'Private schools VAT hike costing taxpayers more'

A mother in Lincolnshire has said the government's decision to impose VAT on private school fees is costing taxpayers more money.

Sarah said the county council was having to pay up to £8,000 a year to transport her daughter to the nearest available state school after she withdrew her from a private school.

Sarah said the government "didn't assess the impact" of its policy and had "removed choice from parents".

A government spokesperson said: "Ending tax breaks for private schools will raise £1.8bn a year by 2029/30 to help deliver 6,500 new teachers and raise school standards, supporting the 94% of children in state schools to achieve and thrive."

VAT of 20% was imposed on private schools in January, fulfilling a manifesto commitment by the Labour government.

Sarah's daughter Ava, aged 14, was withdrawn from private school just before then as the school increased its fee by £5,000.

Ava now travels an hour by taxi to school in the neighbouring county of Rutland as it was the nearest place available.

Lincolnshire County Council is currently paying £42 a day for Ava's journeys in a private taxi and has negotiated the price down to £23 a day from April.

"Six months ago we paid for Ava's schooling and travel and now the taxpayer pays for both," Sarah told Politics North.

"My husband and I have normal jobs but we worked and saved hard and made a choice which has now been taken away from us."

Ava said it was "very hard" to move schools and that she "misses her friends and has to get up an hour earlier".

In a survey, the Independent Schools Council said 8,500 pupils left the private sector between September 2023 and 2024 and a further 2,500 in January.

Lincolnshire County Council said it had received 36 applications for state school places from pupils who were formerly at private schools, but it had not recorded the reasons for this.

Loveena Tandon from pressure group Education Not Taxation said "it's not really a tax sector because the entire sector contributes billions to the economy".

"We are already paying towards the state schools and not occupying those spaces," she added.

In a statement, the Department for Education said the policy "will raise £1.8bn a year by 2029/30" and that just 0.1% of pupils will be switching from private to state schools.

"The vast majority of pupils do not need home to school transport and we are confident that the state sector will be able to accommodate any additional pupils."