VAT on private school fees would push a quarter of pupils away, according to survey
A survey has found that a quarter of parents would pull their children out of private school if VAT is added to fees, something Labour has pledged to do. Parents said that they may consider moving house to be near to a cheaper private school or to enable children who are boarding to switch to being day pupils. This would save them around £10,000 annually.
Labour has planned to add a 20% VAT to independent school fees it if its elected, estimating that it could raise more than £1.6 billion, which could to towards state schools. But some experts warn that VAT being added to school fees would mean that fewer parents would choose private education, meaning that the money raised could be less than predicted. A high number of pupils being sent to state schools would add an additional cost to the education budget.
The survey was reported by The Times and conducted to accompany the latest Saltus Wealth Index report. It questioned 2,000 people with assets in the excess of £250,000. It found that 71% of them had thought that a rise in school fees would affect their decision over which type of school to send their child in the future.
Around a quarter o parents said that they would have to take their children our of independent schools if a VAT was imposed. Half however said they would likely keep them in private school but make changes such as moving house.
