VAT on private school fees is discriminatory, high court told
Guardian1 day
UK: High Court Reviews Challenge to Private School VAT Policy
Above: Teachers, parents and pupils protest outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London over the private school fees VAT policy, on April 1, 2025. Image copyright: Aaron Chown/PA Images via Getty Images
The Spin
Left narrative
Labour’s VAT on private schools is a step toward fairness in education. For years, these institutions avoided a tax burden that others couldn’t escape, deepening inequality in U.K. schooling. The funds raised will help recruit thousands of teachers, easing the strain on state schools. Most families unaffected by this tax won’t sympathize with the wealthiest few. The government's policy is in no way discriminatory; it’s a shift toward a system that benefits all instead of just the privileged.
Right narrative
Labour’s VAT hike on private schools is reckless and poorly planned. Implementing this policy without clear guidance has created chaos for schools, parents, and teachers. Even tax experts called HMRC’s advice on this “inadequate and incoherent.” Schools were given little information on the details of the change, risking job losses and harming children’s education. The courts must shut down this discriminatory ideological pursuit by the government immediately.