VAT on school fees could have a 鈥渟eismic” negative impact on girls鈥 life chances, and is forcing families to make “stark and unfair choices”, the president of the (GSA) was expected to say this morning (Mon, Nov 18).
Alex Hutchinson, head of , will tell the GSA annual conference it is 鈥渁 matter of priority鈥 for girls鈥 schools to talk about 鈥渢he unforeseen and unintended consequences of making policy changes mid-flow in pupils鈥 educations鈥. She will call upon members at the event in Manchester to 鈥渟tand up and fight鈥 for independent girls鈥 schools.
Saying it is 鈥渞ight that we hold our Government to account鈥 over the issue, she will add: 鈥淚t is unthinkable that any girl in any of our schools feels her educational choice has been limited or removed, in any way.鈥
Her comments will come as independent schools across the country are preparing for the imposition of VAT on fees from January 1. Debate is raging about the implications, especially for students with SEND, and warnings abound that families could pull their children from schools as fees become unaffordable.
Last year, the GSA’s previous president Marina Gardiner Legge warned that VAT on fees was likely to hit girls’ schools hardest, with some smaller schools forced to closed.
The Independent Schools Council (ISC) is due to challenge the move in court, hiring Lord Pannick KC, a leading human rights lawyer to fight the sector’s corner.
Mrs Hutchinson will say: 鈥淲e are at a defining moment in girls鈥 education. Girls鈥 schools play a pivotal role in creating a more equitable world; the very foundations of GSA are based on civic duty.
鈥淥ur schools have always been at the forefront of raising opportunities for young women through education. The government鈥檚 rushed VAT policy has the potential to have a seismic impact on girls鈥 life chances; it is forcing stark and unfair choices upon hard-working families.鈥
She will add: 鈥淓ducation is an emotive issue; understandably, feelings are running high, but we know who we are. As members of the GSA, it is right that we stand up and fight for independent girls鈥 schools so that our young women are still offered the freedom of choice to access an outstanding education, built for them.
鈥淭he hand of the Independent Schools Council has been forced to initiate legal action, and it is not a decision that has been taken lightly, but it is right that we hold our Government to account.鈥
She will say it that it is a 鈥減owerful moment鈥 for girls鈥 schools, and will stress the importance of bursaries to widen access.
She will say: 鈥淲e know that education in our schools is life-changing; we know how important it is that as many girls and families as possible come to learn in our schools from every background. We know we advocate for families across the socio-economic range to have the choice to educate their daughters in our schools, and our enduring financial aid and transformational bursaries make this a reality.鈥
She will stress the contribution of private girls鈥 schools to local communities, pointing out that GSA schools spend 拢146 million on fee assistance each year and over a quarter of all pupils attending GSA schools receive some form of fee assistance.
She will add: 鈥淥ur communities can rest assured that we are doing everything in our power to hold the hands of the families already in our schools, and we will continue to support those new families who want to join us. We will continue to cherish our partnership work that brings such valuable shared opportunities within our communities.鈥
She will also invite ministers to 鈥渃ome and see first-hand our schools鈥 excellence, passion, and care in action; to come to understand our schools鈥 purpose, and their power to change lives鈥.
Mrs Hutchinson鈥檚 wide-ranging speech, which will emphasise the 150th anniversary of the GSA this year, was also expected to correct 鈥渓azy stereotypes鈥 of today’s young people and touch upon other hot topics such the role of the independent sector in curriculum reform.
Conference speakers will include General Sir Roly Walker, Chief of the General Staff, Lucy Pearson, director of education at the Football Association and former RAF fast-jet pilot Mandy Hickson.
