Polling by the Private Education Policy Forum (PEPF) found that 54% of voters support Labour’s decision to bring in VAT on private school fees to raise cash for state schools
Most voters support Labour’s VAT raid on private schools in spite of a loud backlash, new polling shows.
Data from the Private Education Policy Forum (PEPF) found 54% are in favour, compared to 22% against. Meanwhile nearly six in 10 – 57% – believe the private school system is unfair.
From Wednesday parents sending their children to fee-paying schools will have to pay 20% in VAT when the Government closes a longstanding loophole. Cash generated from the policy will fund more teachers in state classrooms.
Prof Francis Green, PEPF board member, said: “Despite a barrage of criticism in the media, the polling shows the public’s view of the incoming addition of VAT to private school fees has remained substantially in favour. After the dust has settled, the best response from private school leaders will not be to double down in opposition to the policy reality, given the state of public opinion.
“Instead, they could enter constructively into the debate as to how private schools, large and small, might in time be transformed so as to begin to open up their doors to a wider social mix of the population.”
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman defended the measure, saying: “The Government’s been very clear that by ending this VAT break for private schools, it means an additional £1.7 billion of investment into our state schools where 94% of this country’s children are educated.
“It is the right thing to do, it means more teachers, it means higher standards, that means our children are getting the best chance in life.”
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson this week branded the tax temptions “a luxury we cannot afford” and said “very few” families would be forced out of private schools.
Critics including the Independent Schools Council (ISC) have warned it will drive more children into state schools. The PEPF polled over 2,000 adults.