Conservative Q&A on VAT on private schools

Farnham’s former MP has accused the Labour government of carrying out “vindictive class warfare” with its “insidious” plan to tax VAT on private schools. Jeremy Hunt MP made the bold statement last Friday as he joined his Farnham & Bordon and East Hampshire counterparts, Gregory Stafford and Damian Hinds, for a VAT & Independent Schools meeting in St Andrew’s. The meeting chaired by Mr Stafford was called to discuss the government’s policies on independent schools and SEND education.
The triumvirate outlined why the policy is a “bad idea” at the panel-style event before holding a Q&A with parents and figures from affected schools.“It’s a fundamental principle that education is a benefit to society as a whole and should not be taxed for any reason,” said shadow education secretary, Mr Hinds. Mr Hunt called the move “a massive concern” as Surrey has a higher proportion of children at independent schools.
There are fears the financial impact levied on less-wealthy parents will lead to a drop in pupil numbers, school closures, and an influx of students into state schools with few spaces, with the demise of Alton School being cited Jonathan Hetherington, headteacher of More House School, which has a large proportion of students with SEND needs, claimed many parents chose to send their children to schools like his because of their specialised teaching, and would be dissuaded because of fees.
Some parents also spoke of making sacrifices and scrapping holidays to allow their children to attend independent schools and get a top-class education. But hands may be tied because of the government’s huge majority so the message was: pester Labour where you can. Mr Stafford said: “We can go back to Parliament and ask some probing questions and put ministers on the back foot and show them the policy is the wrong one.”