Edinburgh state schools deluged with inquiries after tax raid threat

The principal of Erskine Stewart's Melville School said Labour's plan to levy VAT on school fees was 'ideological'
The principal of Erskine Stewart’s Melville School said Labour’s plan to levy VAT on school fees was ‘ideological’ - Stephen Finn/Alamy

State schools in Edinburgh were deluged with enrolment enquiries after Sir Keir Starmer unveiled plans for a tax raid on private education, figures reveal.

Statistics released by Edinburgh council show that the number of queries from parents about school placements have more than doubled in the past five years, and surged after Labour announced its plan to end the VAT exemption in 2021.

The Scottish Tories said the figures showed that parents in the capital, where more than a fifth of secondary pupils are privately educated, were fearful of the impact of the tax raid.

There were 4,904 inquiries about placements in Edinburgh state schools in 2023-24, a five-year high, responses to freedom of information requests reveal. The total has more than doubled since 2019-20, when there were 2,259 questions to the same service.

Anthony Simpson, the principal of Erskine Stewart's Melville School, warned that the VAT plan posed a threat to schools in the sector
Anthony Simpson, the principal of Erskine Stewart’s Melville School, warned that the VAT plan posed a threat to schools in the sector

Last week, Anthony Simpson, the principal of Erskine Stewart’s Melville School, warned that Labour’s plan to levy VAT on school fees was “ideological” and posed a threat to some schools in the sector.

Inquiries would have included those from parents keen to send their children to state schools outside their catchment areas, as well as potentially private school parents considering switching to state education.

“Parents all over Edinburgh are anxious on numerous fronts about schooling, and these figures reveal the extent of that,” Miles Briggs, the Scottish Tory shadow education secretary, said.

“With Labour’s ridiculous policy of adding VAT to private school fees, many are being forced to consider alternative options because the new expense is simply out of reach.

“Keir Starmer proudly announced his intentions to add VAT in 2021, and these figures suggest that understandably alarmed parents in Edinburgh.”

Miles Briggs, the Scottish Tory shadow education secretary, said 'parents all over Edinburgh are anxious about schooling'
Miles Briggs, the Scottish Tory shadow education secretary, said ‘parents all over Edinburgh are anxious about schooling’ - SST/Alamy Live News

There were 3,007 enrolment enquiries for Edinburgh state schools in the year to April 2021, for Primary 1 and Secondary 1 places. Sir Keir outlined his plan to end a VAT exemption in September 2021.

That year, the number of parents contacting the service rose to 3,704, before surging again to 4,290 the following year, and 4,904 in 2023-24. The figures do not include enquiries made directly to state schools.

The Budget last week confirmed that tax breaks for private schools will end from next year, meaning 20 per cent VAT will be added to fees from January. In April, schools will lose charitable business rate relief.

Labour has claimed the policy will raise around £1.7 billion per year for state schools. However, there have been warnings that parents will no longer be able to afford fees, potentially increasing pressure and costs for the state sector.

Labour-led Edinburgh council said there was spare capacity in the state sector in the city
Labour-led Edinburgh council said there was spare capacity in the state sector in the city - Westend61

Edinburgh council, which is led by a Labour administration, said there was spare capacity in the state sector in the city.

“We’re ready to give all children and young people the best start in life,” Joan Griffiths, the council’s education, children and families convenor, said. “With the extensions we’re making to some of our school buildings and the new campuses we’re planning to build, we don’t expect many of our secondary schools to hit capacity in the next decade.

“Plus, we believe secondary school rolls across the city will slow because primary school rolls are falling.

“Our latest projections show we have capacity for a further 12,700 pupils in our schools, but we’ll continue to keep this under review.”