VAT hike could leave some pupils without a school by next month, warns council

GCSE students in Oxfordshire whose parents can no longer pay independent school fees could find themselves without a school place next month.

- KATE DEVLIN

With the 20 per cent VAT charge on fees set to come in during the middle of the school year on 1 January, the council has said that most schools in its area refuse applications for transfer in year 10 and year 11 “regardless of the reason”. With 17 fee-paying private schools in the county, there are concerns that the impact could be significant.

Oxfordshire County Council said it “strongly” advised parents not to try to switch schools during the crucial exam years. “Schools are unlikely to offer places while children prepare for their final GCSE exams,” a spokesperson said. “Extra admissions at this stage could be detrimental to children’s education and the efficient use of resources at the school.”

The council told The Independent: “We have not amended our admission arrangements in the light of the VAT in independent schools issue.”

The crisis for parents and teenagers forced out of the private school system comes as Labour councils are warning parents not to try to move their children halfway through the school year due to the potentially harmful impact on their education.