Private schools lose High Court battle against Starmer’s VAT raid
High Court rules in Labour’s favour on private school VAT raid
- A group of private schools, pupils, and parents have lost a High Court challenge against Labour's imposition of VAT on private school fees.
- The challenge claimed the 20 per cent VAT causes unnecessary harm to children, particularly those with special education needs (SEN), arguing it violates their human rights.
- The High Court acknowledged the legislation interferes with some human rights but allows a “broad margin of discretion” in balancing the interests of private and state school pupils.
- The government estimates the tax will raise £1.7 billion per year by 2029-30 to fund 6,500 new teachers for state schools.
- Since the policy's implementation in January, around 11,000 pupils have left private schools, and fees have increased by 22.6 per cent in the last year, with parents now paying over £22,000 annually on average.