To ask if anyone is clued up on the challenge this week to VAT on school fees?

[feesss]

we went to look round a school this morning and we obviously asked about VAT and the lady showing us round said there has been a challenge this week so it may not happen? Is anyone aware of this? I can’t see much online about it?

@twistyizzy

But there are state Muslim and Jewish schools. However also most schools are fairly secular and parents can top up with their religion of choice outside of school hours. The state is not required to provide a religious education nor a single sex one (I don't agree with single sex education either, it's not natural and has caused problems for all the dc I know who went to said schools)

There aren't any state Jewish or Muslim schools in our county. It is in the ECHR that parents can choose education provision without interference by the state.
It doesn't matter whether you agree with single sex or not.
The only opinion that counts is that of a court now.

https://www.thejc.com/family-and-education/vat-on-private-education-could-force-closure-of-strictly-orthodox-schools-fear-leaders-cyzqn695

“Immanuel College has launched a consultation into plans to shut its prep school at the end of the academic year.“

Labour VAT raid on private schools claims latest victim
Jewish prep school to close as critics claim policy risks pricing an entire community out of an education

In today’s online Telegraph.
“The Treasury rejected calls to exempt small faith schools from the VAT plans, despite granting a reprieve to pupils with severe special education needs and promising to boost support for military families.
In a document published alongside the Budget, the department concluded that “it is not apparent that small faith schools will be affected more by this policy than other schools”.
Mr Pinter said that “effectively what they’re doing is pricing us out of an education according to our religious beliefs”.
“After the Budget announcement, we met Treasury officials. Their response? ‘We’re sorry this didn’t go the way you wanted.’ But let’s be clear: this isn’t about a child being denied a pair of Apple AirPods. This is about thousands of Jewish children’s futures and their education on the line,” he said.
“What’s clear is that without immediate intervention, this policy risks pricing an entire community out of an education aligned with its religious values.””

If Starmer and Reeves have half a brain, they will make sure small religious schools are excluded and all children with SEND.
Yes they are going to end up with zero cash out of it, but that was always the case.

The alternative is a huge embarrassment in court all round and senior heads rolling for it.

Seriously?? This has been explained so many times now, as well as links to the ECHR protocols to read for yourself. It’s a fact that non state interference in education choice is a human right covered under ECHR. It’s pointless just to keep saying it’s not.

‘use private education, just don’t whine about the cost.’
I’m from Yorkshire, I whine about the cost of everything.

Hmm not really, independent schools are not the ‘State’ and they increase education choice not limit it. I wouldn’t go down the lawyer route.

The UK is bigger than 'your county'. Why not just stick to the facts?

The facts are that if parents in our county want a Jewish or Muslim faith school then they have to pay for independent because there are no state schools meeting this criteria. There is no state alternative.

You didn’t say in your county, though. You said “because state doesn't offer Jewish or Muslim faith schools.” Which is why I and others picked up on it.

You weren't talking about your county though, were you. It was a general statement you were making.

That's why 1legal challenge is from single sex angle ie protecting female only spaces and 1 is from religious pov because state doesn't offer Jewish or Muslim faith schools.

As I said, stick to facts.

they don’t have to pay, if their feelings are so strong that they want a faith school they could move into the catchment of one elsewhere. Appreciate that’s not easy but it just gives another choice not the only choice as you say

Or simply don’t tax education and avoid creating the problem in the first place.

Maybe not tax anything ?

Or maybe just don't tax the thing that is an accepted principle across Europe to have a zero rating

Maybe people should have thought of that before leaving the EU.

Luckily that nice Mr. Farage will get us out of that corrupt ECHR as soon as he is Prime Minister. Hurrah for common sense !

Why the passive aggressive assumption I voted Leave. But you missed Tory bot so you don't win a prize
FYI I have never, ever voted Tory/Reform or Leave.
Don't let that mess your brain up though

I'd hate to be passive aggressive. People might think I wasn't trying ...

My point was really just highlighting the fact that not only would this thread not exist if it weren't for Brexit. But a lot of supposed allies to the cause are actively campaigning to remove any legal basis for the challenge.

It would be richly ironic if in 4 years time some people here are pushing for a Labour win as a Tory/Reform frankenwin could see the UK out of the ECHR and the protections it affords us all.

It's noting personal.

However the Daily Mail might actually be a big help here. They are massive supporters of the ECHR and will defend it to the death.

The only irony I see is that Labour/Starmer, who seemingly support the EU + ECHR, are actively going against them with this policy.

I’m totally lost now. I can’t tell if you support education tax, support Brexit because it made it easier to tax education, don’t support Brexit but support taxing education, think the ECHR protects us from education tax, didn’t support Brexit and support education taxing or are voting reform to remove us from ECHR in order to tax education.

It is a pity the litigation cannot start with an emergency injunction application to stop the application of VAT on fees from January which apparently was in a regulation not the Bill which is not yet an Act.

On the Charedi community who as seen above will also be hit by this terrible new measure, they did lose a court case about free school lunches on the basis they are private not state schools. London gave free school meals to children but not to those in privat4e schools even those in private schools where many parents in this particular case perhaps live in poverty with low incomes. https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2024/1305.html

Ok, so? Perhaps those children would benefit from a wider more diverse education.
I’d say that regardless of the faith, BTW.

FSM are a big problem for many disabled children whether they attend a state school, independent school or have EOTAS. A parent led campaign by a mother called Natalie Hay resulted in a change to the government guidance earlier this year that benefited many disabled DC. Contact now has several model letters parents can use to request funding. Including a model letter for DC in the independent sector or a NMSS where LAs don’t have a duty to fund FSM but do have the power to do so.

Schrodinger's private school isn't it ?

The point is that the ECHR enshrines in law the freedom for parents to choose, without interference from the state.