Overview

• The Independent Schools Council (ISC) confirms a 22.6% increase in private school fees, far exceeding the Government's 10% forecast.
• Families now pay over £22,000 annually on average, with many top schools passing the full 20% VAT onto parents.
• The policy, introduced in January 2025, is part of a broader Government effort to fund state education improvements, including recruiting 6,500 new teachers.
• More than a dozen private schools have already closed, with Treasury documents warning up to 100 additional closures could follow in the next three years.
• A High Court ruling is pending on a legal challenge asserting that the VAT policy is discriminatory and violates human rights laws.