Turns out, all those doomsday warnings about private school kids flooding state schools were a bit… dramatic.
When Labour announced they’d be adding VAT to private school fees, critics warned of a mass exodus. They said state schools would be overwhelmed, places would be impossible to get, and parents would be left scrambling.
But guess what? That hasn’t happened.
State school applications? Business as usual
According to councils across England, adding VAT to private school fees has had “no obvious impact” on state sector applications. In fact, the latest Year 7 figures show more families got their first-choice secondary school.
In London, 71.6% of applicants received their top pick—up from last year. London Councils, which represents the capital’s 33 local authorities, confirmed there’s been no noticeable impact from the private school tax hike.
And it’s not just London. A survey of 70 councils found that 44 actually saw an increase in first-choice placements compared to last year.
So much for the flood.
Turns out, the rich can afford it
The argument was always that private school parents would be forced to switch to state schools because of the VAT hike. But as many suspected, those who can afford private school fees can also afford them with a bit of extra tax.
As one person put it on X, it turns out: “people with lots of money in this country do, in fact, have lots of money.”
Government: “Doom-mongering proved wrong”
A government source didn’t hold back, saying:
“Despite all the doom-mongering and ululating from the private schools lobby, as well as their Conservative and Reform lackeys, there hasn’t been a massive exodus from private schools.
This government will deliver for working families who want a brilliant state education for their children.”
So, in short: the state school system hasn’t been overrun. The private school sector hasn’t collapsed. And people who can afford to pay tens of thousands for school fees… still can.
Crisis averted.
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