29 h. ago Record numbers of pupils apply to top state sixth forms for A

A record number of children are applying to join top state sixth forms after Labour introduced VAT on private schools, headteachers say.

Politics

59 h. ago Legal challenge imminent over Labour's VAT raid on private schools in Scotland

Claimants want High Court to say legislation is incompatible with human rights law

Politics

3 d. ago Only 1.5 per cent of state school places may be unfilled in some areas: Parents priced out of private school left with few options after Labour's VAT raid

New statistics for 2023-24, the latest available, show many local authorities had less than 5 per cent of spare places across their schools.

Economics

4 d. ago Since Bridget Phillipson slapped private schools with VAT eight have closed and as many as 200 more are at risk

If private education is singled out for any further punishment then what is already a crisis will become a disaster. So why has Bridget Phillipson yet to visit a single school in the sector?

Events

4 d. ago Since Bridget Phillipson slapped private schools with VAT eight have closed and as many as 200 more are at risk BUT the minister for class war hasn't visited a single one

If private education is singled out for any further punishment then what is already a crisis will become a disaster. So why has Bridget Phillipson yet to visit a single school in the sector?

Politics

1 week ago Man's quest to visit every Irish pub in the world including one on prison island

A man from County Kerry is on a mission to visit every single Irish pub in the world and so far he has been to 97 pubs in 47 countries including Poland, Kazakhstan and Indonesia

Events

1 week ago Blow for Government as Lords vote against ending tax relief for private schools

Peers supported a Conservative amendment to the Non-Domestic (Multipliers and Private Schools) Bill with a majority of 91.

Politics

2 w. ago Chancellor spending hundreds of thousands in legal fees defending her VAT raid on private school fees

Parents opposed to the 20 per cent education tax are crowdfunding to enable them to launch next month's landmark case at the High Court, on behalf of their children with SEN.

Economics

2 w. ago Labour's VAT tax raid on private schools is forcing most to cut staff, bursaries and subjects on offer while pupil numbers are already plunging, new figures show

Many of the country's most prestigious private schools are being hit hard with cost cutting measures seeing pay, pensions and jobs being axed, a new poll has revealed.

Economics

2 w. ago Labour VAT raid on private school fees forces Scotland's largest private school which charges up to £20,000 a year to launch fundraising appeal

George Watson's College in Edinburgh said 50 pupils had either left or opted not to join at the beginning of the 2024-25 year.

Economics

2 w. ago No exodus to state sector after VAT added to private school fees, say English councils

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...

Politics

2 w. ago One in five private school teachers had colleagues made redundant over Labour's VAT on fees, shocking survey reveals

The National Education Union (NEU) polled 4,000 teachers in independent schools in England and Wales about the policy, which came into effect from January.

Events

3 w. ago Around 100 schools could be forced to close under Labour's plans to impose VAT on private schools

Treasury Minister Torsten Bell put a figure on the effect of the tax hike for the first time. A dozen schools have already shut, or intend to close, since January, blaming the levy.

Politics

3 w. ago 'I visited UK's most underrated city – and couldn't find a single negative'

David Burnip has travelled to many UK cities and towns, and has been left impressed by many of them - but none of them have made him react quite like Lincoln did

Politics

3 w. ago Starmer accused of lying by Tory frontbencher during Prime Minister’s Questions

Victoria Atkins could be heard shouting ‘that is a lie’ following a question on the Government’s policy to charge VAT on private school fees.

Politics

3 w. ago Bridget Phillipson faces pressure to scrap VAT raid on private school fees as Labour MP calls for U

Dr Rupa Huq (pictured), the Labour MP for Ealing Central and Acton, said putting 20 per cent VAT on independent school fees was punishing 'working people'.

Events

3 w. ago Labour MP: VAT charge on private schools could make elitist system more elitist

Rupa Huq argued the amount of VAT imposed on private schools should be based on turnover, to prevent smaller schools getting ‘caught in this trap’.

Politics

4 w. ago Suella Braverman's former private school faces closure because of Labour's VAT raid on fees

A private school once attended by Suella Braverman is facing closure because of Labour's 20 per cent VAT on fees.

Politics