West Worcestershire MP Dame Harriett Baldwin has warned that adding tax to fees in the independent education system will have an impact on the whole school sector.

The MP has contacted the three major independent schools in her constituency following two debates in the House of Commons opposing the imposition of VAT on private school fees.

Dame Harriett had briefings on the impact on pupils who have extra educational needs and are taught in the independent sector as well as the risks to the continuity of education of children in military and diplomatic families.

There are also major concerns with the speed of pushing through the measure in January, meaning that accounting systems will be out of synch with the normal VAT payment calendar.

Dame Harriett said:

“The independent school system forms an important part of the wider educational system and some parents will choose to move their children into the state system, leading to larger school classes.

“This is the politics of envy and pursuing the policy of being the only Western country to tax education is an act of educational vandalism that will harm the whole educational ecosystem.

“I’ve had constructive conversations with local education providers and heard their concerns as well as some of their plans to cope with the changes.

“Of particular concern are the places offered to children with special educational needs where they do not have a formal educational healthcare plan and I am troubled by a potential knock-on effect to both local schools and also the Worcestershire County Council care budget."

Photos: (above) At Bredon School: Head teacher Nick Oldham with Dame Harriett Baldwin MP and (below) at Malvern St James: Head teacher Dr Gareth Lloyd with Dame Harriett Baldwin MP.