The government has insisted that private school fees are “clearly out of reach for most people” as ministers continue to defend their VAT policy.
On Wednesday, Labour will scrap the VAT exemption and business rates relief for private schools in a bid to fund 6,500 new teachers in the state sector.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson last week suggested that middle class families are in support of the tax raid, insisting they have “largely been priced out” of sending their children to private schools already.
She told the Sunday Times this is “why there is such support for our policy of ending the tax breaks that private schools enjoy to invest in state education”.
Ms Phillipson said that the average cost of private school fees has risen to £18,000 annually.
“Middle class parents in good professional jobs with housing costs just can’t afford that level of fee and they want brilliant state schools,” she added.
Number 10 has reiterated that private school fees are “clearly out of reach for most people”, adding this is why “it’s right to invest money in state schools”.
Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesperson said the policy will allow Labour to raise standards in the state sector.
The spokesperson stressed that 94% of pupils attend state schools, rather than private.
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The VAT policy is expected to raise around £1.5bn in 2025 alone – rising to £1.8bn by 2029 – and fund the recruitment of 6,500 new teachers.
Sir Keir’s spokesperson said the tax raid will “mean more revenue invested into schools”.
But it is also predicted that higher fees will force thousands of pupils out of private schools and into the state sector.
The government has claimed this will only amount to 0.1% of the student population.
Last week, Ms Phillipson claimed to be the “voice of pushy middle-class parents” who have been priced out of private schools – and was met with harsh criticism.
Priti Patel, the shadow foreign secretary, said the remarks amounted to “more gaslighting from this socialist government that has broken its general election promises”.
