Private Schools Face 10,000-Pupil Decline in UK

UK private schools have reported a significant decline in pupil numbers, with a drop of over 10,000 students this September, attributed largely to the imminent introduction of VAT on school fees. The Independent Schools Council (ISC) indicated a 1.7% overall decrease in enrollment, with secondary schools experiencing the steepest decline at 4.6% for year seven. Julie Robinson, ISC's chief executive, emphasized that this trend reflects parents withdrawing their children due to the financial impact of the VAT implementation, set for January, which is projected to cost the Department for Education approximately £93 million for accommodating these pupils in state schools. The decline is more pronounced in smaller and lower-fee schools, particularly in Wales and Yorkshire. While the government anticipates that the VAT will generate additional revenue for state education, the ISC warns that many independent schools face closure without intervention. This situation could lead to more than 140,000 children seeking state school placements by the end of the academic year.