Hi All,
Great news--over 100,000 of you signed Hugh Beckinsale's petition on Parliament's website, which means that Parliament will now consider a debate.
Don't stop now. Keep signing (if you haven't already) and sharing this petition far and wide. Ensure the Government hears our voices, loudly and clearly. Any UK citizen or resident can sign. The more who sign, the better.
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/701268
Please see below for a full statement from the Education Not Taxation campaign, and THANK YOU for all you've done in the fight against this senseless tax.
Tony Perry
ENT
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100,000 Sign Petition Against Education VAT Amid Growing Concerns Over Policy Impact
12 December 2024 – Over 100,000 people have signed a Parliamentary petition calling for the cancellation of the Government's planned VAT on independent school fees and the removal of business rates relief for these schools. This milestone triggers formal debate in Westminster, reflecting growing public concern about the policy’s feasibility.
Education Not Taxation (ENT), a parent-led campaign group, urges the Government to reconsider its Education Tax policy in light of new evidence showing its impracticality.
“Labour claims to be a party of accountability and pragmatism,” said ENT spokesperson Loveena Tandon. “Keir Starmer himself emphasizes the importance of changing course when the facts change. The facts have changed, and it’s time for the Government to reconsider its flawed approach.”
From January 2025, families will face a 20% VAT on independent school fees, and these schools will lose business rates relief from April. The Government justified the policy based on assumptions about state school capacity and declining birthrate, but updated projections now challenge these claims.
Evidence Contradicts Policy Assumptions
- Increased Demand for Secondary School Places
The Department for Education (DfE) revised its pupil projections in July 2024, showing a 1.2% increase in the secondary school population by 2027, contradicting earlier claims that state schools could absorb displaced pupils due to a declining birthrate easing pressure on state schools. This increase undermines the argument that state schools can absorb the influx of pupils leaving independent schools due to higher fees. - Early Impact Data Exceeds Expectations
Many schools have already confirmed that they will pass on 12-15% of the VAT to parents, with some passing on the full 20%. As a result, the impacts are already being felt. According to the Independent Schools Council (ISC), 10,540 fewer children were enrolled in independent schools in September 2024, and they expect over 2,500 to leave the sector in January—far surpassing the Government’s estimate of 3,000. Each displaced pupil adds over £7,500 in unfunded state school costs, raising serious questions about whether the limited revenue from this policy will deliver meaningful improvements for state schools. - Capacity Shortages in State Schools
FOI data shows many areas lack the physical capacity to accommodate additional pupils, particularly in regions with high independent school attendance, such as Surrey and Edinburgh. This directly contradicts assurances that state schools can absorb displaced pupils without issue.
Risks of Policy Implementation
- SEN Students
SEN students make up 20% of the independent school population, and transitioning them to state schools will strain local authority budgets, which, according to the IFS, are already facing a £2-3 billion rise in SEN costs by 2027. An influx of additional students will only exacerbate this strain and increase council taxes across the country. - Mid-Year Disruptions
Experts warn of the negative educational and mental health impact of mid-year transfers, particularly for GCSE and A-Level students. Labour MP Matt Rodda’s 2013 research highlighted the harms of such disruptions, which the Government has ignored.
International Lessons and a Call for Pragmatism
The UK can look to Greece, where a similar VAT policy led to resource shortages, school closures, and job losses, before being quickly repealed. ENT warns the UK is on a similar path if this policy proceeds.
“Labour insists this policy is a tough but necessary choice to fund new teachers for state schools,” concluded Tandon. “Yet the 6,500 teachers and other promises are now delayed, with unclear funding and outcomes for education in their latest Plan for Change. ENT urges Labour to reconsider this flawed policy before it harms children, families, and the broader education system.”
Hugh Beckinsale, father of a 9-year-old daughter at an independent school in Newcastle Upon Tyne, launched this latest petition. He says: “Taxation should not hinder access to education. There are better ways to fund state education, and this policy won’t deliver. Labour should change course.”