Christian schools and oldsters seek judicial review over government’s VAT tax raid

Christian schools parents are pursuing legal motion against the federal government over the introduction of VAT to personal school fees.

The 13 claimants, supported by the Christian Legal Centre (CLC), say that the changes are illegal and a breach of their human rights. 

Schools launching the legal motion include the award-winning Emmanuel School in Derby, the Branch Christian School in Yorkshire, The King’s School in Hampshire, and the Wyclif Independent Christian School in south Wales.

Stephen White, 40, said the addition of VAT, which got here into effect on 1 January, created a “caricature of rich schools filled with wealthy parents” which doesn’t reflect reality. 

In his case, he lives in some of the deprived areas of Bradford in order that he can afford to send his 4 children to the Branch Christian School. 

He selected to send his children to a non-public Christian school because of accelerating secularisation in state and even Church of England-run schools. He called the federal government policy “unjust and discriminatory”, and says he may now should home-school his children. 

“As Christians, we consider that it’s our duty as parents to lift our kids in keeping with our beliefs. This policy denies us this right and selection and should be challenged,” he said. 

Caroline Santer, headteacher at The King’s School, said the varsity can be “significantly impacted” by the introduction of VAT and the removal of business relief rates for charitable private schools.

“Parents send their children to the varsity because they need their children to have a Christian education,” she said. 

“The overwhelming majority of our pupils usually are not from affluent backgrounds. We have plenty of single parent families receiving Universal Credit and most families make huge financial sacrifices as a way to send their children here.” 

The King’s School provides Christ-centred education to over 230 children aged 4 to 16, some 15 per cent of whom are on the special needs register. 

“The needs of those children and families would otherwise not be served within the state sector in our area,” she said, adding that the varsity “has no ability to soak up the price of VAT”, meaning that it’s going to should be passed on to folks.

“The introduction of VAT represents an existential threat to the varsity,” she said.

“We wouldn’t have reserves to cover the additional outlay and can have to pass it on to folks. Our parents are generally not wealthy, and we don’t know the way many is not going to find a way to afford it or who will fall into arrears.

“As a direct consequence of the policy, pupils have al ready begun to be withdrawn from the varsity.”

Emmanuel School headteacher Ben Snowdon said he was “deeply concerned” in regards to the changes.

“The consequences of this policy will likely be devastating for independent Christian schools and plenty of other low-cost independent schools across the country,” he said.

“It is particularly concerning to folks who usually are not from affluent backgrounds and who’ve children with special education needs.

“At Emmanuel School we share the federal government’s desire to be sure that all children have access to top quality education, but we’re deeply concerned that the federal government’s VAT proposals will hinder this aim.”

CLC chief executive Andrea Williams said the effect of the policy was to remove the selection of a Christian education from parents. 

“The government is enforcing an ideology of education without understanding what is occurring on the bottom,” she said. 

“The government’s policy can have the effect of removing parental selection and authority from how their children are educated. The devasting impact of that is told through the stories of those bringing this case.

“The government’s policy will devastate the work of good Christian schools which were pioneered and maintained by dedicated staff working on sacrificial salaries because they consider in Christian education.

“Contrary to the hype, this policy doesn’t level the education field by taxing the rich. Instead, it punishes and should force the closure of wonderful schools launched on a shoestring and a leap of religion by individuals keen about children receiving a Christian education.” 

She added, “Labour must row back on this policy urgently. If they do not, we’ll proceed to pursue every legal avenue within the pursuit of education freedom for all.”