The SCIS have just issued an independent report into the effects adding VAT onto private schools fees has made so far in Scotland.
It states that a LOSS to the public finances will be expected next year of £16m rather than any gain. This is obviously whilst leading to job losses and increasing state school class sizes at the same time. No state school pupil will see any benefit from this policy, in fact, they will be disadvantaged by it. There are families who can afford the VAT on school fees, although the moral issue remains that the government is charging people money for giving up a state benefit to which they are entitled. However, there are many families who have chosen private education due to having children with special needs, those who have been offered a single state school place which has been detrimental to their child's well-being situation for a variety of reasons, or those with physical disabilities who can be accommodated by some schools better than others. These are the families, very often making huge sacrifices, who are now being pushed out of private school at a cost of £8,560 to the tax-payer every year or in the case of SEND children, £14,560. It would be far better to offer tax relief to those families who are saving the tax-payer money thereby increasing private school class sizes, saving the tax-payer money and decreasing state-school class sizes and state teacher's workloads. Catchment areas could then increase to allow all parents more choice in choosing the school right for their child. Please could anyone who supports parents being able to access a wider range of educational options for their child please sign the below petition to get the issue further reviewed by the government to ensure we get a better outcome for all children. I don't have any children in private education myself but can see the detrimental impact this policy is having on the UK's education system as a whole. Many thanks.
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/763899