The government’s controversial decision to scrap the VAT exemption for personal schools will face a Judicial Review starting on 1 April.
The policy, which adds the 20% VAT tax onto school fees, has been criticised for making it harder for middle and low-income families to afford private school, while also placing a further burden on government schools.
A lot of private schools have already announced that they will probably be forced to shut consequently of the tax.
The tax has been legally challenged by seven families, notably those from Christian backgrounds with children who’ve special educational needs (SEN), who say they’re disproportionately affected by the tax.
Should the High Court rule against the tax, the federal government would need to amend or withdraw it, even though it may additionally appeal against any ruling against them.
The Christian Legal Centre, which is backing the families, highlighted the case of Stephen White, a bookseller who selected to live in one of the vital deprived areas of Bradford in order that he could send his 4 children to Bradford Christian School.
“As Christians, we consider that it’s our duty as parents to lift our youngsters consistent with our beliefs. This policy denies us this right and selection and have to be challenged,” he said.
Should the tax remain in place, White said he can be forced to home-school his children as a consequence of the heavy secularisation of each government and Church of England schools.
He accused the federal government of making a “caricature of rich schools filled with wealthy parents”.
This sentiment was echoed by Jill Holt, headteacher of The Branch Christian School in Dewsbury.
“Most of our parents come to us because they need their child to be taught in a faculty that agrees with their Christian values. Whilst many parents of our students would feel compelled to home school if we weren’t in a position to remain open, most of our parents must work which suggests they aren’t ready to home school; moreover, lots of them don’t feel adequately equipped to home school,” she said.
She added, “The addition of VAT can be an increased burden for the parent of nearly £800. For a few of our lower income families it is a significant amount. We keep our fees low to give you the chance to present all parents, irrespective of their economic status, the fitting to decide on the education for his or her child.
“In respect to small schools like ours that exist on very low fees, the argument just doesn’t add up.“
“Due to the rise in cost to the parents, the impact could possibly be that oldsters are priced out of getting a selection to send their child to a faculty that has values consistent with their Christian beliefs and the federal government is removing the parents’ right of selection.”
Another headteacher, Caroline Santer, from The King’s School, Fair Oak, in Hampshire, noted that the tax could disrupt the education of hundreds of scholars either because their parents can not afford to pay fees, or their school itself goes under.
She put it simply, “There are not any winners with this laws.”
