Father Fights Back as Son Forced Out of Private School Due to Labour’s Tax Hike

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A devoted father has launched a protest after being forced to withdraw his eight-year-old son from private school due to Labour's introduction of VAT on tuition fees.  

 

Matt Harris, 46, a father of three from Sidmouth, Devon, is preparing to take a stand outside the High Court next month, arguing that the new tax policy is unfairly disrupting children's education. His son, Tiger, is among those affected, having to leave behind the friendships and routine he has known for years.  

 

"He is being forced to leave the many friendships he has built over the years at his school, his place of familiarity and his routine through no fault of his own," Mr. Harris told MailOnline.  

 

The Independent Schools Council (ISC) has mounted a legal challenge against the government's decision to impose VAT on private school fees, arguing that it infringes on human rights and places an undue financial burden on families. The case is set to be heard in April.  

 

Mr. Harris, a solicitor’s casework officer, and his wife Nat, have already cut expenses as much as possible, having put their two daughters—18-year-old Isabella and 14-year-old Milly—through independent schools.  

 

“There’s nothing left to cut – I drive a 25-year-old Volvo estate and we don’t take long foreign holidays or anything," he explained.  

 

He wants people to understand that private education is not just for the ultra-wealthy. "This isn't all about people with millions sending their children to Eton and Harrow," he said. "It’s ordinary people who have made this choice and decided to save on other things which people take for granted."

 

With Milly approaching her GCSEs and receiving a bursary at an all-girls school, withdrawing her now isn’t an option. However, Tiger’s annual fees of £13,000 plus VAT have become unaffordable for the family.  

 

Adding to the difficulty is the structure of the state education system. Tiger was an August-born child and had been kept back a year in the private sector, something not typically permitted in state schools. If he transitions now, he would be expected to skip from Year 4 to Year 6. "We don’t think that’s fair on him," Mr. Harris said.  

 

The father remains convinced that the ISC will win its case, but he anticipates a prolonged legal battle. "I strongly believe the government will lose this, as it is a breach of the children’s human rights. I think Keir Starmer knows this, but it will be seen by his followers as having immediately fulfilled an election pledge," he said.  

 

Mr. Harris also criticized the state school system and suggested that it could learn from the private sector. "The Department for Education should learn from the private sector where teachers are in it to teach and not just for the pension," he said. He also highlighted the ways private schools could support the state sector, such as taking in children with special educational needs at cost or helping disadvantaged students turn their academic prospects around.  

 

Parents of independent school pupils, he argued, are already contributing heavily to education funding. "We pay our income tax, which includes a provision for education, even though we're not using it. Then we pay for school fees, and now we're being asked to pay VAT on top of that—it’s just not fair," he said.  

 

To fight back, Mr. Harris has planned a protest outside the High Court for the duration of the three-day hearing. He has also launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise £10,000 to help cover expenses for those traveling to London to join the protest. "We’re not expecting to hit the £10k, but we want to fund banners and help pay for transport and lodgings for anyone who can come along and support us. I expect it's going to be a long road," he said.  

 

Meanwhile, concerns are growing about the strain the VAT policy will place on the state education system. A recent study found that state schools across 27 local authorities in England are already oversubscribed in some year groups, particularly Years 7 and 8. Councils in areas such as Bristol, Hull, Coventry, Rutland, and South Gloucestershire reportedly have no available places in certain age groups.  

 

The government estimates that approximately 37,000 fewer pupils will attend private schools due to the tax changes, many of whom will transition to the already stretched state sector. While there are over half a million spare places in primary and secondary schools nationwide, some councils have little to no capacity in specific year groups.  

 

The VAT exemption on private school fees, which had been in place for decades, was officially lifted at the beginning of this year, causing tuition costs to rise by 20%.  

 

For families like the Harrises, the impact has been immediate and deeply personal. As Mr. Harris prepares to take his protest to London, he remains determined to challenge what he sees as an unjust policy that disrupts children’s education and forces families into difficult choices.

 

Based on a report by The Daily Mail  2025-03-10

 

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