Private school heads urge Labour to delay putting VAT on fees in January as they warn of a 'bow wave' of pupils surging into the state sector in the middle of the academic year

By GREG HEFFER, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT

Published: | Updated:

Private school heads are issuing a joint plea for Chancellor Rachel Reeves to delay putting VAT on their fees in January.

As part of revenue-raising measures, Labour is pushing ahead with its controversial manifesto promise to end tax breaks for private schools.

This will see VAT will be charged on private school fees from January, following a consultation on the policy.

But school leaders are warning that imposing a 20 per cent hike on fees in the middle of the academic year will wreak havoc.

In a letter to the Treasury, seen by The Times, headteachers, chairs of governors and bursars from about 50 schools are urging Labour to rethink the move.

They say the action risks a 'bow wave' of private school pupils surging into the state sector halfway through the school year.

The letter also slams the Government for running a consultation that overlaps with the school summer holidays. 

Private school heads are issuing a joint plea for Chancellor Rachel Reeves to delay putting VAT on their fees in January

Private school heads are issuing a joint plea for Chancellor Rachel Reeves to delay putting VAT on their fees in January

As part of revenue-raising measures, Labour is pushing ahead with its controversial manifesto promise to end tax breaks for private schools.

As part of revenue-raising measures, Labour is pushing ahead with its controversial manifesto promise to end tax breaks for private schools.

The letter was written by Jamie Harle, the bursar of St Piran's School in Berkshire.

It is being supported by representatives of about a dozen schools including LVS Ascot, Mount Kelly in Devon, Luckley House in Wokingham, Ewell Castle School, St Hugh's School in Woodhall Spa and Stafford Grammar School. 

Mr Harle told the newspaper: 'The Government's half-hearted attempt at a consultation, most of which runs over school holidays, pays lip service to wanting to consider the full consequences of ambushing state schools with a mid-academic year move of pupils into the state sector that has not been planned or even forecast for.

'The plan is clearly already drawn up, with very little consideration of the full consequences on overwhelmed local authorities and saturated state schools.

'At a time when state school places are already under huge pressure, the influx of significant numbers of new pupils in the middle of an academic year needs full consideration, as does additional provision needed to cater for new pupils joining.

'The rush to bring forward a monumental policy shift, to charge VAT on private education in the UK, must not be thrown at the entire education sector in the middle of an academic year when pupil numbers have already been set and teachers resourced on those forecasts.'

The letter, which was being sent to the Treasury today, warns Labour's policy will affect not only the 7 per cent of pupils at private schools.

It says 'the implications would be felt far wider and this is about the clear bow wave that is heading to the state sector'.

Giving children a fair and equal chance will not be helped by 'saturating state schools in the middle of an academic year in January any more than were you to add VAT to private medical bills or dental care and overwhelm the already saturated NHS', it adds.

The group of school leaders want the Government's consultation, due to end on September 15, to run until October 25.

A Government spokesman said: 'We want to ensure all children have the best chance in life to succeed.

'Ending tax breaks on private schools will help to raise the revenue needed to fund our education priorities for next year, such as recruiting 6,500 new teachers.

'The consultation provides six weeks for a response and needs to close on September 15 to provide enough time to analyse, consider and advise on responses effectively.'

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