Debate Grows Over VAT on Independent School Fees: Concerns for Pupils with Special Educational Needs
A growing debate over the government’s plan to introduce VAT on independent school fees has sparked concerns around the impact on children with special educational needs (SEN). The government argues that the additional revenue will be used to improve support in state schools. However, there is a very real risk that this increase in costs may force many families to remove their children from independent schools that can offer the specialist support required for their child’s educational success.
Rising Costs and Educational Risk
Mrs. Bradley, a More House parent, highlighted the increasing costs of school fees and the challenges this presents for families of children with SEN. She emphasised that while the government has expressed its intent for the VAT to improve state-school support, children who rely on the expertise and tailored learning environments within independent specialist schools may, in the meantime, have to return to state schools that previously failed to meet their needs.
One such case is that of Mr. Sinha’s family who have made the difficult decision to transfer their son from More House School back into the state sector due to the increased financial burden of the VAT increase. He described the stress and anxiety felt during the process, with the added challenge of securing a suitable learning environment for their son with additional learning needs in an already over-subscribed system.
Click to hear more from these interviews: Sarah Gorrell - 01/04/2025 - BBC Sounds
Concerns Over Special Educational Needs Provision
Mr. Hetherington, Headmaster of More House School, challenged the government’s decision further, stating that while some may view independent education as a privilege, ensuring a child’s educational needs are met should not be. He argued that we should be striving for an education system that accommodates every child, rather than drawing a line between those who can succeed in state schools and those who require additional support. He pointed out that with an increasingly neurodiverse population, the state sector is already struggling to provide the necessary support and that placing an additional financial burden on families and local authorities to secure places in specialist settings could disrupt students’ educational progress, social development and wellbeing.
Mr Hetherington also discussed the issues posed by delays in securing Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs), which provide funding for children with SEN. This process can, in some cases, take up to 3 years. For children and young people to be placed in an educational environment which cannot meet their learning needs for up to 3 years will result in huge damage to their education. To avoid this, parents and families are forced to shoulder this financial responsibility and self-fund their child’s independent school education. A 20% VAT increase on school fees could make this financially impossible for many, forcing children into schools that may not meet their needs. While some suggest that independent schools could, and should, absorb the additional cost, specialist settings like More House operate as charities and not-for-profit organisations, meaning they have limited financial flexibility.
As the debate continues, parents and schools are urging the government to reconsider the policy’s impact on students with additional needs in specialist settings as it could lead to lasting damage to their education and futures.
To hear Mr Hetherington's interview, click to listen: Sarah Gorrell - 01/04/2025 - BBC Sounds
