Father of Three Takes Stand Outside High Court in Sidmouth Against Labour’s VAT on School Fees After Being Forced to Withdraw Son from Private School

Matt Harris, a 46-year-old father of three, is about to take a stand outside the High Court next month after being forced to withdraw his eight-year-old son from private school.

The cause of his distress? Labour’s introduction of VAT on school fees.

Matt’s son, Tiger, is now facing the heartbreaking reality of leaving behind his friends, familiar environment, and the routine he’s known for years—all through no fault of his own.

The Legal Challenge

The Independent Schools Council (ISC) is leading a High Court challenge against the government’s decision to apply VAT to independent school fees.

They argue that this policy infringes on human rights and unfairly impacts families.

A hearing is set for April, with many hopeful that the case could lead to a major victory for families like Matt’s.

Matt, a solicitor’s casework officer from Sidmouth, Devon, explains how his family has already made significant sacrifices. “We’ve cut everything we can,” he says.

He and his wife Nat have already managed to put their two daughters, Isabella and Milly, through independent schools, but now, with Tiger’s fees rising to £13,000 plus VAT, they find themselves unable to cope with the extra financial burden.

The Strain of Rising Costs

With expenses tightening, Matt emphasizes that the issue isn’t about wealthy families sending their children to elite schools like Eton or Harrow.

Instead, it’s about ordinary families who’ve made sacrifices in other areas of life to afford a private education.

“I drive a 25-year-old Volvo estate, and we don’t take long foreign holidays,” Matt shares.

His family has always saved to give their children the best education, but this new VAT is tipping them over the edge.

Milly, who is about to enter her GCSE years, is at an all-girls school with a bursary, so they can’t pull her out now.

But sadly, the financial burden means Tiger will have to leave his school.

Facing Difficult Choices

The future looks uncertain for the Harris family. Matt and Nat are now debating whether to home-school Tiger or possibly move abroad to find a more affordable solution.

“He was an August baby, and the school suggested holding him back a year, something you can do in private schools but not in the state system.

If he goes to a state school now, he’d have to jump from year 4 to year 6, which doesn’t seem fair on him,” Matt explains.

Despite his concerns, Matt is optimistic about the ISC’s legal challenge.

He believes the government’s decision breaches children’s human rights and that the court will ultimately rule in their favor.

“Keir Starmer knows this, but it’s a way for him to fulfill an election pledge,” Matt says.

The Bigger Picture

Matt also criticizes the government for failing to recognize the value of the private sector in supporting state education.

“Private schools could help by taking in SEND children and children from disadvantaged backgrounds at cost.

Teachers in private schools are there to teach, not just for the pension,” he argues.

He also points out the absurdity of paying for education three times.

“We pay income tax that includes provisions for education, even though we don’t use it.

Then, we pay school fees, and now we’re being asked to pay VAT on top of that. It’s just not fair.”

Rallying for Support

In a bid to rally support for the cause, Matt is organizing a protest outside the High Court during the three-day hearing.

He’s set up a GoFundMe page with a target of £10,000 to cover expenses for travel, accommodation, and protest materials.

“We don’t expect to hit the £10k target, but we want to fund banners and help with transport for anyone who wants to come and support us,” Matt says.

He acknowledges that it will be a long road, but he’s determined to make his voice heard.

The Wider Implications

Recent studies highlight the strain on state schools, with many oversubscribed in certain year groups.

Local authorities, including Bristol, Hull, and Coventry, report having no spare places in certain age groups, further raising concerns that the state sector may struggle to absorb the influx of students from private schools.

An estimated 37,000 fewer pupils are expected to attend private schools due to the VAT hike, many of whom will likely end up in the already stretched state system.

As private schools face increased costs due to the VAT change, parents like Matt are left to navigate a difficult and uncertain future.

The ongoing legal challenge may be their best hope for a fairer system that recognizes the sacrifices they’ve made for their children’s education.