Private schools challenge VAT on fees

The Independent Schools Council (ISC) is to launch legal action against the government’s decision to levy VAT on independent school fees.

The ISC an umbrella body for seven associations representing independent schools will be working with human rights barrister Lord Pannick KC alongside Paul Luckhurst from Blackstone Chambers and the legal firm Kingsley Napley. Legal proceedings will begin shortly. The case will centre around breaches of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the Human Rights Act 1998. It will be separate from other litigation although ISC will be liaising with these other third-party groups.

Julie Robinson chief executive officer of ISC said: ‘This is a decision that has not been taken lightly and has been under consideration for many months. At all points throughout this debate our focus has been on the children in our schools...