Earlier this month, Richard again met with David Steadman, Chief Executive of the Harpur Trust, to discuss the recent government policies that have affected the schools within the Trust.
Speaking afterwards, Richard Fuller MP said:
A very useful catch up discussion with David Steadman. We focused on the impact of the new government’s policies to charge VAT on school fees, to remove rates relief from those schools and the imposition of increased National Insurance (the Jobs Tax) on salaries.
It has been a devastating trifecta leaving our local schools – private and state – to pick up the pieces with barely any secondary school places available for local children who will be forced to change schools.
I was pleased to hear David outline the long term commitment of the Trust to their schools, willing to see through this tough period, and highlighting potential changes on the horizon that will bring more opportunities. But there is no doubt that the next few years will be tough and that each school will have to work hard to keep as low as possible any future increases in fees whilst continuing to offer the education service that parents expect.
With my party, the Conservative Party, already committed to rolling back this tax on education, I am positive about the long term and keen to see all our schools thrive rather than pitted against each other as this government’s ideological approach has set in train.
I will continue to keep in touch with the Harpur Trust and hope to meet some of the governors soon.
More information about VAT on school fees can be found at: https://www.richardfuller.co.uk/campaigns/vat-private-school-fees
More information of the Harpur Trust can be found at https://www.harpurtrust.org.uk/
