded by the state.

charltom wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 10:04 am

I like neeps wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 9:28 am

inactionman wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 9:08 am

They're not exactly profit-bearing entities paying dividends. We should perhaps treat education differently in any case - we don't charge VAT on books despite J K Rowling and Penguin House not being charities.

The profits and dividends come from the increased opportunities and networks your kids have access to.

Hardly the same with books.

You must not have profited from all your reading as much as some of us have, then!

charltom wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 10:06 am

inactionman wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 9:33 am

petej wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 9:30 am
You can't justify the exemption when you have torn up the social contract to the extent the Tories have over the last 14 years. I do have sympathy for cases like inactionmans as being caught between a decade plus of state provision being intentionally degraded and the cost of the alternative going up in part due to the former.

It's a tricky situation all round. I'd also augment your post to say the SNP haven't exactly helped this side of the border, but the net effect is the same.

Except it isn't. England's PISA rankings have (surprisingly to me( improved greatly; Scotland's have deteriorated.

inactionman wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 9:32 am

I like neeps wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 9:28 am

inactionman wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 9:08 am

They're not exactly profit-bearing entities paying dividends. We should perhaps treat education differently in any case - we don't charge VAT on books despite J K Rowling and Penguin House not being charities.

The profits and dividends come from the increased opportunities and networks your kids have access to.

Hardly the same with books.

The fundamental service is of education.

Being snide, I eagerly await hearing about the secret handshake my daughter becomes privy to if/when she goes to her private school.

I like neeps wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 10:22 am

inactionman wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 9:32 am

I like neeps wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 9:28 am

The profits and dividends come from the increased opportunities and networks your kids have access to.

Hardly the same with books.

The fundamental service is of education.

Being snide, I eagerly await hearing about the secret handshake my daughter becomes privy to if/when she goes to her private school.

I have access to my school's alumni club and when I was deciding on my university degree had friends parents who were Partners/Directors of law firms, accountancy firms, SMEs set me up with work experience which is obviously a pretty good advantage.

Paddington Bear wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 10:26 am

I like neeps wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 10:22 am

inactionman wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 9:32 am

The fundamental service is of education.

Being snide, I eagerly await hearing about the secret handshake my daughter becomes privy to if/when she goes to her private school.

I have access to my school's alumni club and when I was deciding on my university degree had friends parents who were Partners/Directors of law firms, accountancy firms, SMEs set me up with work experience which is obviously a pretty good advantage.

This will likely be the case regardless of where you go to school if your parents are wealthy/well connected!