Some Christian schools may struggle as a result of the government’s plans to scrap VAT exemption for private school fees. But that’s because they are small independent schools, not because they are faith-based, says deputy head Sam Brown
Labour’s proposal to end VAT exemptions on private school fees has understandably caused concern in the education sector. It is a significant shift and will certainly pose a threat to some independent schools, particularly those that are not large, prestigious private schools with deep financial reserves.
Having taught in both the independent and state school sectors, I know that there are lots of exceptional fee-paying schools that provide a brilliant education for students who can afford them, while also offering bursaries to students from less affluent backgrounds.
It is possible to have a clear, distinctive Christian ethos and be state funded
A number of concerns have been raised about the government’s proposals, not least that it is simply a popular vote-winning gesture. There are very real concerns about the number of pupils with special educational needs, and the ability of state schools to accommodate them if they are no longer able to afford private education. Many experts in school finances and tax law have cautioned that the decision has been made too quickly for schools to respond in a sensible and sustainable way.
No discrimination
However, there seems little to indicate that anything in the government’s approach is targeted at Christian schools specifically or aimed at restricting the ability of Christian parents to raise their children in a godly way.
I have long been an admirer of the exceptional work that Christian Concern and the Christian Legal Centre do in supporting churches and Christians, but I am surprised at their recent request for a judicial review on the grounds of discrimination. There is no attempt to persecute Christians in what the government is doing, and the debate needs to be focused on other issues.
There are many good independent Christian schools in the UK, and I really feel for the headteachers and trustees who are facing the impact of the VAT changes in the near future. Small, Christian independent schools may well struggle because of the move, but that is because they are small independent schools, not because they are faith-based.
A missed opportunity
The real sadness of this whole story is that there are free-to-attend Christian state schools for parents to send their children to. In fact, there are thousands of them. It is possible to have a clear, distinctive Christian ethos that impacts on every area of school life - and there are state-funded faith schools that do just that, although sadly it doesn’t happen anywhere near as much as it should.
There is no attempt to persecute Christians in what the government is doing
It is something that The Fulham Boys School has had as a foundational aim since opening in 2014. Students hear clear Bible teaching in assemblies as we go through books of the Bible. There are Christian perspectives taught in Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and there are popular Christian Union clubs for every year group.
The brilliance of state education, when it works well, is that it is truly open to everyone from every background. For faith and church schools with a Christian ethos, this should mean children and young people from all backgrounds get to encounter the truth claims of Jesus and the Bible.
There are huge gospel opportunities in the state school sector, if we are only able to grasp them.
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