ISC chairman: VAT on fees 'will make our schools more exclusive'

Referencing the abolition of Direct Grant schools, Mr Lenon warned that taxing independent school fees will also affect middle income families. He told the magazine: "The same thing will happen with VAT, in that it will make our schools more exclusive, with less money to spend on bursaries and partnerships." Mr Lenon added that individual schools will have to make "hard decisions", which may include cutting A-level subjects with low numbers and introducing charges for extra-curricular activities. In addition to the interview with Mr Lenon, the article also looked at how cross-sector partnerships work and their value to both state and independent schools. In his concluding remarks, Mr Lenon urged schools to continue talking about the findings of the ISC’s Economic Impact Report, which highlight the vital economic contribution of independent schools.