New research today reveals private schools have hiked their fees in preparation for Labour’s bruising VAT. The Independent Schools Council census shows average day-school fees have reached £18,060 and boarding fees have risen by 9% to an average of almost £42,500. The Times calculates that fee increases plus Labour’s VAT will push the average fee up by over a third since 2021…

The practical result of Labour’s policy is that private schools will educate foreign pupils instead of British ones – the highest and rising number of which are Chinese. By its 6th year the new tax is projected to be cost-negative for the Treasury – Labour still insists they’ll raise £1.6 billion. Are they sure they haven’t “misspoken“?

European countries do the opposite of what Labour is proposing. Danish private schools get a grant per student. Ireland, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain and Belgium subsidize private education. German parents can offset the cost of private school fees against tax. Meanwhile, 26% of British parents with children in private school now plan to remove them if Labour carries its policy through. Just what the state sector needs…