Second private school blames Labour’s tax raid for closure
The TelegraphIt comes after Wes Streeting, the shadow health secretary, said that many private schools have “pleaded poverty and say people will be priced out” by the proposals. Mr Streeting said on BBC Question Time on Thursday: “I say to the headteachers, you’re going to have to cut your cloth accordingly like state schools have had to.” Downham charges £7,800 a year for its younger pupils and £11,820 a year for students in years 7 and 8. ‘Completely wrong’ But Ms Laffeaty-Sharpe said Mr Streeting had got it “completely wrong”, and that larger, wealthier private schools would largely be shielded from Labour’s planned tax raid. “Most of our children are not going into other private schools, they’re going into state education because the parents can’t afford this 20 per cent. “We are calling for a full impact assessment to understand the effects this policy would have on the viability of such schools, which often offer unique education options for families – especially SEND support – as well as employment for local people.” A survey published last month found that 42 per cent of pupils – 224,000 children – could be forced out of private schools.