Why Labour’s Tax on Private Schools will prevent Social Mobility

As Raab Butler rightly observed, education is the art of the possible.

It is why I am a school governor in two local primary schools and a secondary SEND academy.

It is why Labour’s proposed 'charity tax' on private schools, is not only short-sighted, but will have an adverse effect on social mobility.

I penned my thoughts on why Keir Starmer’s Labour Party need to rethink this regressive policy.

You can read the full article on Conservative Home, with a short extract below.

Labour’s call to shatter the “class ceiling” through a Jeremy Corbyn-era tax on private schools perpetuates a tired brand of politics of envy. Schools like mine are the perfect example of social mobility in action and why charitable status is important.

I went to Christ’s Hospital, a school founded by Edward VI in 1552 to house and provide education for London’s poor. Now nestled in the West Sussex countryside, Christ’s Hospital provides free or substantially reduced-cost places to over 660 of its 900 pupils.

Between 2020-21, the school spent £21,583,000 on scholarships and bursaries, yet Sir Keir Starmer’s tax raid, which would remove private schools’ charitable status, apply 20 per cent VAT, and make them liable to pay business rates, could make schools like mine obsolete....

Read the full article here.