from Christian Concern
Christians who are challenging the Government’s VAT charges on private schooling have responded to the news that four times as many pupils have left private education than the Government anticipated. The Independents Schools Council explained this week that by January 2025, numbers had dropped from 551,578 to 538,215 in the year to January ahead of Labour’s planned 20% tax. This is over four times what the Government’s impact assessment assumed.
These schools reporting this drop even before the policy was enacted only represent 80% of the private schools in England and Wales, and so many more pupils may have been removed. The full impact will only be realised in the year ahead as parents discover just how much schools will need to add to their fees.
Caroline Santer, Head of the King’s School Southampton is among the group of teachers and parents awaiting the judgment in their judicial review case against the Government. She said:
“It is clear that there will be far more pupils leaving private schools than the Government’s weak impact assessment suggested. This migration into the state sector has also had the devastating impact of causing many smaller independent schools to close – all as a direct outcome of the government’s ill thought through policy of charging VAT on independent school fees. Many state schools, inundated by admissions enquiries, are under further pressure to meet the needs of additional pupils, placing unreasonable demands on their staff.
“The longer it takes the judges to decide the outcome of the VAT hearing only serves to prolong the uncertainty and confusion amongst our parent body and we are calling on the government to quickly reverse this legislation. Our parents need clarity as they assess whether or not they will be able to afford next year’s fees and, without a clear way forward, many smaller independent schools serving children from all walks of life, face a very uncertain future.”