Impact of VAT on fees 'worse' than ministers predicted, says ISC CEO
The number of pupils at independent schools has fallen by more than 13,000 in a year, according to the ISC's annual census.
Data from the ISC's annual census shows that the like-for-like number of pupils dropped from 551,578 to 538,215 in the year to January. The figures cast doubt on ministers' predictions that only 3,000 children would leave the independent sector during the 2024-25 academic year as a result of VAT on fees, rising to 14,000 by summer next year.
Speaking to The Times, Julie Robinson, chief executive of the ISC, said: “Our data shows a significant decrease in pupil numbers. It is going to take a few years until we see the full impact of this, but [we believe] it’s worse than the government predicted.
“Anyone who’s interested in the government’s VAT policy as a revenue raiser should be seriously concerned by these numbers. It risks raising absolutely nothing [in revenue] and yet the damage it is doing in terms of disrupting the education of children is already clear.”