Bath has a proud record of education, the Conservative government has improved school standards with 94 per cent of schools across Bath and North East Somerset rated by Ofsted as good or outstanding, up from a national average of just 68 per cent when Labour left office.
Bath has 5 private schools, parents tell me they sacrifice to be able to afford the fees. These schools take pressure off local state schools and provide additional support for those with Special Educational Needs. Sir Kier Starmer is proposing a VAT tax raid on School Fees. As many as 25 per cent of private school students would be expected to leave the system if this tax were applied to fees. Nationally, this would equate to an influx into the state sector of approx. 130,000 students - an unsustainable burden.
That is why Sir Kier Starmer's tax on private school fees is so devasting for parents. Putting pressure on our outstanding state schools and removing choice from hard-working families is what Labour's tax on school fees will do. As a parent, I know how important high-quality education is. The Conservative government’s efforts have paid off with schools improving across the city. Sir Kier Starmers VAT Tax Raid doesn't improve standards, it will put pressure on existing schools and remove choice from hard-working families. We need policies that support our schools, not ones that undermine them.
