An Open Letter to Education Secretary Lucy Powell, MP
Dear Lucy Powell, MP
Congratulations on becoming Education Secretary. You said there's "lots to do" and you "look forward to getting started."
Here's one place to start: Look at the evidence.
The Government's tax on independent school fees has now been in place long enough to compare the forecasts with what has actually happened.
Using the Government's own data, our latest analysis shows:
📉 43,126 fewer pupils in independent schools – 191% above the Government's forecast for this stage.
💷 State school costs already £242 million higher than forecast.
🏫 Closures of larger independent schools are running at four times the historic rate – and accelerating.
These aren't campaign claims. They're the Government's own figures.
The question is no longer whether this policy has consequences. The Government's own data shows those consequences are significantly greater than forecast.
This should never have been about “93% versus 7%”. Every child matters. Parents should be supported to choose the education that best meets their child's needs – whether that's a state school, an independent school, home education or specialist SEND provision.
Parents across the country want to know what you will do differently. Will you be an Education Secretary for all children, or will you persist in division that has torn schools down, not built them up?
Secretary of State, we hope you'll engage with the evidence and help move this debate away from division and back to what matters most: giving every child the best possible education.
We stand ready to work constructively with you and welcome a meeting with you and John Healey, MP, our new Chancellor, to discuss the effects of this policy and a better way to improve education for all.
Our analysis of the effects of the Government's education tax can be found on the following link:
Best regards,
Tony Perry
Founder, Education Not Taxation