Independent School Fees: VAT

Baroness Bull Excerpts

Thursday 13th March 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Livermore (Lab)]

I am grateful to the noble Lord for his question, and I pay tribute to his involvement in this sector. As he will know, probably better than me, there has historically been a significant turnover within the private school sector, with around 3% of private schools—roughly 75 in the UK—opening and closing each year, with the overall number of private schools remaining stable. Since this policy was announced in July, private schools have continued to open in England in line with historic trends.

[Baroness Bull (CB)]

My Lords, I thank the Minister and the Government for their recognition of the unique role that the Music and Dance Scheme schools play in enabling talented young dancers and musicians to pursue their dreams, whatever their background. Is the Minister aware of the recent demonstration of the success of that scheme in the outstanding achievements of Jakob Wheway Hughes, who is a student on the scheme at Tring Park School for the Performing Arts? He won not one but three of the prizes at the prestigious international ballet competition, the Prix de Lausanne. Will the Minister join me not only in congratulating Jakob on his success but in noting the role that the Music and Dance Scheme has played in achieving that success?

[Lord Livermore (Lab)]

I am grateful to the noble Baroness for her question. Of course, I will join her in congratulating Jakob. As she knows far better than I do, the Music and Dance Scheme provides grants and help with fees at eight schools and 20 centres for advanced training. The Department for Education has decided to adjust its Music and Dance Scheme bursary contribution for families with a relevant income below £45,000 a year to account for the VAT that will be applied to fees, ensuring that the total parental fee contribution for families with below-average relevant incomes remains unchanged for the rest of this academic year.