Leaders of private schools are urging the Treasury to delay the introduction of VAT on school fees, warning that a January implementation could trigger a mid-year surge of pupils into the state sector, placing unsustainable pressure on already stretched resources.

Independent schools are set to raise fees by up to 20 per cent from January, following a government consultation on the policy. However, a group of headteachers, governors, and bursars from approximately 50 schools have written to the Treasury, arguing that the policy should be postponed until September 2025. This would provide schools with sufficient time to plan and mitigate the potential consequences.

The group, led by Jamie Harle, bursar of St Piran’s School in Berkshire, and supported by representatives from schools including LVS Ascot, Mount Kelly in Devon, and Stafford Grammar School, expressed concerns over the short consultation period. They noted that much of the consultation overlaps with the summer holidays, leaving little time for meaningful input. The letter warns that pressing ahead with the January timeline could overwhelm state schools with an unexpected influx of pupils and force some private schools to close.

Harle criticised the consultation process, stating, “The government’s half-hearted attempt at a consultation, most of which runs over school holidays, pays lip service to considering the full consequences of ambushing state schools with a mid-academic year move of pupils into the state sector that has not been planned or even forecast for.”

He added that the government’s rush to impose VAT on private education without sufficient consideration could lead to significant disruptions in both private and state sectors. Harle pointed out that independent schools are already beginning to close, and a more thorough public consultation would have been conducted had the government proposed similar changes to the healthcare sector.

The letter to the Treasury highlights that the consultation period is three weeks shorter than a previous consultation on the teacher pension scheme and argues that the timing contravenes the government’s own guidance. The group also raised concerns about the broader impact of the legislation, which affects many charities providing essential services that local authorities may struggle to replace.

The letter concludes by urging the government to extend the consultation deadline from September 15 to October 25, allowing for a more comprehensive review of the policy’s implications. The private school leaders argue that delaying the implementation until September 2025 is crucial to ensuring a fair and manageable transition for both private and state schools.