The Government confirmed its plans to tax independent school fees from January 2025, in guidance published yesterday (Monday).  You can find this guidance here.  This is despite concerns raised by schools and over 180,000 concerned parents and supporters.  

This means that independent schools will have to increase fees sharply in the middle of the academic year, forcing children out of their schools – and worse yet doing this in the middle of the school year.  

Many of you will worry about what this means for your children and their schools.  It’s easy to panic or assume this policy is as good as law – and it’s easy to get overwhelmed with despair.  

A CALL TO ACTION

This isn’t the time for panic.  This is the time for action.  We’re submitting our petition to Downing Street in early September, and we need your help – NOW more than ever.

Here’s what you can do:

1. Write or ring your MP (regarldess of party) and urge them to speak with Sir Keir Starmer, Rachel Reeves and Bridget Phillipson about the harms this plan can cause.  Bradley Thomas, MP (Bromsgrove, Conservative) published a letter on X yesterday with four other West Midlands MPs.  Ask your MP to do the same.

   Politely and civilly explain why this issue matters and how it will affect your family and others.  Urge them to insist upon a dynamic impact assessment (taking into account uncertain changes in behaviour by schools and families, rather than assuming everyone can and will pay up) from the Office for Budget Responsibility, and to ensure that the Government listens to the voices of parents whose children could be forced from their schools, into unfunded and non-existent state school places and to nobody’s benefit.

   
   You can find your MP here: https://members.parliament.uk/FindYourMP

2. Share this petition FAR AND WIDE, and not just with independent school parents.  This policy will affect children in state schools too, with the potential for larger class sizes and greater competition for places (e.g. in Reception, Year 7, A-levels and grammar schools).  The more who sign, the stronger our voice will be when we submit our petition in early September.
   
   
3. Be our eyes and ears on the ground where you are.  Let us know who your new/re-elected MP is, along with any local information such as availability of school places.  This will be very helpful for developing our message going forward. You can post it in the Facebook page or email us on mail@educationnottaxation.org
   
   
4. Follow us on social media and join in the conversation, civilly and politely. You can follow us on X/Twitter on @EducationNotTax, on Instagram at @education_not_taxation or on TikTok on @education_not_taxation.  Parents and supporters can also join us on our Facebook page.

Thank you all for the enthusiastic support you have shown and we look forward to sharing further updates with you soon!

Tony Perry
Education Not Taxation