Private school where almost one third of pupils have special needs blames Labour’s VAT policy for ‘forcing closure’ – as headteacher says parents are unable to afford fee hike
At least two private schools have now blamed Labour VAT policy to force them to close next month.
In the last example, Elizabeth Laffeaty-Sharpe said Sir Keir Starmer‘s planned tax raid was the “final nail in the coffin” for Downham Preparatory School in Norfolk, which she founded 40 years ago.
Nearly a third of students have special needs, while parents are “ordinary” people, “like plumbers and electricians,” who cannot afford a 20 percent increase in tuition, she explained.
Last month it was reported that Alton School in Hampshire would close, partly due to Labour’s plans – which Sir Keir insists he would impose immediately if he entered No 10 next month.
Mrs Laffeaty-Sharpe told The Sunday Telegraph that Downham – where fees are £7,800 for younger pupils and £11,820 for years seven and eight – “was just your local small primary school that mainly provided services for children who couldn’t cope with the large classes. ‘.
Elizabeth Laffeaty-Sharpe (pictured) said Sir Keir Starmer’s planned tax raid was the ‘final nail in the coffin’ for her school
Sir Keir has insisted he would immediately impose a VAT rise when he joins Number 10 next month
Downham Preparatory School in Norfolk (pictured), which was founded 40 years ago, will have to close its doors to pupils, many of whom have special educational needs
She continued, “We won’t be the only ones. Small schools simply cannot survive this. My parents are normal parents, like plumbers and electricians. They’re not rich people.’ Ms Laffeaty-Sharpe added: “There is an extreme lack of places for children with special needs [in the state sector]. There’s just nowhere for them.”
Patrick Roach, general secretary of teachers’ union NASUWT, has warned of the knock-on effects on state schools.
He said: ‘We already have a teacher shortage, we face severe underfunding and underinvestment and reduced capacity in support services for children.’
