Group of 1,400 Private Schools Launches Legal Action Over Fees VAT

A group representing more than 1,400 private schools will launch legal action against the government’s decision to apply VAT to independent school fees. The Independent Schools Council (ISC), an umbrella body for seven associations representing private schools in the UK and abroad, said its board has voted in favour of the legal challenge on Thursday and a pre-action letter will be issued to the government shortly. The action was announced after Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed plans to impose the additional 20 percent tax on school fees from January in Wednesday’s Budget. The government has estimated the policy will raise £460 million next year, rising to £1.7 billion by 2029-2030, which it says it will use to raise standards in state schools by recruiting an additional 6,500 teachers, while some of the money will go towards breakfast clubs and the creation of 3,000 nurseries....