Watch the moment GB News host Camilla Tominey clashed with Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson over Labour’s VAT tax hike on independent schools.
The People’s Channel presenter has long-raised concerns over the unpopular decision, with many leading education officials warning the policy could disproportionately impact children with Send.
The 20 per cent levy – which has been slapped on fees since January 2025 – has preceded a jump in the number of parents sending their children to private schools for assuring their child would receive the Send support they need.
But school leaders have warned the VAT on school fees could drive those students in need of extra support into state schools, without the necessary support.
Since January last year, some 105 private schools across Britain have closed or merged. Labour has claimed the move would raise more than £1.5billion across 2025/26 – which will then be pooled into investment for state schools.
As a result, this morning, Camilla took aim at Ms Phillipson for the tax – just as ministers are reading plans to axe support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send).
As part of the radical overhaul in school funding, the MP explained more money would be allocated to schools looking after the poorest children – and address the “disadvantage gap”.
She told Camilla: “What I’ll be setting out tomorrow is how we make more of that support available much more quickly, without the need to go through that process with significant extra investment that will follow alongside it.
More than 100 independent schools have shut their doors after Labour slapped VAT on fees
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GB NEWS
“But we’re also investing up front. We’re already investing to transform the system so that all children have a better school experience.
“Because even when we’re not talking about formal diagnosis, lots of children at some point at school will struggle.
“They’ll find there’ll be some aspects where they need extra support, and that will also apply to children who are bright but need an extra push. And this is about high standards for all.”
But Camilla questioned why Labour was planning to help children with Send in state schools, but was willing to allow private schools – which had previously offered the pupils that support – to shut down.
Ms Phillipson is due to unveil a radical overhaul of school funding this week
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PA
She said: “There are parents of Send children in private schools who say they’ve been badly disadvantaged by the VAT increase.
“We’ve still got a situation where you’re trying to help some children in need, but not necessarily those in private schools. Isn’t that a discrepancy?
“An Education Secretary should be for all children, regardless of whether they’re privately or state-educated.”
Meanwhile, the Tories have already slammed the Education Secretary’s radical overhaul to address the disadvantage gap, claiming the decision would “simply drag everyone down”.
Considering Camilla’s point, Ms Phillipson responded: “There are many brilliant independent specialist schools for children with sand, many of them run by charities, by other organisations that provide a really good level of education.
“But sadly, there are quite a few that are providing highly variable education where the outcomes aren’t great and increasingly backed by private equity, where profits are being made off the back of children who have special educational needs.”
She added her agenda was to include provide clarity with these payments.
On the VAT charge, the Treasury previously confirmed the extra levy would be disapplied for students with an education, health and care plan.
It had also been settled a local authoritied-funded place in a private school to acquire the specific support is required.