A father from Devon is set to stage a protest outside the High Court next month after his son was forced to leave his private school due to the government’s new VAT policy on school fees.
Matt Harris, a 46-year-old solicitor’s casework officer, explained that his son, Tiger, is being uprooted from the school he has attended for years, leaving behind friends and routines, all because of a policy change that he believes unfairly targets families like his.
The Impact of VAT on Private School Fees
Mr. Harris, who lives in Sidmouth, Devon, with his wife Nat, explained how this new tax policy has affected his family.
They had already stretched their finances to send their two older daughters, Isabella and Milly, through independent schools.
Despite their efforts, the new VAT charges on school fees, now adding £13,000 plus VAT for Tiger’s tuition, have become too much for their household budget.
“We’ve already cut back as much as possible,” Matt said, noting how they avoid luxuries like foreign vacations and drive an old car to make ends meet.
He stressed that this issue isn’t just about the wealthy sending their children to prestigious schools—it’s about ordinary families who’ve made sacrifices to give their children what they believe is the best education.
The Dilemma of Private to State School Transition
The Harris family now faces a difficult decision. When Tiger leaves his private school, they are considering either homeschooling him or possibly moving abroad.
The situation is complicated by Tiger’s age—he was born in August, which in the private school system allowed him to be held back a year.
However, in a state school, he would be expected to jump from Year 4 to Year 6, which Mr. Harris believes is unfair and could disrupt his son’s development.
“I’m confident that the Independent Schools Council (ISC) will win this case,” he said.
But he also predicts that the government will continue to fight the decision all the way to the Supreme Court and even to Strasbourg if necessary.
He believes that forcing VAT on private school fees is a violation of children’s human rights.
A Strong Belief in the ISC’s Challenge
Matt Harris believes that Labour’s move to impose VAT on private school fees is more about fulfilling an election promise than addressing real educational issues.
He is convinced that it’s unfair to burden parents already paying income taxes, school fees, and now VAT on top of that.
He also suggested that the private sector could help alleviate pressures on the state system by providing places for disadvantaged children.
Mr. Harris plans to protest outside the High Court during the three days the case is expected to run in April.
He has set up a GoFundMe page to raise funds for transportation, banners, and lodging to help others attend and show their support.
Though he doesn’t expect to reach his £10,000 target, he’s determined to make his voice heard.
Increasing Strain on State Schools
The protest comes amid growing concerns about the capacity of state schools to accommodate the influx of students expected to move from private schools due to the VAT changes.
A recent study found that state schools in 27 English councils are already oversubscribed, particularly in Years 7 and 8.
This is raising fears that local authorities won’t be able to cope with the added pressure caused by the shift from private to state schools.
Some areas, including Bristol, Hull, and Coventry, have no available spaces in certain year groups.
As a result, an estimated 37,000 fewer pupils will attend private schools, many of whom will likely end up in the already-stretched state system.
The Consequences of Ending the VAT Exemption
This latest policy change follows the government’s decision to end the long-standing VAT exemption for private schools at the start of this year.
The new policy saw school fees increase by 20%, leading to further financial strain on families who were already facing rising costs.
With thousands of pupils expected to leave private schools, the state sector may soon face an influx of new students, further testing its capacity.
As the case unfolds in the coming months, Matt Harris and other concerned parents will continue to fight for a solution that they believe is fair and reasonable for families who’ve already made significant sacrifices to ensure their children receive a quality education.