Most say they have seen no impact on applications for year 7 places, despite warnings from those against policyPredictions that adding VAT to private school fees would set off a wave of parents moving children to the state sector have been proved wrong at their first key test, according to figures from councils in England.While critics including the former chancellor Jeremy Hunt had predicted that up to 90,000 children could flood the state sector if VAT of 20% was charged, most councils say they have seen no impact from the policy in applications to start at state secondary schools later this year. Continue reading...
English councils report no significant increase in state school applications following the addition of VAT to private school fees, contradicting predictions of a mass exodus from private schools. While some areas saw slight dips in first-choice state school offers, councils generally attribute this to factors other than the VAT change.
